Tahlie Gavin
Cronulla-Sutherland captain Monique Donovan admits she pushed herself out of her comfort zone to help transform the Sharks into premiership contenders with a Grand Final spot on the line in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership Semi-finals at Jubilee Stadium tomorrow.
It has been three years since the Sharks last played in a finals series when they were beaten 21-20 in a thrilling decider by Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium. They finished seventh in both 2023 and 2024 to miss out on a finals spot but improved this season to grab third.
They will take on the second-placed Mounties at Jubilee Stadium tomorrow to determine who goes through to the Grand Final at CommBank Stadium on Sunday 28 September where they will face the winner of the other Semi-final between Minor Premiers Newcastle and the fourth-placed Illawarra Steelers.
“Coming in to captain, it’s been a big challenge for myself because I am usually one of the quieter ones in the team,” Donovan said.
“Knowing that I have to be confident for my girls, it’s a big challenge, but we are definitely aiming for a Grand Final.”
Donovan said the Sharks progress this season has also been helped by an influx of new faces, with the competition benefitting from running concurrently with the NRLW competition which provides more opportunities for emerging players.
“It is a big improvement from last year, we have been working really hard as a team,” she said.
“We’ve got a lot of young girls – 17, 18, 19-year-olds – jumping in and they’re doing amazing. It’s great to see the talent grow.”
Donovan capped off a stellar season after being named the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Player of the Year at the Brad Fittler Medal earlier this month.
“I am truly grateful, and I feel blessed, I honestly wasn’t expecting it,” she said.
Despite the personal accolade, Donovan, a proud member of the 2025 Indigenous All Stars squad, will not get ahead of herself.
“The highlight is definitely still to come, to win a Grand Final,” she said.
“But also, for myself coming from NRLW last year back into Harvey’s, the challenge of being captain has been rewarding. I’m growing as a player and as a leader, especially with the younger girls.”
Both Semi-finals tomorrow are part of a day of blockbuster finals action at Jubilee Stadium with the Preliminary Finals also to be determined for the Jersey Flegg Cup (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Penrith Panthers) and The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup (Warriors v Parramatta Eels).
Tickets are available at the gate – $10 for adults while pensioners and children aged 12 and under are free.
