The Illawarra Steelers host the Wests Tigers this weekend in Round 9 of the NSWRL Women’s Premiership at Collegians Sporting Complex. Currently sitting equal fourth on 10 competition points, the Steelers are aiming for a crucial win to hold their place in the top five.
Meanwhile, the eighth-placed Tigers, only two points adrift, are just as determined to keep their finals hopes alive. With up to nine teams still in contention, every match is critical in this tightly packed race.
Steelers Head Coach Courtney Crawford emphasised that the main takeaway from last week’s loss to the Roosters is the importance of maintaining a positive mindset.
“I just think we probably didn’t turn up with the right mindset. We took some accountability as a group on Monday. The Roosters were willing to run harder and tackle harder than we were,” Crawford explains.
“We just spoke about making sure we turn up with the right mindset to give ourselves the best chance at winning the game of footy.”
Calm In The Chaos
With three rounds remaining, Crawford also highlighted that the final stretch of the regular season is the most critical period for the squad, as it will determine their fate in the finals.
“If we don’t win those games, then we’re potentially not playing finals, so they become important,” Crawford said.
“It’s lucky we’ve got two of three at home, which we’re really looking forward to, and I think the girls are really excited to try and turn that around this weekend.
“They’ve been working really hard, and I’m sure they’ll work hard for the rest of the week to make sure we’re ready on Saturday.”
Crawford noted that the team’s continued development is key as they prepare to face the Tigers.
“We’re definitely a young squad, so each opportunity they’re growing as a team and understanding to back themselves.
“I think when things get a little bit chaotic, or we feel like we’re under pressure, we probably don’t handle those situations really well.
“The more exposure they get to those moments, the more they understand how to control those situations, and I think that’d be really important for us heading into these last three rounds given that we’ve got to win them.
“It’s just about staying calm in the chaos we talk about and executing their roles. If we do that, we’ll play well as a team.”
Captain’s Confidence Boost
Prop Mackenzie Lear made an immediate impact after joining the Steelers’ NSW Women’s Premiership side from Cronulla in 2024, helping secure a grand final victory in her debut season. She then stepped into the captaincy role the following year and led the team to within one game of another grand final appearance. Now in her second year as skipper, Lear is determined to guide the squad back to the grand final.
“We’re feeling pretty good overall. I guess there’s been some highs and lows throughout the season, but as an overall, I think we’re still going into the back end of the season pretty well,” Lear said.
“I think we’ve only lost three games out of all of them, so I guess that’s still pretty good.”
Lear, 22, reflected on her own playing form this season, which was halted by a knee injury suffered early in the season, but she is finding her way back to her best.
“It was definitely a little bit of a confidence thing for me with my knee. I’d come back, and then it would go back to square one and get re-split or re-injured again.
“I definitely just needed to try and get back to how I was playing, which I am now.”
Lear added that, given the team’s strong results this year, she’s confident they have what it takes to mount a serious finals campaign if they secure a spot.
“Even the games that we’ve lost, it’s so frustrating. It’s kind of annoying in the fact that we are losing when I think there are definitely games that we could’ve won,” Lear explained.
“It is such a young team of girls, and I think we need to keep trying to instil some confidence in these younger girls that we can win this whole comp.
“There’s no reason why we can’t beat any team in this comp.”
“If we lose these next three [rounds], we’re definitely not seeing finals. Even if we drop one, we probably won’t make it, so these next three games are super important.”
“They’re do-or-die.”
Kick-off is scheduled for 3.00pm at Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong.
Words: Harrison Mellare
Photo Credit: Denis Ivaneza