The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys have today unveiled the leadership structure for the club’s inaugural NRLW season in 2023.
Anita Creenaune will lead the unit as Head of Women’s Elite Programs, while Ben Jeffries has been anointed as Cowboys Elite Women’s Coach and Head Coach of the Cowboys NRLW team.
Creenaune has spent 15 years at the Cowboys after joining the club in the finance department in 2007. In 2015 she began working in the football department part-time in an administration capacity before moving full-time as Administration Manager for Football Operations in 2017.
Creenaune was heavily involved in the Cowboys’ successful NRLW application.
A veteran of 28 NRL games and 256 UK Super League appearances across 13 seasons, Jeffries has compiled an extensive coaching resume in both the women’s and men’s games upon his playing retirement.
After taking his maiden coaching job as Newcastle Knights SG Ball assistant coach in 2014, Jeffries has held various coaching roles including Cowboys NYC Assistant, Queensland Academy of Sport Women’s under 18s Head Coach, NRL Indigenous All Stars Women’s Head Coach, Queensland Women’s under 19s Head Coach and PNG Orchids Head Coach along with his most recent Cowboys roles as Men’s Elite Pathways Head Coach and Coaching Director of the Gold Stars.
Creenaune and Jeffries’ positions will continue to sit in the Cowboys Football Department, reporting to General Manager of Football Micheal Luck.
“Anita and Ben are both from within our club, which as we strive to do with our player pathways, provides an internal pathway for our staff to grow and evolve,” Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel said.
“Anita has been an integral member of our club for more than 15 years and she has a high level of understanding of various different elements of the business, which will be a major asset as she embarks on this new role.
“Ben has built an extremely impressive coaching pedigree following his playing career and has been a driving force behind the growth of the women’s game in North Queensland.
“Given their backgrounds, their commitment to our club and the skillset and professionalism they demonstrate daily, we believe Anita and Ben are the ideal leaders to steer our NRLW team and Women’s Elite Programs into this exciting new era for women’s rugby league in North Queensland.”
