Hidden gem named in Hockeyroos squad for Trans-Tasman Series
Published Wed 04 May 2022
Young untried Queenslander Hannah Cullum-Sanders is the bolter announced in the 22-player Hockeyroos squad that will head to Auckland for the Trans-Tasman Series against New Zealand starting on Tuesday 10 May 2022.
The 18 year old from Maryborough is the one addition from outside of the Hockeyroos program selected by Head Coach Katrina Powell for the team’s first international matches since the Tokyo Olympics.
Powell and the selectors first saw and discovered Cullum-Sanders when she was invited to attend as a ‘fill in’ at the national selection trials earlier this year.
Cullum-Sanders’ performances at the trials led to her being selected in the National Development Squad (the tier underneath the Hockeyroos) and now she finds herself heading to Auckland to make her Hockeyroos debut.
“Hannah is a little unknown, a little uncanny and has attributes we want to see in the attacking line,” said Powell.
“She is untested, so this is an opportunity to see how she goes at this level. She’s got good speed, good fitness and a good goal sense so we want to see how she brings that onto the international stage.”
“In a way COVID worked in Hannah’s favour in that we went to several locations for selection trials as opposed to holding one camp in Perth, so that opened up opportunities for those who hadn’t been seen and she was one of those.”
“Hannah then came to Perth on an Athlete Visiting Agreement to train and play among the national squad and she showed her potential.”
It has been a whirlwind 2022 for Cullum-Sanders since she was offered a scholarship at the Queensland Academy of Sport.
“I got invited to fill in the numbers at the Hockeyroos selection trial in Brisbane and was told to go along and have fun, so I wasn’t putting any pressure or expectation on myself,” said Cullum-Sanders.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity and it’s still sinking in as I didn’t think I would be playing hockey for Australia for at least a couple of years if that. To have the opportunity now is amazing.”
In addition, Claire Colwill, Hattie Shand and Shanea Tonkin are also excitingly set to make their Hockeyroos debuts in the series. Meanwhile, this year’s other new squad addition, Rebecca Greiner is preparing to represent the Hockeyroos for the first time since June 2019.
Cullum-Sanders’ inclusion comes due to the unavailability of Renee Taylor, who continues her recovery from hip surgery she underwent late last year.
The Trans-Tasman Series, which will feature four double header match days together with the national men’s teams, will be a major selection tool for the FIH Women’s World Cup Spain & Netherlands being held from 1-17 July plus the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“It’s really exciting that four players will debut for Australia and to see what they can do at this level,” said Powell.
“This series is crucial. Although we are really close to the World Cup it’s another starting point. We had limited international competition before the Olympics last year so it’s a similar situation.
“We have high expectations of what high performance can be even with a lack of international competition, so the games that we have are a really important part of that preparation, both this series and practise matches we have organised in Europe before the World Cup starts.”
The Sentinel Homes Trans-Tasman Series will be broadcast LIVE in Australia on LIVEHockey. Match Day 1 will be free of charge with the following three match days requiring a LIVEHockey subscription.
Hockeyroos squad - 2022 Trans-Tasman Series
|
Name |
Date of Birth |
Hometown, State |
Caps (Goals) |
|
Jocelyn Bartram (gk) |
4/05/1993 |
Albury, NSW |
56 (0) |
|
Jane Claxton |
26/10/1992 |
Adelaide, SA |
193 (18) |
|
Claire Colwill |
19/09/2003 |
Mackay, QLD |
- |
|
Hannah Cullum-Sanders |
30/07/2003 |
Maryborough, QLD |
- |
|
Madison Fitzpatrick |
14/12/1996 |
Cabarita Beach, NSW |
86 (18) |
|
Rebecca Greiner |
13/06/1999 |
Bundaberg, QLD |
17 (1) |
|
Greta Hayes |
17/10/1996 |
Sydney, NSW |
16 (0) |
|
Stephanie Kershaw |
19/04/1995 |
Townsville, QLD |
75 (10) |
|
Amy Lawton |
19/01/2002 |
Emerald, VIC |
24 (3) |
|
Rosie Malone |
8/01/1998 |
Burleigh, QLD |
62 (16) |
|
Kaitlin Nobbs |
24/09/1997 |
Newington, NSW |
92 (4) |
|
Meg Pearce |
1/07/1994 |
Camp Hill, QLD |
2 (0) |
|
Brooke Peris |
16/01/1993 |
Darwin, NT |
182 (27) |
|
Aleisha Power (gk) |
1/01/1997 |
Northam, WA |
4 (0) |
|
Courtney Schonell |
17/09/2000 |
Campbelltown, NSW |
3 (0) |
|
Hattie Shand |
11/01/2000 |
Naracoorte, SA |
- |
|
Karri Somerville |
7/04/1999 |
Kensington, WA |
13 (0) |
|
Penny Squibb |
9/02/1993 |
Tambellup, WA |
14 (2) |
|
Grace Stewart |
28/04/1997 |
Gerringong, NSW |
91 (27) |
|
Shanea Tonkin |
28/04/1997 |
Perth, WA |
- |
|
Mariah Williams |
31/05/1995 |
Parkes, NSW |
93 (17) |
|
Georgia Wilson |
20/05/1996 |
Mahogany Creek, WA |
44 (0) |
Sentinel Homes Trans-Tasman Series
New Zealand v Australia
National Hockey Centre, Auckland New Zealand
Match Dates
Tuesday 10 May 2022
5.35pm local (3.35pm AEST) Hockeyroos v Vantage Black Sticks Women
7.35pm local (5.35pm AEST) Kookaburras v Vantage Black Sticks Men
Thursday 12 May 2022
5.35pm local (3.35pm AEST) Hockeyroos v Vantage Black Sticks Women
7.35pm local (5.35pm AEST) Kookaburras v Vantage Black Sticks Men
Saturday 14 May 2022
2.05pm local (12.05pm AEST) Kookaburras v Vantage Black Sticks Men
4.05pm local (2.05pm AEST) Hockeyroos v Vantage Black Sticks Women
Sunday 15 May 2022
2.05pm local (12.05pm AEST) Kookaburras v Vantage Black Sticks Men
4.05pm local (2.05pm AEST) Hockeyroos v Vantage Black Sticks Women
Broadcast: Streamed LIVE in Australia on LIVEHockey.
