Words: Staff Writers
Image: Chris Simpson

The inaugural PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland Women’s Select squad to take on Brisbane Roar’s Westfield W-League team at Goodwin Park on Sunday has been revealed.

Players from eight clubs are represented on the 17-player roster for what will be a showcase of the state’s finest female football talent.

Fresh from claiming the double, The Gap Women’s long-serving coach Rob Askew will lead the team and be assisted by Grand Final opponent and Palm Beach SC Women’s coach Gary French.

Players were identified for consideration to the squad by the respective Club Technical Directors from the eleven PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Open Women's clubs.

The selection panel was headed by Football Queensland State Techincal Director David Abela with input from Brisbane Roar Westfield W-League coaching staff.

The squad offers no shortage of firepower with four of the competition’s top six goalscorers vying for a start, including PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2015 Women's Golden Boot winner Deeanna Thompson of Palm Beach SC.

Also included are five former Westfield W-League players including ex-Roar representatives Bec Price, Leah Curtis and Georgia Chapman, who could square off against sister Amy.

Askew ranked his appointment as PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women’s Select coach highly on his list achievements.

“It’s an honour and I’m flattered to be asked to do the job,” Askew said.

“It’s a very talented group. I think we’ll certainly give the Roar a good hit-out.

“I’m excited by it and it’s going to be a pretty special day.”

UQFC's Greta Bodey (L) and The Gap's Megan Price (R) will team up for the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women's Select. Image: Chris Simpson

Several of PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland’s emerging female footballers have already tasted the next level in recent months as part of a training stint with Roar.

Askew believes there is plenty of potential in the competition to bridge the gap to the Westfield W-League.

“I do. You go back a few years and there was a vast chasm,” he said.

“There were all these good players but the Roar … were far stronger than what we could produce at local level.

“But I think this group, especially in the front third, there’s a lot of quality there and I think if they can click they can certainly cause the Roar a few problems.”

The PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women’s Select squad will feature front-of-shirt promotion for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation (DMF), with proceeds from a gold coin entry also donated to the charity.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland Women's Select Squad

• Greta BODEY (UQFC)
• Georgia CHAPMAN (UQFC)
• Samara CHRISTMAS (Sunshine Coast FC)
• Leah CURTIS (The Gap FC)
• Jess DILLON (The Gap FC)
• Talitha DORO (SWQ Thunder FC)
• Rebekah HORSEY (UQFC)
• Bec PRICE (The Gap FC)
• Megan PRICE (The Gap FC)
• Katie RONAN (Olympic FC)
• Renee RUDDER (Moreton Bay United FC)
• Natalie TATHEM (Olympic FC)
• Deeanna THOMPSON (Palm Beach SC)
• Jenaya WHAREKAWA (Palm Beach SC)
• Danielle WHITE (Sunshine Coast FC)
• Brittany WHITFIELD (Peninsula Power FC)
• Katie WINTER (UQFC)

Coaches

• Rob ASKEW (The Gap FC - head coach)
• Gary FRENCH (Palm Beach SC - assistant coach)
• Dani HARBOT (UQFC - goalkeeper coach)

Match Details:

PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women's Select v Brisbane Roar Westfield W-League
Sunday, 27 September
Goodwin Park, Brisbane
Kick-off at 3:00PM

Gates Open at 2:00PM

Admission: Gold Coin Donation for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation