Mariah Storch

Mariah Denman

Personal information
Born	(1997-06-21) 21 June 1997 (age 27) Barcaldine, Queensland, Australia
Height	170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	71 kg (11 st 3 lb)
Playing information
Position	Second-row, Lock
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2018–2024 Brisbane Broncos 18 1 1 0 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2018 Queensland 1 0 0 0 0
Source: RLP As of 23 November 2020

Mariah Denman (nee Storch, born 21 June 1997) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays for the Central Queensland Capras in the QRL Women's Premiership and the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL Women's Premiership.

Primarily a second-rower, she is a Queensland representative and previously played in two grand final wins for the Brisbane Broncos.

Background

Born in Barcaldine, Queensland in the central west, Denman moved 385 kilometres east to the mining town of Blackwater after her parents obtained work in the local coal industry. ^[1] Denman attended school in Blackwater. ^[1] After graduating from high school, she became an apprentice diesel mechanic. ^[1]

She began playing rugby league with the newly formed Blackwater Crushettes in 2015. ^[2] In 2016, she was named as Blackwater's Player of the Year. ^[1] Storch subsequently began playing for the Central Queensland Capras, coached by Alan McIndoe before Adrian Vowles selected her as a wildcard for the emerging Queensland women's side. ^[1]

In 2020, Central Highlands Regional Council recognised Denman as Senior Sportsperson/Administrator of the Year for the Blackwater/Duaringa district at the local Australia Day awards. ^[3]

Playing career

2018

In June, Denman represented Queensland Country at the Women's National Championships. ^[4] On 22 June, she made her debut for Queensland, coming off the bench in their 10–16 State of Origin loss to New South Wales. ^[5]

On July, Denman joined the Brisbane Broncos NRL Women's Premiership team. ^[6] In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Broncos, coming off the bench in a 30–4 win over the St. George Illawarra Dragons. ^[7]

On 30 September, Denman came off the bench in the Broncos' Grand Final win over the Sydney Roosters. ^[8]

2019

In May, Denman represented Queensland Country at the Women's National Championships. ^[9] On 6 October, Denman won her second NRLW premiership, coming off the bench in the Broncos' 30–6 Grand Final win over the Dragons. ^[10]

2020

In 2020, Denman joined the Central Queensland Capras for the inaugural season of the QRL Women's Premiership. ^[11] She later missed the 2020 NRL Women's season due to pregnancy. ^{[12] [13]}

2021

Less than two months after giving birth to her first child, Denman returned to the QRL Women's Premiership competition for the Capras, playing six games during the season. ^{[14] [15]}

2022

After playing nine QRL Women's games for the Capras in 2022, Denman was named the Steph Hancock BMD Premiership Player of the Year after helping lead the Capras to the 2022 minor premiership. ^{[16] [15]}

2023

Denman continued playing for the Capras in 2023. ^[15] In May, it was announced she would be making her return to the NRLW after re-signing with the Brisbane Broncos. ^[17] On her re-signing with the team, coach Scott Prince said Denman had been playing great football for a long period of time and therefore deserved to be rewarded with another chance in the NRLW. ^[18]

References

1. Heming, Wayne (18 June 2018). "Playing for QLD is 'bloody unreal'". Queensland Rugby League. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
2. "Mariah Storch – Top 40". NRL.
3. "Your local legends honoured with Australia Day awards". CQ News . Central Highlands Regional Council. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2023. Blackwater/Duaringa: Senior Sportsperson / Administrator – Mariah Storch
4. "Women's Nationals the perfect Origin appetiser". NRL. 29 May 2018.
5. "Six debutantes named in Queensland women's Origin team". NRL. 8 June 2018.
6. "More Players and Sponsors Join Broncos NRLW Squad". Brisbane Broncos. 20 July 2018.
7. "Broncos' NRLW Team Announcement". Brisbane Broncos. 5 September 2018.
8. "NRLW Broncos Ins And Outs – Grand Final". Brisbane Broncos. 25 September 2018.
9. "Line-ups named for Women's National Championships". NRL. 22 May 2019.
10. "Broncos Make Change For NRLW Grand Final". Brisbane Broncos. 6 October 2019.
11. "'Underdog' Capras women's side size up in first training hitout". The Morning Bulletin. 5 February 2020.
12. "Lenarduzzi hoping Broncos bashers come back for more". NRL. 2 October 2020.
13. "NRLW Signings Tracker: Squads finalised ahead of third season". NRL. 30 September 2020.
14. Williams, Guy (8 December 2021). "Why star rugby league player Mariah Storch returned to the field eight weeks after giving birth, and what she learned". ABC News. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
15. "Mariah Storch: Career by season". Queensland Rugby League. 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
16. McKay, Pam (11 October 2022). "Queensland Rugby League Awards: CQ Capras win big, with women's captain Mariah Storch BMD Premiership Player of the Year". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
17. Emerton, Liam (28 May 2023). "Capras' legend signs". Central Queensland Today. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
18. "Broncos NRLW: Mariah magic is back!". Brisbane Broncos. National Rugby League. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

External links

• QRL profile