The Steelers will seek redemption this weekend when they take on the Parramatta Eels in Round 5 of the NSWRL Women’s Premiership at WIN Stadium on Sunday. The match is part of a double-header, with the NRLW Dragons also set to face the Eels in their Round 2 clash.
The Steelers sit second on the ladder with a 3-1 record following last Saturday’s 14-1 loss to Mounties. Parramatta are also 3-1 and currently sixth, having defeated the Wests Tigers last Sunday, but the Steelers hold the advantage on points differential.
Sunday’s clash is a crucial one: the winner will move to eight points and leapfrog their opponent on the ladder heading into Round 6.
Lessons Learned in Loss
Head coach Courtney Crawford said the team’s primary takeaway from last week was their overall completion rate.
“We’re only at sixty per cent completion in the second half. It was 4-all, and we just let ourselves down with our completion, so the team’s taken lessons out of that. We’ll be looking to improve that this weekend,” Crawford said.
Crawford also said that adapting to constant team changes due to both injuries and call-ups for the NRLW Dragons squad was a challenge but shows that if you work hard, you’ll get the spot.
“Yeah, it’s difficult, but it brings new opportunity for girls who have been training hard,” Crawford said.
“It’s no excuses, it’s next player up mentality for us so they’ve got to be ready to go.”
Crawford said improving from last week’s loss was all about going back to basic rugby league.
“I think it’s just doing the basics and doing them really well,” Crawford said.
“We’re just looking to run hard, kick to corners and make them go from ninety-five metres to score points, so nothing fancy from us this weekend. It’s just about doing the basics.”
Big Shoes To Fill
Halfback Georgie Barrett (pictured) took on the captaincy for the first time last week after regular skipper Mackenzie Lear was sidelined by a knee laceration at training.
“I feel like I had big shoes to fill, stepping into Kenz’s [Mackenzie Lear] captaincy, and she leads with her actions,” Barrett said.
“I was just trying to do the same thing, talking to the girls, keeping up that positivity and encouragement, but yeah, very big shoes to fill. Kenz is like a great leader to have in our team.”
Barrett played with both the Western Rams in the Lisa Fiaola Cup and the Sydney Roosters in the Tarsha Gale Cup before joining the Steelers for the NSW Women’s Premiership after being recruited by former Illawarra coach Jamie Szczerbanik.
“Finished Tarsha Gale last year, was looking at playing Harvey’s (Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership) with the Roosters and then Scissors [Jamie Szczerbanik] reached out, mentioned that they had an opening at No. 6, and he thought I would be good to fill that role, I guess,” Barrett said.
“It was a tough decision, but the opportunity was to come down here. I decided to move away from home, and luckily, I found somewhere to stay and it just all kinda started happening from there.”
No Half Measures
Barrett, who was living in her hometown of Orange and still at school while playing for the Roosters, admitted the three-and-a-half-hour commute to and from Sydney multiple times a week often left her drained.
“There were days where I didn’t want to go to school the next day. It was definitely tough, but I guess if that’s what you want to do, you kind of just have to do it.”
Barrett has made the transition from playing five-eighth in 2025 to halfback this year explaining it was awkward at first but soon found her footing in the role.
“For sure it was a bit difficult just adjusting to moving the team around on the field more, guidance and things like that, whereas when I was wearing 6, I kind of just got to run, just listen to Studds [Maddie Studdon] last year,” the 20-year-old said.
“I feel like it’s been hard to adjust at first, but through pre-season and everything, I feel like now I’m starting to get the hang of it. Court’s [Courtney Crawford] been helping me a lot with understanding what I need to do.”
With the upcoming clash against the Eels serving as a double-header with the NRLW, Barrett is focused on getting the win and not being distracted by the occasion.
“Obviously we want to get a win this weekend after last week, but I think the thing that I need to focus on is just doing my role for the team and just getting that win this weekend.”
Kick-off is scheduled for 11.45am Sunday at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
Words: Harrison Mellare
Photo credit: Denis Ivaneza