It simply doesn’t get better than playing Rugby League under lights on a world class surface.
The Wests Tigers and the Wentworthville Magpies players in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s premiership will get to experience that on Monday night when they play the second ever official game at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence.
Women’s State of Origin coach Andy Patmore says that playing in these circumstances lifts any player and will be keeping a watchful eye over these games for potential Blues candidates.
“The girls love playing at night for a start, it just adds another dimension to the footy,” Patmore said.
“To play on a surface like this many of these girls will have never played on a surface and you can see that in the quality it lifts when they play on a great facility like this.
“I think it’s a great initiative I think Monday night footy will be a great thing and they’ll be loving playing here.”
The first ever game on the NSWRL COE was played last Monday night when the South Sydney Rabbitohs played the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership.
The match unfortunately entered prematurely when Bulldogs five-eighth Emily Rains sustained a serious leg injury.
Before the incident, Patmore was impressed with the rise in intensity of the two teams.
“The first half was intense for sides that have struggled a little bit this year, I’ve watched both sides a few times but the intensity was outstanding,” Patmore said.
“A couple of girls we added to the squad Ellie Johnston and Christine Pauli were really good and the young Canterbury girls looked good.
“I’ve said to all the girls if you’re playing good footy, if you’re showing some form, we’re going to give you the opportunity to play Origin and hopefully that’s coming.”
The other games in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership this weekend include a top and the table clash between the Cronulla Sharks and Central Coast Roosters, while the Rabbitohs will host the North Sydney Bears at Erskineville Oval.
