Jillaroos teammates to lock horns

Jillaroos teammates to lock horns

Author : NSWRL Media Release

Jillaroos teammates to lock horns on NSWRL Grand Finals Day

Jillaroos World Cup-winning teammates Simaima Taufa and Kennedy Cherrington tomorrow will be on opposite sides of the field for the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval.

A massive day of action that will see premierships decided for five competitions.

Taufa, who has been a stalwart for Mounties, and Cherrington, who joined Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs as a marquee player this season, were part of the starting side that trounced New Zealand 54-4 in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup Final last year.

Mounties finished the season in fourth spot but upset Minor Premiers North Sydney Bears 18-16 to secure their spot in the decider.

While the third-placed Bulldogs ground their way to a 16-8 win over the Illawarra Steelers.

Mounties has been one of the most consistent teams in the competition after winning the title in 2018 and finishing runners-up in 2019, but Cherrington was confident the Bulldogs would be able to hold their own.

“They have some very strong props and forwards, but I think we can match them,” she said.

“I’m confident in my team. We know how good they are and we’re ready to match them.

“It will be a middles game early and then a battle of the backs. We’ll be ready.”

Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership

Mounties finished the season in fourth spot (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

The Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership will be the final match at Leichhardt Oval, with the day kicking off with the decider for the Women’s Country Championships.

Followed by the Junior Representatives Grand Finals; UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s), UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s) and Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s).

The Women’s Country Championship will determine the best women’s team from regional NSW and will involve the two best teams from northern and southern NSW.

Newcastle Maitland Region Knights, who will be looking for their second title after winning the competition in 2021, will take on Monaro Colts.

Jillaroos teammates to lock horns (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

Harold Matthews Cup

The UNE Harold Matthews Cup will feature the Newcastle Knights, who had the second-best record for attack and defence in the competition, against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

Canterbury Bulldogs secured their spot from fourth place after upsetting the top-of-the-table Penrith Panthers.

The UNE SG Ball Cup will feature the fourth-placed Parramatta Eels, who knocked the No.1 team, Canberra Raiders, out of the finals, against the third-placed Newcastle Knights, who scored a hard-fought win over Penrith Panthers.

Tarsha Gale Cup

The Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup will be an absorbing contest with the two most dominant teams of the competition, Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs meeting for the first time.

The two teams did not come together during the regular season due to the nine-round draw for the 13-side competition and there is little separating them

The Bulldogs just edge the Roosters in attack, while the Roosters were slightly better than the Bulldogs defensively.

Fans can catch all the action from five Grand Finals for only $5 at the gate, while children 12 and under are free. All matches will also be live streamed on NSWRL TV on the NSWRL Facebook page.

The Grand Final results will impact on the representative teams for Country v City at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Thursday 4 May, Saturday 6-Sunday 7 May.

There will be eight games played over the three days including Women’s Open Age, Men’s Open Age, Under 16s, Under 18s, Women’s Under 17s, Women’s Under 19s, Wheelchair Rugby League and Physical Disability Rugby League.

NSWRL GRAND FINALS SCHEDULE

11am: Women’s Country Championships
12.45pm: UNE Harold Matthews Cup
2.30pm: UNE SG Ball Cup
4.15pm: Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup
6pm: Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership