The Sydney Roosters Tarsha Gale Cup squad have donned the red, white and blue for the first time in nearly a year, and have come away with a win.
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Dubbo product Taneka Todhunter, invited back in to trial with the squad for her second straight year, was one of the young guns who hit the field running in a return to action as the NRL club's junior squads across the Tarsha Gale Cup, Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions all got back in gear in a series of trial games.
It's the first time Todhunter and her Summer Squad team-mates have taken to the field in Roosters colours since COVID-19 caused the abrupt end of the 2020 season following round 6 in March of 2020.
Every girl in the squad played across their match against the St George Dragon's rival side, taking out a 24 - 20 win after turning in handy performances over all four quarters.
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Sydney Roosters Junior Representatives and Pathways Manager Blake Cavallaro walked away impressed with how the Tarsha Gale Cup side's effort shone through following a late-game burst of energy from the Dragons.
Todhunter herself scored a try shortly before half-time in the close-fought contest.
"We wanted to see how they would go under fatigue. They haven't played for a while and have been training for nine or 10 weeks," Cavallaro told Roosters.com.au
"I think under fatigue you see a lot more football and I definitely saw that today."
While the SG Ball and Harold Matthews sides didn't get up, Cavallaro remained impressed with all three junior trial squads, who all showed positive signs in their return to play.
"There were some nerves, but once they go and have their first run the nerves go out of the system," Cavallaro said.
"They are excited to wear the Sydney Roosters colours as every young boy and girl is, and it was good to see some football."
"I thought the boys and girls played well considering they have been out of the game for nine or 10 months and have been training for nine weeks now."
"There are some little things they need to work on, but I was impressed with their effort."
Only a few weeks remain before final decisions are made about the positions in the Tarsha Gale Cup squad, with the season set to begin on February 6.
The next trial, against Illawarra on Saturday, January 23, will be their final chance to impress before the final squad takes on the Bulldogs in the first round in February.