Whenever Canberra 12-year-old Hayley Liddle is teased for being a girl on the footy field, she has a simple solution - run flat out.
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Liddle is the first girl from the ACT and third in Australia to take on the boys at the under-12 rugby league primary school national championships in Darwin in August.
The red-headed front-rower took up rugby league after watching a game when she was eight.
She has not taken a backward step playing for the West Belconnen Blue under-12s, earning respect from her teammates, coaches and rival players.
Liddle has heard all the jibes from opposition teams, but the Macgregor Primary School student quickly made them eat their words with her powerful charges and strong tackles.
"When people make fun and say I'm a girl, I run at them as I hard as I can," Liddle said.
"Then they're like, oh, I'm actually going to have a go and tackle you.
"I'm proud of myself, but I'm proud of the other women who have gone before me."
It is the final year Liddle is allowed to play against the boys before she will have to find an all-girls competition.
Hayley's mum Tracey admitted she was cautious of whether rugby league was the right sport for her daughter once she got older.
"When she first played we thought it was a good winter sport for her to keep fit because all of the kids were the same size," Tracey said.
"As the kids started to get bigger, I started to get a bit worried, but she holds her own.
"A lot of boys who say, 'You're a girl'', certainly find out she can play.
"She doesn't see herself as a girl playing football, she sees herself as part of the team."
Liddle also represent the ACT in softball at the Pan-Pacific Games in Adelaide in November.
God on his side
He has forged his own reputation in the craft, but Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart not only regarded former St Edmund's College rugby union mentor Col Maxwell as a coach, but a "father figure". Maxwell, who coached dual international Stuart in the school's first XV, will be honoured at a reunion of old boys of the college on Saturday, July 25, fittingly at a home derby against Marist College. Stuart said Maxwell, who is in a Queanbeyan nursing home, had also taught him life lessons away from the football field. "Col and Brother Bob Wallace coached me in the first XV for three years, both men were like father figures," Stuart said. "Col then coached me at the Queanbeyan Whites when I played for them after school. Outside of being a coach he is a tremendous friend. Probably the biggest thing Col did for me was to keep me grounded and never let me get too far ahead of myself. He's a man's man, and the sort of person you always wanted to play for." Both of Stuart's sons now play for St Edmund's and he hopes they will benefit just as much from the experience. "I've got both boys there now and they really fell into the passion and culture of the place," he said. NSW Nationals member for Monaro John Barilaro last week devoted five minutes to trumpeting the achievements of Maxwell, who has coached a number of schoolboys and senior teams in the Canberra and Queanbeyan region. One of the many Eddies teams whose old boys will be there in big numbers on July 25 is Maxwell's 1989 Waratah Shield-winning team, dubbed the "God Squad". Anyone wanting to attend the reunion can visit the school's Facebook page for details.
Finegan puts foot down
He was known during his playing days as a hard-running loose forward, but Brumbies championship-winning captain Owen Finegan will be using pedal power for a long-distance ride in the name of charity. Finegan will get on his bike for a 165km ride during Canberra's annual long distance cycling event, Fitz's Challenge, on Sunday, October 25. The chief executive of The Kids' Cancer Project, Finegan will be raising funds for the organisation. "Fitz's Challenge is a wonderful opportunity for cyclists of all abilities to get involved, test themselves and be out on the road around Canberra's Brindabella Ranges while helping fund vital medical research into childhood cancer," Finegan said. The Fitz's Challenge has five different distances - 50km, 105km, 165km, 210km and 255km - with the courses set across the Brindabella Rangers. The event raised nearly $35,000 for the Kids' Cancer Project last year with more than 1300 riders involved. Registrations are open at www.fitzs.com.au
Another Raider released
The Raiders have released their third player this season, allowing winger Bill Tupou to take up a deal with English Super League club Salford. Tupou joined the Raiders midway through the 2013 season from the New Zealand Warriors, but failed to cement a regular full-time position, playing 14 games. The 25-year-old follows former Raiders prop Dane Tilse (Hull KR) to the Super League, while front-rower Luke Page was released so he could join the St George Illawarra Dragons. Tupou played one game for the Raiders this year.
Smiths on move
There's also player movement at the Brumbies, with prop Ruan Smith signing a deal with Japanese club Toyota Verblitz. But it's not all bad news. Smith is poised to ink a new two-year deal with the Brumbies starting on February 1 to allow him to return in time for the start of the Super Rugby season. The Australian Rugby Union needs to tick off on the deal before it can become official. Smith's twin brother Jean-Pierre has already joined Western Province in the Currie Cup ahead of forcing his way into the Stormers next season. The Brumbies are also in talks with a former Queensland Reds outside back who has most recently been plying his trade in France.
Goal in sight
W-League champions Canberra United are about to announce their first player re-signing for next season. It's likely to be Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who missed last season recovering from a knee reconstruction. Williams showed at the women's World Cup that she is back to her best and will be a valuable addition to the defending title holders. United are also keen to bring back striker Michelle Heyman, but she has had plenty of interest from competition newcomers Melbourne City, who are armed with a big chequebook. United will also be looking for three new imports with Lori Lindsey, Stephanie Ochs and Chantel Jones not returning.
Making history
A 24-strong NSW/ACT squad has been finalised for the side's historic clash with Queensland, to be played in Western Sydney on Sunday afternoon. This will be the first time the teams have played at open level, and the second-ever fixture for the NSW/ACT team, following last month's inaugural clash with Victoria Country in Melbourne. The side, to be coached by AFL Sydney stalwart Chris Hughes, was selected based on the form of players in April's AFL Sydney v AFL Canberra clash, as well as local club form, and performances against Victoria Country. Nine Canberra-based players will hit the field for the 3pm clash.
If the shoe fits
There's an old saying regarding people who have big feet - they need big shoes.
Hulking Canberra Raiders prop Shannon Boyd certainly fits that description after revealing at a press conference last week he wears size 15-and-a-half football boots.
The 22-year-old suffers horrible blisters on his feet after most games, as he struggles to find boots big enough to accommodate his huge feet.
"It's not too bad, I used to have that problem but our boot sponsor have been pretty good, they've been looking after me with some pretty big shoes," Boyd said.
Making a pitch
The Canberra Cavalry have again been given the chance to supplement their stocks of Australian baseball talent with five of the first seven picks in the Australian Baseball League's second Aussie draft. They have the first two picks, along with picks four, six and seven, due to the small talent pool in the ACT. The ABL will be hoping there is more player movement this year after just five players were taken in the inaugural ABL Australian player draft in 2014. The Cavs picked up four of those: pitcher Tristan Crawford, outfielder Adam Silva, catcher Kieran Bradford and infielder Scott Hillier.