The Illawarra Steelers Tarsha Gale and Lisa Fiaola Cup teams are just one win away from a grand final appearance after finishing first and second in their respective NSWRL Junior Rep competitions.
Courtney Crawford’s undefeated U19 girls go into their grand final qualifier against the Cronulla Sharks as red-hot favourites after defeating them 38-4 in the final round two weeks ago.
Just as impressive is Brad Reh’s U17 girls, who have lost just one game all season. They will meet the Wests Tigers in their semi-final.
The achievement hasn’t been lost on St George Illawarra’s NRLW head coach, Jamie Soward, who has been closely involved with the Steelers pathways program.
“The Lisa Fiaola group is a talented group. A lot of those girls are contracted through our pathways already,” Soward said.
“Brad’s got a lot of those girls a year young, so they are going to play again next year, and then they will go to Courtney and Tarsha Gale.
“Courtney’s team is a special side. What they have been able to do in terms of getting NRLW players back like Ella Koster (pictured), graduates in Kasey Reh and Charlotte Basham, and those girls coming through it’s a special group.
“To be able to put it all together, coach, and keep those standards is really hard, Courtney’s done a fantastic job.”
Returning stars
Along with Koster and Basham, five players, Darcy Eade, Mia-Rose Walsh, Hope Millard, Sienna Yeo, and Chelsea Savill, are also returning from last year’s side, which lost 28-0 to the Bulldogs in the grand final qualifier.
Even with all that experience, Crawford is surprised at how well things have turned out in her second season as head coach.
“If you had told me back in November that you’d be undefeated in the Tarsha Gale Competition, I would not have believed you, but seeing how hard this group has worked for each other and really connected, I guess that’s what counted most for us,” Crawford said.
“They’ve just bought into the system we’re trying to build here and just come in with a growth mindset, wanting to learn every session and work hard for each other. That has let us learn and grow as a team over the season.”
Winning formula
Having scored 344 points and only 28 points against this season, Crawford wants her charges to stick with the winning formula that has got them this far.
“We’ve been successful over the round games; nothing really changes. We need to make sure we do the basics well and work hard for each other, and the results will follow.”
Prop Bronte Wilson had a slow start to the season, missing several games through glandular fever and pneumonia. However, she has worked her way back to full fitness, and the 17.
“I’m really glad I’m back playing. My last two games were pretty good, and I’m ready to rip in this weekend.”
Steelers pedigree
Wilson, who started playing rugby league for the Shellharbour Stingrays when she was 15, came off the bench in the win over the Sharks but knows it won’t be easy come Saturday.
“They gave us a hard game, so it will be challenging. If we stick to our game plan and play as one, we’ll do amazing.”
The 17-year-old, who played rugby union for the NSW Waratahs last season before switching back to rugby league, is another player with links to the Steelers past. Her father, Shane, played two seasons in the scarlet and white in 1991-92.
“I think he is happy with me coming back to league. He is a big influence on me, but going to Union, he was really supportive, and I learned so many skills there, too.”
A grand final berth would be a just reward for the minor premiers; however, Crawford knows nothing can be taken for granted at this time of year.
“Having had the season we’ve had so far, we really want to be there on grand final day, but we also know that finals are a different kettle of fish, and if we are not prepared well and put that hard work in, it won’t count come Saturday.”
Week 2 Finals Fixtures | Saturday, 20 April | Leichhardt Oval
- 12:30pm – Lisa Fiaola Cup U17’s | Illawarra Steelers v West Tigers
- 2:00pm – Tarsha Gale Cup U19’s | Illawarra Steelers v Cronulla Sharks
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