Wests Tigers women on mission to lift against Bulldogs

Wests Tigers Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership side will face the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs this Saturday at Hammondville Oval with a focus to climb back into finals contention. 

Having fought tooth and nail last week against the top-of-the-table Central Coast Roosters, senior member Naomi Kara explains what the side's biggest learning was from that clash and how it will help them moving forward.

“We were good but we dropped our intensity and effort in the second half a lot," Kara reflected. "We came out after half-time very dead and very quiet.

“Heading into this week we’ve been working on key points that let us down last weekend — communication was a big one and keeping the intensity up.

With only four weeks remaining in the revised season, Kara explains the girls have needed to quickly adapt and bond together as a group.

“The girls were raring to go when we finally got a chance in round one,” said Kara.

“With the unknown of our future games with everything happening right now we’re grateful to be still playing.

"With a shorter season every game counts for us so we need to make them count."

Despite a strong 40-0 win over the Bulldogs when the two sides met last season, Kara said she was extremely cautious around Saturday's game with the improvements the home side have made so far this year.

“They’ve got a lot of quality players and have come away with a few upsets already,” Kara enthused. “We know it won’t be the same side we faced last time.

"We just have to keep to our game plan and make sure we execute the things we’ve been working on this week.”

Coach Neil Stanley has named a similar side as last weekend to face the Bulldogs with Christian Pio return to the starting side after her debut last week.

Teleah Waitoa will unfortunately require surgery on her hand, with Botille Vette-Welsh will to captain the side in their last away game of the regular season.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Wests Tigers

Saturday, August 8 at Hamondville Oval, 4:00pm

1. Botille Vette-Welsh (capt.)
2. Teagan Toa Toa
3. Ana Fekeila
4. Tia Cook
5. Christine Kani
6. Raecene McGregor 
7. Emily Curtain
8. Awhina Akuhata
9. Naomi Kara
10. Tangikina Hanisi
17. Christian Pio
12. Taylor Osborne 
13. Sophie Curtain
Interchange:
9. Tyler Pelligra
15. Filomina Hanisi
19. Stephanie Wilson 
16. Janelle Williams 
24. Patricia Raikadroka

Coach: Neil Stanley