Illawarra Steelers winger Zali Yeo made her mark in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership (HNWP) against the Cronulla Sharks last Sunday, her first run-on appearance of the season, coming away with two tries to her name.
The sister of Penrith Panthers Co-captain Isaah Yeo continues the rich vein of accomplished rugby league players in the family, having been a mainstay in and around the Steelers system over the last two years.
Overcoming Injury
Relocating to Wollongong from Dubbo in 2022, Zali’s Steelers journey began as part of the Tarsha Gale Cup side that year, playing in the halves and fullback positions before progressing to the HNWP competition last season.
Overcoming a challenging run with injuries, especially during her Tarsha Gale days, Zali says an uninterrupted off-season had her primed for the season ahead.
“Playing Tarsha Gale when I first moved to Wollongong, I was injured for half of it.
“To train for a whole season and not be in rehab has been really good,” Yeo said.
Although comfortable at fullback and in the halves, Zali says she is enjoying her time on the wing but is happy to play wherever it is best for the team.
“I’ve just been really enjoying being around the ball and on the wing, just developing my own game.
“Hopefully, I can eventually make my way in somewhere closer to the ball.
“I’m happy to be where I am at the moment. I think it’s probably suiting the team the most as well.”
Attacking Output
Following their 8–4 loss against the reigning premiers Mounties in the season opener, the Steelers have scored 25 tries in three consecutive wins, sitting with the second-best attack in the competition.
The 20-year-old attributes this attacking style to Head Coach Jamie ‘Scissors’ Szczerbanik.
“I think ‘Sciz’ has really implemented that in our training, that we need to put our foot on the gas.
“He really does let us play our own brand of free footy, which is really good.”
Szczerbanik acknowledged Zali’s training effort throughout the off-season and opening rounds helped earn her a place in the starting side.
“She [Zali] is a very capable outside back. She’s just been nipping away at training and doing her thing, and she got her opportunity on the weekend, and she made the most of it,” Szczerbanik said.
[Watch] Coach Jamie Szczerbanik on Zali’s positive attitude towards training and her starring performance against the Sharks.
Family Connection
Zali is not the only Steeler with the famous Yeo surname, playing alongside cousins Sienna and Rhian for the first time, however, all three of them playing together never really crossed her mind early in the stages of her career.
“No, I didn’t think it would happen.
“It’s really good having the girls with me; it’s always a giggle at training.
“Everyone in the extended family also talks about it when they see us in photos together.”
Positional Switch
Like her older cousin Zali, Sienna, 19, is also building a strong rugby league resume having represented New South Wales in the U/19 State of Origin after playing in the premiership-winning Steelers Tarsha Gale side earlier this year.
After playing in the halves throughout her junior career Sienna says it’s been a gradual adjustment playing lock this year for the first time but is taking the positional switch in her stride.
“I was a half then this year I got swapped into the 13 [lock] position for Tarsha Gale.
“I feel like I’ve grown into it.
“I was nervous, I’d never played lock before and then just game after game gaining confidence has been good.
“It’s kind of made me the player I am today.
“I’m happy to play anywhere if it means I’m around the girls,” Yeo said.
After starting from the interchange bench in the early rounds Sienna relished being in the starting 13 against the Sharks.
“Coming off the bench playing fewer minutes you have to make your move straight away, there’s no warming into it.
“Starting on the weekend was definitely different.”
Preparing for the Roosters
The Steelers head up the freeway to take on Central Coast Roosters, who are yet to win a game from their first four outings, this Saturday.
Sienna says that if her side sticks to their game, she has no doubt they can return to the South Coast with two points.
“If we keep playing how we are playing at the moment with confidence and talking on the field we should get the win.
“We just stick to our structure and don’t go away from that.
“Keep to our own pace, our own game and not going into their game, we hopefully come away with the win.”
[Watch] Steelers Round 4 tries v Sharks, including Zali Yeo’s double.
Words: Joshua Houldin