Final preparations completed for women's inaugural Talent ID day

Final preparations for the inaugural women's NRL Talent ID day are in place with 180 athletes expected to take part in the skills-based trial at Queensland's Runaway Bay on Thursday May 31.

The large group of rugby league hopefuls will be split into three squads of 60 and ushered through a series of fitness and strength-related tests.

Elite Females Pathway manager Jamie Feeney was confident NRL clubs scouting for remaining spots in their squads for the upcoming women's premiership could unearth new talent.

The four NRL clubs – Brisbane Broncos, Sydney Roosters, St George Illawarra Dragons, and Warriors - could have more than six spots available in their squads. That means both the talent ID day and National Championships are expected to help clubs fill those positions.

"It's an opportunity for girls who have not fallen in the elite system yet, or from different sports, to test themselves physically and in a game sense and hopefully stand out in front of recruitment officers at each of the NRL clubs," Feeney said.

"It's great there is a pathway to play in the NRL now for women and young girls ... aspirational girls who are pulling on the boots as a six-year-old, or more senior women who have been playing for a while that have never had the opportunity." 

Australian Jillaroos star Kezie Apps has backed the event, which kicks off a day prior to the National Championships also on the Gold Coast.

"The number of girls that have registered, it's phenomenal," Apps told NRL.com.

"And the beauty is you just don't know who could appear and what talent could be discovered on the day. I'll be in camp with the NSW Country side but hopefully we can head along and catch a bit of the action."

The official rundown of the day includes five physical tests and a skills-based program, before players will compete in trial-style games.

Drills include:

• Agility Test – measuring change of direction speed during pre-planned movements. The test is evaluated with timing gates.
• 20 metre sprint – evaluating speed of athletes off the mark and at five, 10 and 20 metres from a standing start.
• Vertical jump – testing muscular power with both feet lifting off the ground to reach the highest personal mark possible.
• 3kg Medicine ball throw – measuring the upper body of an athlete with a squat and throw ability examination.
• 30-15 fitness test – a shuttle run style that targets aerobic capacity and speed.

NRL.com understands players, who have registered, are expected from as far as Western Australia for the day with sporting backgrounds including AFLW, rugby union, hockey, and basketball.

Each player registered has completed a tackling course prior to the event.

Talent ID day details

When: May 31
Where: Runaway Bay RLFC, Runaway Bay
Time: 9:30am
Spectator entry: Free

 Don't miss the chance to come see Holden Women's State of Origin kick-off a new era in elite women's sport at North Sydney Oval on Friday 22 June. Tickets available HERE