Following a one-year absence, the Souths Logan Magpies will be returning to the BHP Premiership next year, with an open training session for first grade and U-19 teams to be held on Saturday at Acacia Ridge.
Boasting a history of premiership success, and having produced 27 internationals, it was always likely that the club would return to the top level of the competition.
Potential new players will have their skills tested by new coach, former New Zealand international Maia Tua-Davidson, who will take the reins for the 2022 season.
Tua-Davidson says the return of football to the Logan region would provide a pathway for female players in the region from the grassroots to the NRLW.
“We are excited to relaunch with Souths Logan Magpies given the enormous talent in the region. With the growth of the female game, particularly in the junior ranks, our aim is to establish a sustainable long-term pathway that captures that talent and returns Souths to its former glory in the women’s space.”
Magpies CEO Luke Archer
CEO Luke Archer says that the club was excited to be returning to the top level, given the long history of successful womens sides at Davies Park.
“The women’s game has grown a lot in the last 20 years that we’ve been running women’s football at Souths Logan Magpies. We’re fortunate to have a good strong history and it’s good to be back.
“For us, we had to find the right coach, and to have due diligence around the selection of the coach. Maia has had an illustrious career.
“Having the right people around our coach was was important as well. We are extremely fortunate to have the services of Maia alongside Ollie Olds, a former player at our club.”
Archer says the club would be focusing on small goals this season, with the primary aim of building a long-term culture of success around an experienced coaching staff, and a new group of players.
That includes the appointment Queensland legend Steph Hancock in a coaching position to help guide the new team.
“This season, we’re trying to get good people back in our organization.
This year’s about making sure that the coaching staff get comfortable in their roles and being competitive”
The Magpies’ gain will unfortunately come at the expense of two other Brisbane clubs, who have missed out as part of the QRL’s re-application process.
Two clubs – Valkyries and the Valleys Diehards – will not take part in the 2022 season, as the QRL pivots to try and integrate the women’s premiership alongside the existing men’s competition.
The first Souths Logan Magpies QRLW training session will take place from 9am-12pm this Saturday at Acacia Ridge.
