Catching up with the newly-promoted Captains

There will be two new teams partaking in this year's 2024 Betfred Women's Super League, as we catch up with their loyal captains Featherstone Rovers' Brogan Churm, and Barrow Raiders' Jodie Litherland, ahead of Round 1.

The Women's Super League has undergone a restructure for the 2024 competition, now consisting of eight teams instead of six. This decision means both Featherstone Rovers Women and Barrow Raiders Ladies will compete in the top tier this year, as they hope to cause a few upsets and surprises along the way.

Featherstone gained automatic promotion following a superb 2023 season in the Women's Super League Group 2. They finished top of the league table on points difference, brushing aside Barrow Raiders and Leigh Leopards Ladies in dramatic fashion, who were also chasing down top spot.

And their title winning captain, Brogan Churm, who led her side to a magnificent promotion, is looking to help Rovers establish themselves once again as a top tier side:

"This is really massive for our club because we've got back in Super League which has revamped since the last time we were there.

"It's been a long time and we're proud to be back up there and to start building."

Following the Rovers' return to the top flight, Churm has signed a new deal which sees her remain with the club in the new-look Super League competition for 2024.

The Rovers are a stalwart side in the Women's game, who enjoyed previous successes before the introduction of Women's Super League in 2017.

Their head coach Marie Colley, who was also a 2023 Coach of the Year nominee, will be aiming to see some long-awaited silverware eventually return to the club.

But Churm knows it's a big change being part of the top tier, with a big challenge that lies ahead in 2024:

"We were all ecstatic at first," Churm said on their League Leaders' Shield win. "And then after a few days of reflecting, we realised that it's going to be a lot harder than before.

"We've had to amplify everything in pre-season and hopefully we can do ourselves and our club proud.

"Training has been very tough, but it's always nice knowing that there's going to be a good challenge at the end of it, and that it's all time and effort in the bank that's hopefully going to pay off in the next few weeks when the season starts."

Hoping to be mixing with the teams at the top, Churm recognises Featherstone may have an underdog tag this season, but is relishing this opportunity and experience:

"We want to compete against the big teams. We want to show that just because we're a small club doesn't mean we should be written off.

"We believe that we're going to compete and lay some good foundations to build the next few seasons going on.

"I'm looking forward to a really strong challenge not just on a weekly basis, but overall.

"I'm looking forward to the girls having to dig deep and find some new character that we've probably not had yet, but I'm looking forward to it all."

Looking at Women's Rugby League as a whole and the progress the sport has been making in recent months, Churm is optimistic for the future:

"It's exciting and we all play rugby for these reasons. It's basically part of our DNA now. Seeing the growth and all the changes that are happening around the sport is so exciting.

"I'm glad to be a part of it with Featherstone and with myself, and I can't wait to see what's coming next.

"I just want to be the best version of myself for my club and the girls, and hopefully we can cause some upsets along the way."

Similarly, Barrow's captain Jodie Litherland, is thrilled to have guided her hometown club to the top flight, as they produced a sensational performance in the Promotion Final to come from behind and clinch a victory over Leigh Leopards Ladies:

"It's massive. It's so exciting, not just for us but for everyone in the town," Litherland spoke on their historic promotion.

"Barrow is a mad rugby league town, and we're the first Rugby League team and elite team to play at the very top level of any sport.

"It's brilliant to be able to give those aspirations to young kids playing the game now or going to start playing the game - that they could potentially have the chance to play at the top level in their futures."

Although Litherland recognises the inevitable pressures of competing at top level, she is looking forward to this different kind of pressure, as she reflects on the extreme emotions and feelings throughout 2023's nail-biting race for promotion:

"Last year there was a massive pressure environment towards the back end of the season. We knew it was going to be so tight between the three clubs and only two places up for grabs.

"Every little thing started mattering such as an error in a game - it had you thinking that this could be a defining moment and the end of the world.

"When I began kicking goals from the touch-line, I remember every two points mattering so much in every situation.

"Even on the day of the Promotion Final, we joked on the way in about not even remembering the outside of the stadium because our focus was just so much on winning the game against Leigh!

"We feel like we can't really remember it that much, but to get that last place in Super League - all the pressure and hard work was worth it.

"I think it changes a bit this year - naturally there will be pressure competing at the top level, but I think we just enjoy it.

"That's what it's all about. We've earned the right to be here and we don't just want to make up the numbers.

"I think that enjoyment will shine through in the lasses this year, and it'll be really exciting."

And after a long pre-season, Litherland is more than ready to get started:

"I am definitely ready, it's been long!" Litherland admitted. "We were back training in November. We've been running up mountains, hills and sand dunes - the winter months have been long and tough.

"We're ready to get going."

Looking ahead to Round 1 and beyond, Litherland is hopeful of being a competitive side in the 2024 Women's Super League, as well inspiring her team-mates, the younger generation and making her town proud:

"When the first game comes along against Wigan, I hope we can perform at what we expect of ourselves and what we know we can be.

"Our aim is to stay in the division, as simple as that. And to perform, Amanda [Wilkinson] always talks about performance, and it's what we focus on every week at training.

"If we put the performances in we know we are capable of, then hopefully the points will look after themselves and we'll be safe come the end of the season.

"My biggest goal is to play as many minutes as possible, and to stay fit. I'm not getting any younger, and I want to be that experienced head for the younger ones coming through.

"I take being captain with great privilege of the club. We need to make sure we put Barrow on the map and show people what we're capable of.

"And hopefully, we can bring some surprises and some really good performances this year."

The Betfred Women's Super League will return this weekend, with Churm's Featherstone travelling to Warrington Wolves Women in Round 1 (Sunday 21 April) and Litherland's Barrow making the trip to Wigan Warriors Women (Friday 19 April) for their Round 1 fixtures.