Following their historic appointments as the inaugural NRLW Co-Captains, bulldogs.com.au sat down with Tayla Preston and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa to get their reactions, their philosophies on leadership, their teammates and of course, Head Coach Brayden Wiliame.
How did it feel getting the news?
Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa: Honestly, I was quite surprised, still being quite young and having a lot of leaders in our pack. To be able to be Captain of this strong and talented group is really special for me.
Tayla Preston: As soon as Brayden told me, I actually had tears in my eyes. I grew up as a Bulldogs supporter and it was a ‘pinch me’ moment to be part of the team just in general. To Co-Captain with Teka for our inaugural season is such a huge privilege for myself and my family, and an honour I don’t take lightly.
Who did you tell first?
ATK: I told my mother, my grandmother and brother. They were really excited and super proud. Then we went to dinner the next day - I got a free scotch fillet out of it too!
TP: I told my parents first. I came home from training and sat and ate my dinner and told them I had some news. They were so proud of me, and they jumped off the lounge and gave me a hug straight away. I had tears in my eyes just telling them, they were super proud of me.
What does it mean to be appointed as the Bulldogs’ first Co-Captains?
ATK: It’s such an honour and privilege to be able to shape the way and build the foundations of the girls to come. To be the first Co-Captain here with Tayla, it’s pretty special.
TP: The Bulldogs have such a proud history of leaders both on and off the field. In our inaugural season it’s such a huge honour and privilege, and we’ll lead the girls with our actions first and lead by example.
Tayla, what does 'Teka' bring as a Captain?
TP: 'Teka' is a very humble person, and she leads with her actions first and foremost. People look up to her and while she says she’s young, age doesn’t matter in our game; she’ll do a great job leading from the front. She’s funny and she brings the vibes too, she’s someone the players can turn to and look for advice as well.
Teka, what does Tayla bring as a Captain?
ATK: She is a very good speaker, a really good halfback and I learned a lot from her in ‘Harveys’ (Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership). When she speaks, everybody listens and she’s awesome to play alongside. Her work ethic is second to none and she is a very selfless person who will always put the team first. She has a wealth of knowledge to offer and I’m just excited to see how much of a positive impact she’ll have on our playing group.
You two have both played for the Club at Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership level. What does it take to wear the Bulldogs jersey?
ATK: What we’re building with our values and standards, it’s pretty special. Everyone is buying in and we need to lay the foundation for years to come.
TP: I know that we want to leave this jersey in a better place than where we found it. We have that platform to now lay the foundation for many years to come. We’ve got an amazing pathway and it’s about showing girls we have that to be able to get to the NRLW. We’re so proud to wear the jersey every single day, especially during our 90 year-anniversary, it’s a full-circle moment for the Club.
What are your thoughts on the squad so far?
TP: I get really excited when people ask me about our team. We’ve got a really great mix of youth and experience. I love that we’ve got players that no one has ever heard of before, because they’re going to be household names in the NRLW. Every training session everyone is stepping up and challenging for spots in Round 1, and we’re gelling well both on and off the field.
ATK: There’s so much raw talent and so much potential in our squad. For us as Captains, it’s up to us to tap into that potential. There are some really exciting times ahead with our squad, not only the younger players but those who have come over from other codes.
First Look: Brayden Wiliame
What has it been like training under Brayden Wiliame? What are some of the qualities that make him stand out as a Head Coach?
ATK: Personally, he has been really good for me. He’s like a father figure to us. He takes the time to get to know everyone, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. I think his approach to the game and training has been really good for our squad development.
TP: Brayden’s been awesome for us, he brings a fresh and different perspective that a lot of us haven’t had before. He’s fresh out of the game too so that we can bounce ideas off him, and he’s got the experience that we can tap into. He’s a genuine person and instils so much confidence in us all, and he creates a safe space for us where we’re moving on the same trajectory together.
