2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup squads explained

See main article: article and 2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup. This article lists the squads for the 2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup.

The lists are primarily composed from two sources. The Lion Foundation Woman's Rugby League World Cup 2003 programme, published to coincide with the start of the tournament, lists players' names, their playing positions and club.^[1] The New Zealand Rugby League Almanack 2003 listed the scorers for all 25 matches in the tournament.^[2]

Australia

Australia played five matches in the tournament: New Zealand Māori, Niue, New Zealand, Samoa and New Zealand Māori (Semi-Final). This list includes the players named in the programme and affirmed as try scorers in the New Zealand Rugby League Almanack plus those named as making their debut in 2003.^{[3] [4]}

Player	Position(s)	Club	State			Pts
Teresa Anderson		Toowoomba	Qld	2	0	8
Annie Banks		Kedron-Wavell Wildcats	Qld	0	0	0
Karley Banks		Brothers Ipswich	Qld	1	0	4
Kellie Batchelor		Goodna	Qld	1	0	4
Jaye Christensen		Kedron-Wavell Wildcats	Qld	0	0	0
Melissa Edwards		Toowoomba	Qld	0	0	0
Lisa Elkins		Kedron-Wavell Wildcats	Qld	0	0	0
Erin Elliott		Toowoomba	Qld	1	0	4
Katrina Fanning		Boomanulla	ACT	1	0	4
Angelica Forbes		Toowoomba	Qld	0	0	0
Neena Fraser		Toowoomba	Qld	1	0	4
Patricia Fraser		Toowoomba	Qld	0	0	0
		Toowoomba	Qld	0	0	0
Lisa Holder		Brothers Ipswich	Qld	1	0	4
Caryl Jarrett		Canberra	ACT	2	0	8
Karyn Murphy		Brothers Ipswich	Qld	1	0	4
Tracey Musgrove		Toowoomba	Qld	0	0	0
Tahnee Norris		Brothers Ipswich	Qld	2	0	8
Tammy Pohatu		Brothers Ipswich	Qld	0	0	0
Roslyn Simpson		Canberra	ACT	3	0	12
		Toowoomba	Qld	4	0	16
Tracey Thompson		Brothers Ipswich	Qld	2	19	46
Tarah Westera		Sunshiine Coast	Qld	3	0	12
Leah Williams		Sunshiine Coast	Qld	4	0	16
Totals	29	19	154

Coaching and support staff:

• Coach: Dave Leat
• Assistant Coach: Graham Christie
• Manager: Jeanette Luker
• Trainer: Jacob Christie

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands played six matches: New Zealand, Tokelau, Great Britain, New Zealand Māori, Tokelau and Samoa. The first match, against New Zealand, was their international debut. Players in the Cook Islands team were selected from New Zealand clubs.

Player	Position(s)	Club	Province	T	G	Pts
Charmaine Angareu		Mangere East	Auckland	0	0	0
Deborah Apaina		Ponsonby	Auckland	0	0	0
Marry-Anne Aukino		Papakura	Auckland	0	0	0
Rangi Aukino		Randwick	Wellington	0	0	0
Justine Cook		Ponsonby	Auckland	0	0	0
Sarah Cook		Ponsonby	Auckland	0	0	0
Debbie Dorman		Ponsonby	Auckland	1	0	4
Michelle Driscoll		Richmond	Auckland	0	0	0
Tracey Larkin		Ponsonby	Auckland	1	0	4
Elizabeth Mani		Mt Wellington	Auckland	1	0	4
Caroline Marsters		Mt Wellington	Auckland	3	2	16
Kelly Marsters		Te Atatu	Auckland	0	0	0
Joyce Otikore-Joseph		Otara	Auckland	0	0	0
Nora Pange		Mangere East	Auckland	0	0	0
Api Parai		Te Atatu	Auckland	3	4	20
Hilda Peters		Papakura	Auckland	0	0	0
Karen Thorn		Ponsonby	Auckland	0	0	0
Amiria Tikinau		Otahuhu	Auckland	2	0	8
Mary Tuarae		Richmond	Auckland	2	0	8
Tutai-Stephanie Utanga		Mt Wellington	Auckland	1	1	6
Theresa Vaiula		Ponsonby	Auckland	0	0	0
Teremoana Vano		Ponsonby	Auckland	1	0	4
Teresa Wilson		Hillcrest	Waikato	0	0	0
Tupou Wilson		Hillcrest	Waikato	0	0	0
Totals	15	7	74

Coaching and support staff:

• Coach: Tom Bishop
• Assistant Coach: Karlvon (Kas) Vasau
• Manager: Rita Ngaiti
• Trainer: Joe Hewitt

Great Britain

Great Britain played five matches: Samoa. Tonga, New Zealand Māori, Cook Islands and New Zealand (semi-final).

Player	Position(s)	Club	M	T	G	Pts
Lindsay Anfield		Barrow	4	1	0	4
Samantha Bailey		Bradford Thunderbirds	4	0	0	0
Jane Banks		Bradford Thunderbirds	3	0	0	0
Nicola Benstead		Hull Dockers	1	0	0	0
Aimee Bradshaw		Bank Quay Broncos	3	0	0	0
Samantha Brook		Bradford Thunderbirds	3	0	0	0
Wendy Charnley		Bank Quay Broncos	3	0	0	0
Sarah Dixon		Pendle Panthers	2	0	0	0
Brenda Dobek		Wakefield Townville Panthers	4	0	6	12
Andrea Dobson		Pendle Panthers	3	0	0	0
Stacey Doherty		Wakefield Townville Panthers	4	1	0	4
Caroline Dolan		Halifax	1	0	0	0
Stacey Greenwood		Bradford Thunderbirds	5	6	0	24
Renee Gregorie		Bradford Thunderbirds	5	1	0	4
Rebecca Jones		Toowoomba	3	2	0	8
Bevlee Langan		York Acorn Ladies	2	0	0	0
Sally Milburn		Barrow	5	3	0	12
Nicola Parry		York Acorn Ladies	2	0	0	0
Natalie Parsons		Bradford Thunderbirds	5	3	7	26
Sarah Shillito		Keighley Albion Cats	2	0	0	0
Nicola Simpson		Milford Marlins	5	3	0	12
Beth Sutcliffe		Hillside Hawks	4	0	0	0
Dannielle Titterington		Wakefield Townville Panthers	4	0	0	0
Rachel Twibill		Halifax	3	0	0	0
Michelle Wood		Slaithwait	3	1	0	4
Totals			83	21	13	110

Notes:

• There are two sources that provide different scorers for the Great Britain versus Tonga game.
  • The match report in the League Express has Nicola Simpson scoring three tries, and Dannielle Titterington not scoring a try.^[5]
  • The New Zealand Rugby League Almanack has Nicola Simpson scoring two tries, and Dannielle Titterington scoring one try.
  • The above table reflects the League Express account.
    • the two sources agree on the remaining scorers in the Tonga match, as well as on the scorers for Great Britain in their match against the New Zealand Māori Great Britain Team Support Staff were: Jackie Sheldon (head coach), Michaela Hirst (assistant coach), Andy MacDonald (team manager), Doreen Metcalf (Tour Manager), Joanna Bates (doctor), and Elaine Kirton (physiotherapist).
• Samantha Bailey, Samantha Brook, Stacey Greenwood, Renee Gregoire and Natalie Parsons were all representatives from the Bradford Thunderbirds club.^[6]
• Andrea Dobson and Sarah Dixon were representatives of the Pendle Panthers club.^{[7] [8] [9]}
• Nicola Benstead was a representative from the Hull Dockers club.^[10]
• Bev Langan and Nicola Parry were representatives of the York Acorn Ladies club.^{[11] [12]}
• Aimee Bradshaw and Wendy Charnley were representatives of the Bank Quay Broncos club.^{[13] [14]}

New Zealand

New Zealand played six matches: Cook Islands, Tokelau, Australia, Samoa, Great Britain (semi-final) and New Zealand Māori (final). New Zealand's World Cup squad was named in early June, nearly four months ahead of the tournament, which began on 28 September 2003.^[15] The team to play Tokelau appeared in a New Zealand Herald article on the day of the match.^[16]

Player	Position(s)	Club	Province			Pts
Luisa Avaiki			Auckland	4	0	16
Mere Baker		Papanui Tigers	Canterbury	3	0	12
			Auckland	1	0	4
Tafale Chan Ting			Auckland	1	0	4
Nadene Conlon			Auckland	2	0	8
Karen Dougall			Wellington	0	0	0
Selena Edmonds			Wellington	5	0	20
Marion Heather			Auckland	6	4	32
Maryanne Hemara			Auckland	0	0	0
			Wellington	9	23	82
		Forestland Falcons	Bay of Plenty	10	0	40
Annabelle Hohepa			Auckland	0	0	0
Teasha Leka		Mt Wellington	Auckland	0	0	0
Kelly Leota			Auckland	2	2	12
			Auckland	2	0	8
Ina Muaiava			Auckland	0	0	0
Dawn Patelesio			Wellington	0	0	0
Tamaku Paul		Forestland Falcons	Bay of Plenty	9	0	36
Khardine Pohatu			Auckland	1	0	4
Sarai Sue		Mt Wellington	Auckland	0	6	12
			Auckland	3	0	12
Lovey Tawhi			Auckland	2	0	8
Awhina Te Hiko		Forestland Falcons	Bay of Plenty	0	0	0
Tessa Te Kahu		Papanui Tigers	Canterbury	3	0	12
Fuarosa Time		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	10	0	40
Leah Witehira			Auckland	3	0	12
Totals				76	36	376

Coaching and support staff:

• Coach: Lawrence Brydon
• Assistant Coach: Stan Martin
• Manager: Juanita Woodhouse
• Trainer: Bob Vercoe
• Physiotherapist: Leah Pearsail
• Assistant trainer/strapper: Hugh McKechnie

New Zealand Māori

New Zealand Māori played six matches: Australia, Niue, Great Britain, Cook Islands, Australia (semi-final) and New Zealand (final).

On 8 August, prior to the World Cup which began in late September 2003, a Test Match between Australia and New Zealand Māori was played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The teams were listed in the Big League programme.^[17] Players in the Māori team were named as follows: Natasha Tehiko, Mere Miki, Annie Brown, Awaroa Waikai, Rachael Wikepa (Wikeepa), Puawai Hohepa, Kelly Kiwi, Vicki Letele, Tania Martin, Karla Clay (Klay), Jodi Piutau (Puitau), Sharyle Winikeri, Tirina Whakatihi; Cecily Stainton, Susan Wilkinson, Faith Dickson, Ani Ngala, Leanne Gardner, Amy Turner with Greg Brown as coach. Names in parentheses reflect the spelling used in the New Zealand Rugby League Almanac.

Player	Position(s)	Club	Province			Pts
Annie Brown		Forestland Falcons	Bay of Plenty	0	0	0
			Auckland	1	0	4
Faith Dickson			Bay of Plenty	0	0	0
Natasha Emery		Te Aroha Eels	Wellington	3	0	12
Leanne Gardiner			Auckland	0	0	0
Puawai Hohepa		Pikiao Warriors	Bay of Plenty	2	1	10
		Forestland Falcons	Bay of Plenty	1	1	6
Vicki Letele			Auckland	2	0	8
Lishelle Ngawini			Auckland	0	0	0
Rochelle Potaka			Auckland	2	6	20
Jodie Puitau			Auckland	1	0	4
Cecily Stainton			Bay of Plenty	1	0	4
Hinei Taute			Bay of Plenty	3	0	12
Frances Te Ao		Te Aroha Eels	Wellington	0	0	0
Natasha Tehiko		Forestland Falcons	Bay of Plenty	0	0	0
Heremia Timu			Auckland	3	0	12
Amy Turner		Pikiao Warriors	Bay of Plenty	2	0	8
Awaroa Waikai		Mt Wellington	Auckland	4	0	16
Tania Watson		Te Aroha Eels	Wellington	0	0	0
Iria Whakatihi		Te Aroha Eels	Wellington	0	2	4
Miriama Whakatihi		Te Aroha Eels	Wellington	0	0	0
Terina Whakatihi		Te Aroha Eels	Wellington	0	0	0
		Forestland Falcons	Bay of Plenty	4	0	16
Susan Wilkinson			Auckland	0	0	0
Sharyl Winikerei		Forestland Falcons	Bay of Plenty	0	0	0
Totals				29	10	136

Coaching and support staff:

• Coach: Greg Brown
• Assistant Coach: Len Reid
• Manager: Angela Hodge
• Trainers: Kara Hodge, Mark Edmonds
• Physiotherapist: Naumai Tuta
• Statistician: Janie Thompson

Niue

Niue played five matches: New Zealand Māori, Australia, Tokelau, Tonga and Samoa. The first match, against New Zealand Māori, was their international debut.

Player	Position(s)	Club	Province			Pts
Sana Aisoli			Auckland	1	0	4
D Bloomfield				0	2	4
Suerena Comer			Auckland	3	0	12
Vate Ekepati		Otara Scorpions	Auckland	0	0	0
Caroline Fanamanu			Auckland	2	0	8
S Fanokehe				2	1	10
Doreen Fenton			Auckland	0	0	0
Shirley Ikifitu		Otara Scorpions	Auckland	1	0	4
Treena Kumitau		Otara Scorpions	Auckland	0	0	0
Priscilla Lavakula		Otara Scorpions	Auckland	0	0	0
Memali Mafileo-Posoni			Wellington	0	0	0
Angie Mizziebo		Otara Scorpions	Auckland	0	0	0
Christina Patii			Auckland	0	0	0
Taako Piaso			Wellington	2	0	8
Leilana Pulevaka			Auckland	0	0	0
Melinda Seini			Auckland	0	0	0
Mekeaukui Sifaheone			Auckland	0	0	0
Jannine Stewart		Otara Scorpions	Auckland	0	0	0
Jacqueline Talagi			Auckland	0	0	0
Emily Telfer		Mt Wellington	Auckland	1	0	4
Jo Tichkowsky			Wellington	0	0	0
Totals				12	3	54

Coaching and support staff:

• Coach: Meke Lokeni
• Manager: Grace Kapinua
• Strapper: Tomsai Nuku

Note:

• D Broomfield and S Fanokehe were named as scorers for Niue in the Almanack but were not listed in the Programme.^{[1] [2]}

Samoa

Samoa played six matches: Great Britain, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Niue and Cook Islands. The first match, against Great Britain, was their international debut.

Player	Position(s)	Club	Province			Pts
Tapu Ali'ifa'alogo		Forestland Falcons	Bay of Plenty	0	0	0
Ane Chan Kee			Auckland	0	0	0
Lita Clark			Auckland	0	0	0
Sera Clayton			Auckland	0	0	0
Tuiai Elisara			Auckland	2	0	8
Vanessa Elisara			Auckland	0	0	0
Laine Fa'apito			Auckland	1	0	4
Meto Kirisome			Auckland	0	0	0
Stephanie Lafaele			Auckland	0	0	0
Moana Laumatia		Te Aroha Eels	Wellington	4	0	16
Wendy Leafa		Pikiao Warriors	Bay of Plenty	0	0	0
Te'evahale Lefale			Auckland	2	0	8
Amy Levi			Auckland	1	0	4
Tolotea Lome			Auckland	0	0	0
			Auckland	0	0	0
Theresa Malaitai			Wellington	1	0	4
Angel Mulu		North City Vikings	Wellington	0	0	0
Jean Oti			Wellington	3	3	18
Ianeta Peau			Auckland	0	0	0
Tepatasiane Pomare			Auckland	0	0	0
Leah Sao-Filipo			Auckland	1	0	4
Diana Sipili		Te Aroha Eels	Wellington	3	0	12
Carmelia Smith			Auckland	0	0	0
Maima Tiatia			Auckland	0	0	0
Helen Tuimavave			Wellington	7	0	28
Lolina (Leota) Tuioti		North City Vikings	Wellington	3	1	14
Totals				28	4	120

Coaching and support staff:

• Coach: George Apelii Tuimaseve
• Assistant Coach: Sefo Fuimaono
• Managers: Mary Malloy, Leie Sipel-Schaumkei
• Trainers: Jason McCarthy, Feleti Lefao

Tokelau

Tokelau played six matches: Cook Islands, New Zealand, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands and Tonga. The first match, against Cook Islands, was their international debut.

Player	Position(s)	Club	Province			Pts
Sagita Aleni		North City Vikings	Wellington	0	0	0
Maria Atapuai Alesana		North City Vikings	Wellington	1	0	4
Tolua Ariu			Wellington	1	0	4
		North City Vikings	Wellington	3	0	12
Ana Fidow		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	0	0	0
Campaign Fidow		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	0	0	0
Jenny Finau		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	1	0	4
Peta Ineleo			Wellington	0	0	0
Johana Lemihio		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	0	0	0
Julie Lemihio		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	0	0	0
J Lenusio				3	0	12
Ahi Loloa		North City Vikings	Wellington	0	0	0
Taloanga Mataio		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	0	0	0
Rhys Nouata-Nikotema			Wellington	0	0	0
Matalena Omara			Auckland	0	0	0
Ana Pedro		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	3	0	12
Akenese Pereira		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	1	0	4
Belia Perez		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	0	0	0
Pele Puka		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	1	0	4
Naomi Silao		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	1	4	12
Ana So'otaga		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	2	0	8
Ana Tuia		Randwick Kingfishers	Wellington	1	0	4
Vaililo Toloa		North City Vikings	Wellington	2	0	8
Jacqueline Vaovasa		North City Vikings	Wellington	0	0	0
Maria Wilson				2	0	8
Totals				22	4	96

Coaching and support staff:

• Coach: Tony Lajpold
• Assistant Coach: John Misley
• Manager: Mat So'otaga
• Physiotherapist: Matt Willett

Note

• J Lenusio was named as a scorer in the Almanack but was not listed – at least with the same spelling – in the Programme.^{[1] [2]}

Tonga

Tonga played five matches: Samoa, Great Britain, Tokelau, Niue and Tokelau. The first match, against Samoa, was their international debut.

Player	Club			Pts
Sepiuta Tonga 'Alatini	Fuekafa Rabbitohs	1	1	6
Lupe Fiefia	Ha'ateiho Crusaders	0	0	0
Lupe Fisilau	Kolomu'a Warriors	1	0	4
Ema Lu'isa Havea	Kolomu'a Warriors	0	0	0
Isapela Hopoi	Kolomu'a Warriors	0	0	0
Ana 'Iongi	Kolomu'a Warriors	0	0	0
Ana Uikelotu Katoa	Mu'a Saints	0	0	0
Uluaki Fuifuilupe Kaufusi	Mu'a Saints	3	0	12
Elenoa Lauhingoa	Fuekafa Rabbitohs	0	0	0
Seini Malungahu	Fuekafa Rabbitohs	0	0	0
Olivia Moimoi	Kolomu'a Warriors	1	0	4
Akameta Paongo	Fuekafa Rabbitohs	0	0	0
Sisi'uno Pasikala	Mu'a Saints	1	0	4
Na'a Pole	Mu'a Saints	0	0	0
Lomekina Ta'ai	Fuekafa Rabbitohs	0	0	0
Eseta Vea Toluta'u	Mu'a Saints	1	0	4
Ma'ata Tonga	Fuekafa Rabbitohs	0	0	0
Sesimani Tupou Tu'ifua	Mu'a Saints	0	0	0
Celestyana Valu	Fuekafa Rabbitohs	0	0	0
Tokilupe Veamatahau	Fuekafa Rabbitohs	0	0	0
Totals		8	1	34

The Programme did not list Tonga's coaching and support staff.

Notes and References

1. Book: Lion Foundation Woman's Rugby League World Cup 2003. 2003. New Zealand Rugby Football League.
2. Book: Francis, Payne. New Zealand Rugby League Almanack 2003. 2003. New Zealand Rugby Football League Inc..
3. Web site: Australian Jillaroos. facebook. NRL . Middleton . David .
4. Web site: The deep dive to uncover Jillaroos records . Newton. Alicia. 21 January 2021. NRL. 9 March 2021. Middleton. David.
5. News: British Ladies Suffer Stetback. League Express. 6 October 2003.
6. News: Parsons is predicting big things from GB. West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Counties Publications. 7 October 2003.
7. Web site: Andrea Dobson. 29 September 2019. Women in Rugby League. 28 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200804110405/https://www.womeninrugbyleague.org.uk/featherstone/andrea-dobson/. 4 August 2020.
8. Web site: Andrea Dobson retires from international Rugby League. 5 June 2019. Rugby-League.com. 28 October 2021.
9. News: England draft Dobson into squad. Lancashire County Publications. 19 March 2003.
10. News: Kiwi-Bound Utility Back Flying The Flag For Hull. Hull Daily Mail. 12 August 2003.
11. News: Bev has whole world in her hands. North Yorkshire County Publications. 20 August 2003. Martini. Peter.
12. News: Acorn duo's World Cup duty. North Yorkshire County Publications. 24 September 2003.
13. News: Sports digest - Hillside humbled. Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications. 8 May 2003. Parsons. Mike.
14. News: Sports digest - Demolition job. Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications. 22 May 2003. Parsons. Mike.
15. News: Siblings in New Zealand squad. The Press (Christchurch). 3 June 2003.
16. News: Kiwi Ferns face onslaught. New Zealand Herald. 2 October 2003. 15. Gillan. Gordon. Microfilm at State Library of NSW. .
17. 8 August 2003 . Curtain Raiser - Australia v NZ Māori . Big League . 84 .