The fifth NRLW Grand Final will not only decide a new Premier but will have a bearing on the make-up of the 24-woman Jillaroos squad for November’s World Cup.
“It definitely will,” said one of three Jillaroos selectors and Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues head coach, Kylie Hilder.
“The squad hasn’t been finalised so this game will play a key part in confirming a few selections.”
Hilder, Queensland Origin coach Tahnee Norris and head Jillaroos coach Brad Donald will meet after Sunday’s NRLW final and again on Monday before submitting their squad to the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC).
But first, Sunday’s decider between the Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels brings the added excitement of a new name to be engraved on the Telstra Women’s Premiership trophy.
The Brisbane Broncos won in 2018, 2019 and 2020 before the Sydney Roosters claimed it for 2021 in the postponed season earlier this year.
The Knights and Eels are playing in their maiden NRLW Grand Final and both sides bring new halves combinations formed for the 2022 season: Ash Quinlan and Tayla Preston for the Eels; Kirra Dibb and Jesse Southwell for the Knights.
Hilder has been able to observe these pairings closely in her role as assistant coach to Roosters mentor John Strange, who won the Dally M Coach of the Year award for the NRLW this week.
“I know Ash quite well through touch (football) and I selected her in my (Rugby League) Nines in Perth, when I coached the Roosters side,” Hilder said.
“I plucked her out of touch footy and brought her into the game. I rate her highly as she just gets better and better as each game goes on.
“It’s the same with Tayla. She has come back from a knee reconstruction but has always shown great potential and was outstanding against the Roosters last week.” The Eels upset the reigning premiers 24-10 in the semi-finals.
The Knights, who beat the Dragons 30-6 in the semis, also have an emerging halves partnership in former Jillaroo and incumbent Sky Blues No.6 Dibb with Dally M Rookie of the Year in Southwell.
“Jess is in her first real season in NRLW and only played a handful of Harvey Norman games (for Knights), so this is her first year in Rugby League in general,”
Hilder said of the Rugby Sevens gold medallist from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
“But her combination with Kirra is going to be crucial on the weekend as well. Both have great kicking games and that might be a little point of difference with the sides.
“The Eels really only have Tayla kicking, while the Knights have two options in Kirra and Jess.”
Hilder doesn’t subscribe to the theory that halves win Grand Finals.
“Always the forwards. For me the halves can’t do what they want unless their pack is getting the metres,” Hilder said.
“Parra’s pack last week just dominated us, which allowed their halves such freedom to put them in great field positions.
“It’s the same with the Knights. They’ve got a great forward pack led by Millie (Boyle) and Caitlan (Johnston).
“Early on will be crucial in seeing who can get control of the middle. That will have a big influence on how the game pans out.”
Boyle and Johnston, the two NSW props, were named in the NRLW Team of the Year.
