Vanessa Rogers has been a pioneer of the female game on the Gold Coast for more than a decade now, helping a raft of current stars achieve their dreams of playing on the big stage.
First making her way onto the coaching scene in 2010 at the Nerang Roosters after making the switch from a netball, touch and rugby union background, her time in the coaching space has helped many successful NRLW, Origin and Australian players reach their goals – making for many fond memories to reflect on.
Especially nurturing several current Titans NRLW stars, including the likes of Lauren Brown, Jess Elliston, Rilee Jorgensen, Dannii Perese and Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell.
"With the young girls there’s a lot of great memories," Rogers said.
"We played in what I think was the only Presidents Cup between the top clubs that used to be on the Gold Coast, I think we still hold the Presidents Cup to this day.
"We played a Logan Brothers side here in Nerang and it was hard going.
"I had to deal with a lot of male attitudes that didn’t think girls should be playing footy and field space, they weren’t always willing to share field space."
Reflecting on her success in the game - still actively coaching and is the vice president of Nerang today - one experience that stood out for Rogers was their 2015 grand final win over a Jillaroos-filled Souths Logan side.
"When I was managing at Burleigh, we beat their star-filled South Logan side that had about 11 Jillaroos at the time playing for them," she recalled.
"That year was amazing.
"We played them in Round 1, and they absolutely pumped us 44-4, and we then lost a few more times to them throughout the season but in the Grand Final and we beat them by 12."
Nominated as the Titans' NRLW Women in League role model for 2024, the first year of the the national female competition was another top highlight for Rogers as she got to see the season be a great opportunity for so many of the young talented female stars she had coached at Nerang and Burleigh.
But the humble coach doesn’t want to take any of the praise.
"I can’t take any credit for it – it was all their hard work," she said.
"They’ve stuck to it and worked hard, it’s not easy I know that.
"I don’t have a favourite NRL team because I know too many of the players in the sides, I support a lot of them, but it means a lot to watch them out there.
"Even some of them now playing for their country, NRLW and Queensland – it’s great and I love it.
"I love the way women in league has changed and developed, all for the better and it’s only going to continue to get bigger.
"I think that women in league in general have pretty much run clubs for years.
"There wouldn’t be anything if there wasn’t a woman behind it.
"I love the fact that they acknowledge the women these days and it’s not all about the men. It means a lot.”
