Team List Tuesday brought to you by South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal
The Illawarra Steelers U17 and U19 girls will play the West Tigers and Cronulla Sharks in their respective NSWRL Junior Rep semi-finals this Saturday at Leichhardt Oval.
The undefeated U19s go into the grand final qualifier as red-hot favourites after defeating the Sharks 38-4 in the final round of the regular season to claim the Tarsha Gale Cup Minor Premiership, also earning a layoff in week one of the final series.
A grand final berth would be a just reward for Courtney Crawford’s team, which has had an outstanding season, scoring 344 points and only 28 points against.
Just as impressive is Brad Reh’s Steelers Lisa Fiaola Cup side, which has lost one game all season against the Eels in round four and won their last four on the trot. Also fresh from a week off, the Steelers take on a Tigers outfit buoyed by last week’s 24-22 win over the Central Coast Roosters in their Elimination Final bout.
Team News
Both teams are at full strength, having had the luxury of a spell during week one of the finals. The Tarsha Gale Cup team that beat the Sharks in round nine has just one change. Centre Mia-Rose Walsh returns from injury after last playing in round five, with Darcy Eade shifting to the wing. Sienna Leslie drops out of the side.
Meanwhile, Brad Reh’s team has a familiar look after he tinkered with players in different positions in the final round. Michala Hardy switches back from fullback to lock, Halle Barrett returns in the centres after missing the game, and Kayliah Alvey has been named at starting prop.
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
Team Lists
| Position | Lisa Fiaola (U17s) | Tarsha Gale (U19s) |
| 1. | Kiara KOSTOVSKI | Herewaka POHATU |
| 2. | Maddalyn BULLOCK | Darcy EADE |
| 3. | Halle BARRETT | Indie BOSTOCK |
| 4. | Holly CZORNOBEJ | Mia-Rose WALSH |
| 5. | Halle MUIK | Maria PASEKA |
| 6. | Skye SPENCER | Evie MCGRATH |
| 7. | Ella GREATZ | Kasey REH |
| 8. | Kayliah ALVEY | Hope MILLARD |
| 9. | Tori SHIPTON | Chelsea SAVILL |
| 10. | Tahanni KAUFUSI | Ella KOSTER |
| 11. | Tahlia O’BRIEN (C) | Charlotte BASHAM |
| 12. | Jayda LALIC | Makayla MCFAYDEN |
| 13. | Michala HARDY | Sienna YEO |
| Interchange | ||
| 14. | Bridget SHEARER | Bianca JONES |
| 15. | Eliza TAYLOR | Rhian YEO |
| 16. | Bella LORD | Brielle LUCCITTI |
| 25/17. | Armani TANIORIA | Bronte WILSON |
| Concussion Sub | ||
| 23/20. | Kate HOWLE | Teagan SMEDE |
| Coach | Brad Reh | Courtney Crawford |
Main picture: Eyes On The Prize – Tahlia O’Brien (Lisa Fia0la Cup Captain) and Kasey Reh (Tarsha Gale Cup Captain)
