Locals relish biggest stage
Published Date:
11 October 2008
Rugby League
RACHEL Twibill knows better than anyone that this autumn's Ladies World Cup will be very different to the last one.
In 2003, Twibill, one of two Halifax-based players - the other is half back Kirsty Moroney - likely to line up for England when they open their campaign against Tonga in Brisbane on November 6, posed for a topless calendar to help her raise the £1,100 needed to fund the trip.
Five years on, the 23 year old Bradford Thunderbirds player reckons that a similar move might be frowned on by a national set up which is, she says, "much more professional".
With the tournament running alongside the men's event - the ladies' final will be played as a curtain raiser to the men's last four clash at Brisbane's 50,000 seater Suncorp Stadium - the Rugby Football League have injected not just cash but also the mind-boggling attention to detail of their performance department.
"Doing another calendar crossed my mind, but I'm not sure they'd like it," laughed Twibill, who starred for the now defunct Halifax Ladies outfit and took 18 months out of the sport to concentrate on kick boxing before returning with the Thunderbirds.
"The RFL are heavily involved this time round and they're putting a lot of funding in as well as the kind of help we didn't have last time: nutritionists, psychologists, coaching.
"The whole thing is a lot more professional and it feels like we're going to take part in a major event.
"Last time, we didn't even make the semi finals. Hopefully, this time we can do better."
Like Twibill, Moroney will be boarding the plane after returning from a year and a half on the sidelines.
But unlike her Thunderbirds teammate, the 25 year old's lay off was enforced by serious injury.
"I tore my cruciate ligament in my knee and it was a long time before I was able to play again," said Moroney, who is no stranger to Australia having spent a season with a club in Canberra as a 20 year old.
"But I got back playing last autumn, came through the trials okay and here I am.
"The World Cup was always in the back of my mind and I knew I could do it because I had seen other players come back from similar injuries.
"Now it's here, I'm really excited to be going."
Moroney has yet to make her full international debut, having featured at under 21 level in the past, but is the frontrunner for the number seven shirt in a squad coached by Brenda Dobek, the best female player of her generation and a brilliant playmaker.
"I couldn't have a better teacher than Brenda," admits Moroney.
"We are taking four half backs but I have been running at number seven in training so hopefully I will get the first chance."
The full article contains 481 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
11 October 2008 8:34
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Halifax