Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder talks about the matches and players to watch in Round 10 of Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership.
Two rounds left before finals-time and the race is still on to grab a top-four spot - the fifth-placed Mounties and sixth-placed Newcastle Knights are only one win away.
Cronulla-Sutherland, who suffered a close loss, and South Sydney, who enjoyed a win last week, are both on eight competition points – so with two rounds left both are in the hunt. The Sharks have a bye this weekend, which adds just a little more pressure on the Rabbitohs.
Tarsha Gale Cup’s six finalists have been decided with their regular competition winding up last weekend. Congratulations to Canterbury-Bankstown for finishing top-of-the table and to the Roosters Indigenous Academy, the Knights, Illawarra Steelers, Parramatta and Canberra for making up the top-six. Elimination finals begin next weekend.
Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership
Wentworthville Magpies v Wests Tigers
Tigers hooker Ebony Prior has delivered some eye-catching performances for her team. She tries hard every week but doesn’t always get rewarded.
They had some good wins early but went into the Round Nine bye off the back of four straight losses.
Wenty would also have to admit they haven’t had the season they would have liked. They have shown real promise at times – beat the Steelers in Round Three, a two-point win in Round Five over Mounties, but then a two-point loss to the Rabbitohs in Round Eight.
So perhaps consistency has been their biggest issue.
Illawarra Steelers v Newcastle Knights
Not only does this brings two country-based teams up against each other, selections for the annual Country-City game are just around the corner.
From my point of view as NSW Sky Blues coach, I’m looking at several match-ups as I toss over players and combinations with Origin just over seven weeks away.
We have Rachael Pearson up against Jesse Southwell in the halfbacks battle, Shanice Parker moved to No.6 for the Knights last weekend so she faces Jillaroo Taliah Fuimaono.
There’s a definite Origin feeling at fullback with NSW incumbent No.1 Emma Tonegato against Maroons No.1 Tamika Upton.
Mounties v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Mounties haven’t named their team yet so I’m not sure if Simaima Taufa returns from her ankle injury.
She would be a very handy addition since the Rabbitohs forward pack, with players like Kahu Cassidy, Capri Paekau, Ema Rainima, and Rachel Simpson, doing their job well.
So this game will be a good battle in the middle if Mounties have their Cook Islands World Cup sisters, Terehia and Kerehitina Matua on deck.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Central Coast Roosters
The Roosters will be strengthened with the return of Isabelle Kelly to left centre, along with Jayme Fressard coming in as the right-side centre.
In the middle Sky Blues forwards Millie Boyle (Roosters) will face Holli Wheeler and Kennedy Cherrington (Bulldogs) so that will generate a lot of interest in who gets supremacy there.
So picking a winner is hard. It is shaping up as a really close game but if the Roosters are able to shift the game more to the outside backs then they might have the edge.
North Sydney Bears v St George Dragons
The Bears were outstanding in their 30-10 win over the Roosters last weekend.
It was five tries to two and Kirra Dibb’s goal-kicking was on song with five from six.
Jillaroos centre Jess Sergis is back again after making her long-awaited Harvey Norman Premiership appearance last week after shaking off some niggling injuries.
The Dragons might seem out-numbered on paper but they never stop trying. Their hard-working Tarsha Gale Cup captain and prop forward, Madison Mulhall, has been named on the bench.
