The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are delighted to announce that six Academy players have been selected to represent the Australian Schoolboys and Australian Schoolgirls teams.
As announced in Coffs Harbour yesterday at the conclusion of the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships, Bulldogs' Academy players Mitchell Woods, Olivia Vaalele, Seriah Palepale, Trinity Tauaneai, Pauline Suli-Ruka and Kayla Henderson have all been selected to represent in the Australian Schoolboys and Australian Schoolgirls teams.
Mitchell Woods has been named at five-eighth for the Australian Schoolboys.
Woods represented the NSW Combined Independent Schools at the recent ASSRL Under 18s Nationals’ competition. The young halfback is a product of the Bulldogs Academy and has risen through the junior ranks at Canterbury, having Captained the Club's Premiership winning Harold Matthews side last year and now signed on until 2027.
Woods can slot goals, create with his deadly kicking game and back himself to slice through a gap, all of which has earnt him selection in the City Under 19s team, NSW Under 19s team and now the Australian Schoolboys squad.
Fellow Bulldogs Academy Captain, Olivia Vaalele has also been selected in the halves following the ASSRL competition.
Vaalele captained the 2024 Bulldogs Lisa Fiaola Cup side to an undefeated season, making history as the first-ever Lisa Fiaola Grand Finalists and champions in it's inaugural year as a full competition. As a talented young playmaker, Vaalele represented the NSW City Under 17s team earlier this year and will be an exciting playmaker to watch well into the future and as the Club readies for its' NRLW entry.
Seriah Palepale has been named at prop for the Australian Schoolgirls. As a damaging forward, Palepale was another crucial member of the Lisa Fiaola Premiership winning team. Palepale demonstrated her attacking force for the Lisa Fiaola squad, crossing the line eight times in nine games.
Another Lisa Fiaola premiership winner, Trinity Tauaneai earnt selection for the Australian Schoolgirls. Tauaneai is a gifted forward who graduated from the Bulldogs Academy to the NRLW where she is currently playing for the Dragons. After a strong season at the Bulldogs, Taunaneai represented the NSW City Under 17s team and has been selected at lock for the Green and Gold.
Pauline Suli-Ruka has also been selected for the Schoolgirls being named at second row. Suli-Ruka is a product of the Bulldogs Academy and was a key player for the Tarsha Gale Cup team. The dynamic forward represented the NSW City Under 19s team and is an exciting prospect for the Bulldogs Harvey Norman Women's Premiership team this season.
Having previously represented Australia last year, Kayla Henderson has once again been selected as the Australian Schoolgirls fullback. The explosive young playmaker featured in the Bulldogs Tarsha Gale Cup team and also represented the NSW City Under 19s team this year.
The Bulldogs Academy’s successful campaigns across the 2024 season speaks volumes to the future of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs pathways systems.
The Bulldogs wish to congratulate the Academy players on earning their selections.
