True Blue Brett Kimmorley may not have been able to see out the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership season as coach with Wests Tigers, but his influence remains strong for halfback Emily Curtain.
Curtain, an Eagle Vale St Andrews junior, will be directing traffic for the Tigers against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks this weekend in the Grand Final at Campbelltown Stadium. Kick-off is at 2pm.
Kimmorley, a premiership-winning halfback with the Melbourne Storm, was in charge of the women’s team before moving across to be caretaker coach for the NRL side in early June, replacing head coach Michael Maguire.
“Even after ‘Noddy’ went to the NRL he was always there to talk with us, guide us, always wanting to help us,” Curtain said of Kimmorley.
“He’s taught me just to take control, lead from the front. You’re the one who has to tell everyone what’s happening on the field. But he’s also encouraged me to be myself and go out there and play my game.
“My short kicking game has improved by leaps and bounds this year with the help of Noddy – he’s been great helping with that.
“My game has benefitted a lot from him.”
Curtain faces off against another noted kicker in Sharks No.7 Maddie Studdon, who with No.6 Zali Hopkins booted 17 kicks in the 22-4 win over Mounties in last week’s semi-final.
By contrast Curtin and her halves partner – Under 19s Origin No.6 Losana Lutu – unleashed 10 kicks in the 24-10 semi-final win over Minor Premiers the North Sydney Bears.
“I need to watch that short-kicking game of hers,” Studdon said.
“We need to keep an eye on her and their five-eighth (Lutu) is a good ball runner.
“They work well together and then we’ve got to not let Kezie Apps and Jess Sergis out of our sights either. They are very talented as individual players and as team players.”
Sergis at centre scored a try and set up another as part of her 15 runs for 196 metres against the Bears. Her winger Tess Staines ran for 112 metres and scored a hat-trick.
“If we stick to our game plan, defensive patterns and believe in them, hopefully we can shut down those star players,” Studdon said.
The Sharks have some firepower of their own in fellow Origin players Sam Bremner (14 runs for 193 metres last week), and Tiana Penitani (15 runs for 203 metres).
The Sharks made seven line-breaks to Mounties two.
Studdon has also formed a potent bond with new five-eighth Zali Hopkins, who has been promoted after regular No.6 Corban Baxter withdrew from the season due to pregnancy.
“She’s been with us a couple of years – in and out of the side – but now she’s a regular I’m really enjoying that big-kicking game of hers,” Studdon said.
“She takes the pressure of myself – she will go far in our game.”
Among the forwards, the Sharks have two machines in Quincy Dodd (34 tackles against Mounties) and Holli Wheeler (36).
Wests Tigers are also well-equipped defensively with the likes of lock Najvada George (30 tackles) and second rower Christian Pio (31) being a constant thorn in the Bears side last week.
Pio also showed a clean pair of heels with 127 run metres – the best of any forward on the day.
