The Illawarra Steelers will host the Newcastle Knights and the West Magpies this Saturday in Round 5 action at the Collegians Sporting Complex.
In Tarsha Gale Cup action, the Steelers are cautious about the visiting Knights, having defeated them in two grand finals—first in 2019 and then again in the last season’s decider.
Despite their recent success, Makayla McFayden, an 18-year-old front rower in her second season in the U19s, stated that the team’s preparation for this game has remained consistent with their usual approach.
“It’s just another game,” McFayden said.
“It’s not really anything special, just stick to what we know and trust our processes.”
The team’s resilience and focus on fundamentals will be key, as McFayden reflected on what lessons she learned from last year’s grand final.
“Never really take anything for granted. Stick to what you know and keep the prep week,” she said.
McFayden’s goal for the upcoming match is to “hit hard” and help the team return to their best form after a few games where they “strayed a bit from how we really want to play together as a team.”
She’s optimistic they will find their rhythm this weekend and unite as a cohesive unit.
Trust The System
Head Coach Courtney Crawford also echoed the importance of trusting the systems the team has built.
“When we trust our systems, we can compete with any team in this competition,” said Crawford.
“We just must be able to do that for 60 minutes. It really shone on the weekend, especially with Tory in our number nine.
“She does a great job of getting quick plays off, and our team follows suit.”
Crawford also emphasised the importance of completing sets and putting pressure on the opposition.
“They [Newcastle Knights] are a very strong team, particularly in offense, so we need to stick to our game plan—kick into the corner, make them work hard, and put them under pressure,” said Crawford.
A key aspect of the Steelers’ success has been the development of team chemistry. McFayden shared how the team is growing stronger together.
“We’re really starting to gel as a team, learning to work with each other instead of against each other. We’re starting to play more as a team rather than individually.”
Leading By Example
Crawford spoke about the leadership group within the team, including players like Maria Paseka, Trinity Tauaneai, and Tahlia O’Brien, who lead by their words and actions.
“They’ll put the team on their shoulders and lead from the front,” Crawford explained.
“It’s all about encouraging them to play their game and understanding that the team will follow.”
As the team heads into this highly anticipated game, McFayden and Crawford are excited about the support from fans and families, which will be critical in creating a strong home-field advantage.
“The more Steelers fans, the better for us,” said Crawford, looking forward to the weekend match.
Round 5 – Saturday, 1 March, Collegians Sporting Complex
- 11.30am – Steelers LFC v Newcastle Knights
- 1.00pm – Steelers TGC v Newcastle Knights
- 2.30pm – Steelers HMC v Western Suburbs Magpies
- 4.00pm – Steelers SGB v Western Suburbs Magpies
Words | Angelina Raula