Preston's NRLW Bulldogs dream decades in the making
The last time Canterbury won the NRL premiership in 2004, the Preston family - Canterbury tragics living in Bulldogs heartland - had framed a signed poster of the iconic team.
NRL legends Sonny Bill Williams, Jonathan Thurston, Hazem El Masri and Willie Mason were in the team that pipped the Sydney Roosters in a classic grand final that day.
Two decades on, the Prestons hung the photo frame back up in the family home as a reminder of what Tayla could achieve blazing a trail with the club's first NRLW team.
"We kind of said, 'We'll have to put that up around the house to set a goal'," Tayla Preston told AAP ahead of round one this weekend.
"It's pretty cool to be able to look at that. I'd love to be able to lift the trophy up for the Bulldogs one day."
Along with the Warriors, Canterbury are one of two new NRLW franchises pushing the competition to 12 teams this season.
But for co-captain and playmaker Preston, playing for the Bulldogs is an opportunity many years in the making.
She grew up playing touch football and idolising the likes of Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson and Josh Morris as they wore the famous blue-and-white strip.
Her brother Jarryd was as keen a Canterbury fan, too, and used to run around wearing a pair of Mason's oversized footy shorts he'd been gifted after a game when the siblings were young.
Tayla has since crossed paths with Mason when he's dropped into training for the NSW Women's Premiership team.
"I wasn't game enough to tell him we had a pair of his shorts at home. Maybe one day," she said with a laugh.
So after a lifetime dreaming of playing for the Bulldogs at first-grade level, Preston is determined to make her chance count.
Preston insists a grand final appearance, just like that one from 2004, should not be off the cards for the youthful Dogs roster coached by ex-NRL player Brayden Wiliame.
Veteran prop Holli Wheeler, co-captain alongside Preston, and Kiwi Ferns trio Alexis Tauaneai, Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa and Ashleigh Quinlan will be essential to helping Canterbury realise that goal.
"There's no reason why we can't be there on grand final day. We believe we've got the squad to do so," Preston said.
"For us it's just about building that legacy and holding those standards really high for the young girls to be able to see there's a proper pathway now and they can play for the club that they idolise too."
When Tayla Preston became Canterbury's inaugural NRLW signing, her mother went out to the garage and rummaged around for a specific family treasure from 20 years earlier.
The last time Canterbury won the NRL premiership in 2004, the Preston family - Canterbury tragics living in Bulldogs heartland - had framed a signed poster of the iconic team.
NRL legends Sonny Bill Williams, Jonathan Thurston, Hazem El Masri and Willie Mason were in the team that pipped the Sydney Roosters in a classic grand final that day.
Two decades on, the Prestons hung the photo frame back up in the family home as a reminder of what Tayla could achieve blazing a trail with the club's first NRLW team.
"We kind of said, 'We'll have to put that up around the house to set a goal'," Tayla Preston told AAP ahead of round one this weekend.
"It's pretty cool to be able to look at that. I'd love to be able to lift the trophy up for the Bulldogs one day."
Along with the Warriors, Canterbury are one of two new NRLW franchises pushing the competition to 12 teams this season.
But for co-captain and playmaker Preston, playing for the Bulldogs is an opportunity many years in the making.
She grew up playing touch football and idolising the likes of Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson and Josh Morris as they wore the famous blue-and-white strip.
Her brother Jarryd was as keen a Canterbury fan, too, and used to run around wearing a pair of Mason's oversized footy shorts he'd been gifted after a game when the siblings were young.
Tayla has since crossed paths with Mason when he's dropped into training for the NSW Women's Premiership team.
"I wasn't game enough to tell him we had a pair of his shorts at home. Maybe one day," she said with a laugh.
So after a lifetime dreaming of playing for the Bulldogs at first-grade level, Preston is determined to make her chance count.
Preston insists a grand final appearance, just like that one from 2004, should not be off the cards for the youthful Dogs roster coached by ex-NRL player Brayden Wiliame.
Veteran prop Holli Wheeler, co-captain alongside Preston, and Kiwi Ferns trio Alexis Tauaneai, Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa and Ashleigh Quinlan will be essential to helping Canterbury realise that goal.
"There's no reason why we can't be there on grand final day. We believe we've got the squad to do so," Preston said.
"For us it's just about building that legacy and holding those standards really high for the young girls to be able to see there's a proper pathway now and they can play for the club that they idolise too."
When Tayla Preston became Canterbury's inaugural NRLW signing, her mother went out to the garage and rummaged around for a specific family treasure from 20 years earlier.
The last time Canterbury won the NRL premiership in 2004, the Preston family - Canterbury tragics living in Bulldogs heartland - had framed a signed poster of the iconic team.
NRL legends Sonny Bill Williams, Jonathan Thurston, Hazem El Masri and Willie Mason were in the team that pipped the Sydney Roosters in a classic grand final that day.
Two decades on, the Prestons hung the photo frame back up in the family home as a reminder of what Tayla could achieve blazing a trail with the club's first NRLW team.
"We kind of said, 'We'll have to put that up around the house to set a goal'," Tayla Preston told AAP ahead of round one this weekend.
"It's pretty cool to be able to look at that. I'd love to be able to lift the trophy up for the Bulldogs one day."
Along with the Warriors, Canterbury are one of two new NRLW franchises pushing the competition to 12 teams this season.
But for co-captain and playmaker Preston, playing for the Bulldogs is an opportunity many years in the making.
She grew up playing touch football and idolising the likes of Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson and Josh Morris as they wore the famous blue-and-white strip.
Her brother Jarryd was as keen a Canterbury fan, too, and used to run around wearing a pair of Mason's oversized footy shorts he'd been gifted after a game when the siblings were young.
Tayla has since crossed paths with Mason when he's dropped into training for the NSW Women's Premiership team.
"I wasn't game enough to tell him we had a pair of his shorts at home. Maybe one day," she said with a laugh.
So after a lifetime dreaming of playing for the Bulldogs at first-grade level, Preston is determined to make her chance count.
Preston insists a grand final appearance, just like that one from 2004, should not be off the cards for the youthful Dogs roster coached by ex-NRL player Brayden Wiliame.
Veteran prop Holli Wheeler, co-captain alongside Preston, and Kiwi Ferns trio Alexis Tauaneai, Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa and Ashleigh Quinlan will be essential to helping Canterbury realise that goal.
"There's no reason why we can't be there on grand final day. We believe we've got the squad to do so," Preston said.
"For us it's just about building that legacy and holding those standards really high for the young girls to be able to see there's a proper pathway now and they can play for the club that they idolise too."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
Anthony Mundine calls out longtime rival Danny Green's son after Rahim Mundine scores KO win
Anthony Mundine has used the chance to take a shot at his long-time rival, Danny Green, after his son Rahim 'The Dream' Mundine won his second career fight by knockout. The son of Anthony and grandson of Tony Mundine, Rahim stepped back into the ring after injury ruined his dreams of playing NRL. And he had few troubles with Joe Vatusaqata (1-5 record) on Wednesday night. On the Sonny Bill Williams and undercard, Mundine was far too strong for Fijian boxer Vatusaqata, knocking him down twice in the second round before his corner threw in the towel. You can watch the vicious knockout in the player above. 'I went back to footy and hurt myself again, so I was like nah, I'm going back to boxing,' Mundine said after improving his record to 2-0. However, his post-fight interview quickly became a chance for the Mundines to reignite their beef with the Greens. Danny Green fought two massive fights against Anthony Mundine during their careers in the ring, splitting them 1-1. But that didn't stop Mundine accusing Danny of being scared of fighting again and instead called out Green's son Archie, who has never had a professional or amateur fight, to box his son Rahim. 'It makes sense (for his son to fight Archie),' Mundine said after his son improved to 2-0. 'I pumped Danny a couple of times; he doesn't want to admit it. He reckons he won the third fight, but he doesn't want to do it again. 'I said let's do it again, but he doesn't want to do it because he knows what's up, but our boys can do it.' Rahim added: 'He hasn't fought yet, but I'm sure if he does his job in the next five years and I keep doing what I'm doing, the Mundine last name can whoop the Green last name again, you know what I mean?' Danny Green – who was working in the commentary box for Stan Sport – fired back at Mundine. 'I'm a nice guy that's why I didn't take the third fight. You took 11 years to do the rematch you pelican,' Green said. 'I love you too much, I'd hurt you too much. So yeah, 100% and Choc can't count, the W is next to my name. Look what's going to happen in the future, our sons are going to carry on our legacies.' Archie Green was also open to the idea of fighting Rahim. 'At the moment I am 17 and I'm about 56kg and definitely I want to have a fight (at amateur level) before the end of this year,' Archie said. 'Down the track definitely, but I just want to make the trilogy 2 and 1.'
Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sonny Bill Williams v Paul Gallen fight LIVE updates: Rugby league greats go face-to-face in the ring
Go to latest Good evening fight fans! It's the fight they said would never happen. But here we are, ringside at Qudos Bank Arena, for a grudge match that has been more than a decade in the making; Sonny Bill Williams versus Paul Gallen. The former footballers have clashed over everything from the length of the rounds to the gloves that will be used, threatening to scupper one of the most anticipated boxing events of the year. Given how many false starts there have been, it appeared this was never going to happen. However, the chance to finally settle the score - getting paid $1 million each may have also had something to do with it - means we are finally here. And we'll be there to bring you all the action as it happens. 7.28pm Green v Mundine IV? In undercard action, Rahim 'CJ' Mundine earned a second-round KO of Joe Vatusaqata in their super-middleweight clash. The son of Anthony Mundine then called out the son of Danny Green, Archie, a chance for a new generation to step into the Mundine-Green rivalry. Rahim was closing in on an NRL debut in 2021 while playing fullback for Souths, only to have his dreams dashed by a tackle from a young Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i. 'Early in that year a superstar, Joseph Sua'ali'i tackled me and I dislocated my left hip,' Mundine said. 'They said that was like a car-crash injury, that slowed me down a bit.' Mundine has switched his focus to boxing and has now earned his second victory and there is talk now of him going up against Archie Green, who is about to make his boxing debut. 'He's got a similar style to his dad, I've got a similar style to my dad,' Mundine said. 'Everyone knows what goes on when that happens. It would be like Connor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr, an Australian version. Anthony Mundine added: 'We want to make Green-Mundine money.' 7.24pm To get you in the mood, check out this fight teaser This is one of the best I have seen. The narrator is Temuera Morrison, aka Jake 'the Muss' (he was also a bounty hunter in Star Wars, some people get all the good gigs). Enjoy. 7.20pm Good evening fight fans! It's the fight they said would never happen. But here we are, ringside at Qudos Bank Arena, for a grudge match that has been more than a decade in the making; Sonny Bill Williams versus Paul Gallen. The former footballers have clashed over everything from the length of the rounds to the gloves that will be used, threatening to scupper one of the most anticipated boxing events of the year. Given how many false starts there have been, it appeared this was never going to happen. However, the chance to finally settle the score - getting paid $1 million each may have also had something to do with it - means we are finally here.
The Age
7 hours ago
- The Age
Sonny Bill Williams v Paul Gallen fight LIVE updates: Rugby league greats go face-to-face in the ring
Go to latest Good evening fight fans! It's the fight they said would never happen. But here we are, ringside at Qudos Bank Arena, for a grudge match that has been more than a decade in the making; Sonny Bill Williams versus Paul Gallen. The former footballers have clashed over everything from the length of the rounds to the gloves that will be used, threatening to scupper one of the most anticipated boxing events of the year. Given how many false starts there have been, it appeared this was never going to happen. However, the chance to finally settle the score - getting paid $1 million each may have also had something to do with it - means we are finally here. And we'll be there to bring you all the action as it happens. 7.28pm Green v Mundine IV? In undercard action, Rahim 'CJ' Mundine earned a second-round KO of Joe Vatusaqata in their super-middleweight clash. The son of Anthony Mundine then called out the son of Danny Green, Archie, a chance for a new generation to step into the Mundine-Green rivalry. Rahim was closing in on an NRL debut in 2021 while playing fullback for Souths, only to have his dreams dashed by a tackle from a young Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i. 'Early in that year a superstar, Joseph Sua'ali'i tackled me and I dislocated my left hip,' Mundine said. 'They said that was like a car-crash injury, that slowed me down a bit.' Mundine has switched his focus to boxing and has now earned his second victory and there is talk now of him going up against Archie Green, who is about to make his boxing debut. 'He's got a similar style to his dad, I've got a similar style to my dad,' Mundine said. 'Everyone knows what goes on when that happens. It would be like Connor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr, an Australian version. Anthony Mundine added: 'We want to make Green-Mundine money.' 7.24pm To get you in the mood, check out this fight teaser This is one of the best I have seen. The narrator is Temuera Morrison, aka Jake 'the Muss' (he was also a bounty hunter in Star Wars, some people get all the good gigs). Enjoy. 7.20pm Good evening fight fans! It's the fight they said would never happen. But here we are, ringside at Qudos Bank Arena, for a grudge match that has been more than a decade in the making; Sonny Bill Williams versus Paul Gallen. The former footballers have clashed over everything from the length of the rounds to the gloves that will be used, threatening to scupper one of the most anticipated boxing events of the year. Given how many false starts there have been, it appeared this was never going to happen. However, the chance to finally settle the score - getting paid $1 million each may have also had something to do with it - means we are finally here.
