Words: Staff Writers
Image: University of QLD FC

A Brisbane Roar/Queensland Academy of Sport Women’s Under 17 team will participate in the five-day NTC Challenge at the AIS, starting today.

The Challenge is a new format aimed at identify the next generation of Matildas as some of the country’s brightest talents compete against and alongside players from other state NTC programs.

Teams will play together for the first two days and then players will be split into different teams for the remainder of the Challenge.

The Roar/QAS players have been training under the guidance of Roar W-League coach Belinda Wilson and Melissa Andreatta and playing in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Under-13 and Under-14 Boys competition.

The squad heading to Canberra also includes players selected from other PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland sides including Sunshine Coast FC, University of Queensland FC and South West Queensland Thunder FC.

Amongst those selected is UQFC’s Lulu Pullar (pictured), who despite being just 16-years-old has made regular appearances in the club’s Senior Women’s team this season.

Craig Pilon, UQFC’s PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Technical Director, said the club was thrilled by Pullar’s selection.

“Lulu has been an ever present in our senior women's team since coming to the club this year and her talent is evident for a player who is still such a young age,” Pilon explained.

“We believe the pathway from NPL to Roar/QAS team will only get stronger here at UQFC and we are delighted to have one of our players taking the next step on the elite player pathway in what is our inaugural year as an NPL club.”

“We hope this experience will give Lulu more inspiration to pursue her footballing dreams and she is the example for our younger players of whom we hope to see following her to the NTC Challenge in years to come," he concluded.

Brisbane Roar/Queensland Academy of Sport Under 17 NTC Challenge Squad:

Clarece Strudwick, Savannah Boller, Grace Chalmers, Leah Davidson, Emma Gibbon, Willow Liukaina, Elizabeth Schiavo, Aqua Meanie, Melissa Taft, Carmel Murpy-Pollard, Hollie Palmer, Tanesha Stanley, Kaitlyn Torpey, Arina Tikunaga, Cortnee Vine, Elise Franco, Holly Vidulich, Lulu Pullar