By Elliot Stevenson
Consistency isn’t an issue for the Greater Northern Raiders in the CTPL, but the team from the north want to be pushing for silverware in 2026-27.
The Raiders finished second on the overall ladder last season, but narrowly missed out on both the Kookaburra Cup and T20 finals, ending up third in each format.
Newly appointed coach Shaun Redman is confident his side can go one step further this season, despite the loss of star batter Emma Manix-Geeves.
“We are really looking forward to the season ahead,” he said.
“We finished second on the overall ladder last season but unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to play finals, so there’s a bit of unfinished business within the group.”
The Raiders are led by young skipper Ava Curtis, who was the captain of the CTPL Team of the Year in 2025-26, and have other stars in Courtney Sippel and Montana Bradley.
Redman highlighted the importance of having a mix of experience levels in the team, in a competition where depth is often tested.
“We’ve got a good mix of young talent coming through, experienced stalwarts who continue to set the standards, and our contracted players who are ready to have a real impact for the Raiders,” he said.
The Raiders will be forced to wait to begin their season until next weekend due to the bye, but will face a recruit-laden Kingborough at Riverside Oval to open their campaign.
Both the men’s and women’s first grade competitions begin this weekend, with seven one-day games across both Saturday and Sunday.
CLARENCE
Last Season: 4th
Additions: nil
Losses: Kate Sherriff
Captains: Tabatha Saville & Sophia Di Venuto
Coach: Maisy Gibson
Coach’s Comments: “We are excited to get back together as a group. We’ve been playing with the same group consistently and excited to keep building with a mix of younger players like Maggie Rogers and Alexis Weeding with some more experienced players like Tanja Lee, Sophia Di Venuto and Steph Nichols who have been really good for us. Then to get our state players back every now and then to strengthen our team. Excited for girls to get opportunity across both first and second grade and continue to develop their cricket.”
Player to Watch: Imogen Ransley – a young leg-spinner, Ransley represented Tasmania at both the Under-16 and Under-19 National Championships last season, playing an important role with the ball. Ransley already has experience in premier cricket for Clarence, and coach Maisy Gibson says she “is developing quickly not only with the bat and the ball.” Gibson says she is “excited for her to play a role across both grades.”
GREATER NORTHERN RAIDERS
Last Season: 2nd
Additions: nil
Losses: Emma Manix-Geeves (NSW)
Captain: Ava Curtis
Coach: Shaun Redman
Coach’s Comments: “From a coaching point of view, it’s going to be exciting to see the growth in the younger players and the way they’re learning from the experienced girls. We’re hungry to put together a consistent season and give ourselves every opportunity to be in the finals. We potentially have a few exciting talents coming through the pathway that may get their opportunities this season.”
Player to Watch: Chloe Casey – the Devonport product made her Tasmania 2nd XI debut last season and played in both the Under-16 and Under-19 National Championships for Tasmania. Incoming coach Shaun Redman says he is “looking forward to seeing her continued improvement and exposure at premier level.” The young spinner averaged 29.69 with the ball for the Raiders in first and second grade cricket in 2025-26.
KINGBOROUGH
Last Season: 3rd
Additions: Zoe Sharman (Latrobe), Callie Wilson (New Town), Lizelle Lee (New Town), Kiera Gould (Snug), Brooke Hepburn, Nikki Carter
Losses: Josie Rose (North Hobart), Brooke Saward (QLD)
Captain: Alice Kelly
Coach: Emily Divin
Coach’s Comments: “We have strengthened the depth of our squad this year and everyone is working hard for each other which is very exciting. We have a big squad to choose from each week and I'm sure across the season we'll look to a number of girls to play different roles for us. We'll be out to make our mark on the competition in both the T20 and one-day competition and hopefully go one better than last year.”
Players to Watch: Asha Ratcliffe & Kiera Gould – “Asha has had a big pre-season and is bowling faster than ever. With more control and pace behind her, she is a key part of our bowling attack with hopefully plenty of wickets ahead of her this season. Kiera has come up from the HCCA competition and is already having an impact. Picked up by CT in the Pathways program, Kiera has raw talent and a big future and we're looking forward to seeing how she develops and performs this year.”
NEW TOWN
Last Season: 5th
Additions: Erin Lawler (Derwent), Kate Pelle (Parramatta, NSW), Kelly Rowlings (Campbelltown Camden, NSW), Chloe Abel (Valley, QLD), Ella Hayward (Essendon Maribyrnong, VIC), Anita Silva (Woodbridge)
Losses: Callie Wilson (Kingborough), Lizelle Lee (Kingborough)
Captain: Chloe Abel
Coach: Nathan Wegman
Coach’s Comments: “After last season being more about development for our younger playing squad, we are excited to have some returning and new more experienced players.
“We expect to be more competitive every game, whilst still providing opportunities to our young talented girls coming through.
“We are excited with their progress, and now they will be able to learn from our experienced players on game day.”
Player to Watch: Kelly Rowlings – a new signing from Campbelltown Camden District Cricket Club in New South Wales, Rowlings brings a wealth of experience and knowhow to New Town. A right-handed batter, Rowlings made the NSW Premier Cricket Women’s Team of the Year last season and has represented NSW Country Women on numerous occasions. Her record speaks for itself, finishing in the top three leading run scorers of the NSW Women’s Regional Bash in four out of the competition’s six seasons. Coach Nathan Wegman described her as an “aggressive top order bat, who is great in the field and can bowl off-spin.”
NORTH HOBART
Last Season: 1st, Kookaburra Cup & T20 Premiers
Additions: Josie Rose (Kingborough)
Losses: nil
Captain: Ella Marsh
Coach: Julia Cavanough
Coach’s Comments: “We’re geared up for a great year with a relatively unchanged team from last season. Mel [Armstrong] and Caity [Mair] both had fantastic years and will be looking to build on that, while Hannah Scott and Zali Bricknell are two exciting young players to watch. We’ve had another strong pre-season together and are really looking forward to seeing what this group can achieve.”
Player to Watch: Mackenzie Stewart – the young seamer had a dominant season last campaign, winning the women’s first grade bowling average award with 14.33 and making the team of the year. Stewart has featured prominently for Tasmania in underage tournaments, as well as making her 2nd XI debut for the Tigers last season. The Demons are stacked with talent, and Stewart is no exception. Coach Julia Cavanough says, “she has had a great pre-season and I’m super keen to see how she continues to improve this year.”
SEASON PREDICTIONS
Kookaburra Cup Premiers: North Hobart – consistency is key for the reigning premiers. With no outgoings and the inclusion of Kingborough’s Josie Rose, there is little doubt the Demons will be challenging for both premierships this season. With five out of the eleven players in the 2025-26 CTPL Team of the Year, North Hobart has stars in all facets of the game. Under the steady leadership of playing-coach Julia Cavanough, who is a member of that team herself, the other teams will face an uphill battle to knock off the champs.
T20 Premiers: Kingborough – an off-season recruiting spree means Kingborough now has the firepower to go all the way in the T20 competition in 2026-27. The inclusions of former New Town star batters Lizelle Lee and Callie Wilson represent the Knights’ desire to win silverware in their second season back in first grade. A Kookaburra Cup final appearance was enough to give Kingborough an indication of their direction, and Emily Divin’s team will be aiming to go one better this season.
Kim Fazackerley Medallist: Ava Curtis – provided her state season does not prevent her from featuring for the Greater Northern Raiders, Curtis is as good a chance as any to take home the CTPL’s most coveted individual award. The all-rounder made 665 runs for the Raiders last season at an average of 47.5, while taking 13 wickets. With more experience under her belt, Curtis is primed for another huge season as skipper for Greater Northern and a developing talent for Tasmania, all at just 20 years old.