Harvey Norman NSW Women’s prop and NRLW Sydney Roosters star Simaima Taufa believes the secret of sustaining success in the Women’s State of Origin arena is to “give back” to the rising stars of the game coming through the ranks.
Taufa shared her thoughts on a panel with True Blue Jamie Soward and Newtown Jets backrower Anthony Moraitis at the season launch of the Canterbury Cup NSW on Thursday 7 March where she focused on the importance of grassroots.
“To be apart of it and help drive the game with Tarsha Gale coming through and the Lisa Fiaola Cup happening as well – it’s incredible to see,” Taufa said.
“We’re 3 in a row at the moment and we want to keep building and the only way we know how to do that is to make sure we go back to our local club side like Mounties, Cronulla and Newcastle and give back.
“Teach those girls who come up through the ranks our competition is strong.”
‘Strong’ is an accurate description considering the incredible strength the NSW women’s team needed to break Queensland’s dominance in the interstate arena.
Queensland won the first 17 interstate challenges before NSW broke the cycle in 2016 and 2017. NSW then had the distinction of winning the inaugural Holden NSW women’s State of Origin last year to make it three consecutive wins.
“The legacy the Queensland women have built with the 17 years-in-a-row that they’ve had- we’re happy that we ended it,” Taufa said.
The 2019 Harvey Norman NSW Women’s premiership commences on March 23 with two new teams added to the roster, Wests Tigers and St Marys. The newborn St Marys will play their first game as a club against the 2018 premiership winners, Mounties.
A grand final remake isn’t expected until round 16 where the South Sydney Rabbitohs will host the Mounties in a battle only two weeks out from the finals.
For the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership Draw click here.
Please note the draw is subject to change.
