Wests Tigers on the hunt for back-to-back wins
Wests Tigers Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership side will face the Cronulla Sharks this Saturday at Campbelltown Sports Stadium with a focus on keeping up their winning momentum.
Following last weekend’s 32-20 victory against the Bulldogs, the women will be looking to keep the consistency going as they have three home games to end the regular season — a huge boost for the side in the run in to the finals.
Wests Tigers Pathways Manager and Women’s advocate Tyrone Collins said it was crucial the competition remained strong despite the setbacks caused by COVID-19.
“The Harvey Norman women's program is one of only three NSWRL major competitions that has been able to continue," Collins said.
"Considering Wests Tigers is such a large club with so many teams in normal circumstances, to have at least have one other team outside of the NRL team playing is a positive. It's really allowed for a bit more exposure for the team as well as having a number of new sponsors coming on board that probably never would have if the season had been carried out as usual.
"Given the yearly growth and exposure the women’s game has experienced over the past three years or so it was important that the competition continued under the new conditions," he added. “A year without this level of women’s rugby league could have been a huge disruption to the growth of the sport, and particularly the women’s pathway program at Wests Tigers.
A year without this level of women’s rugby league could have been a huge disruption to the growth of the sport.
Tyrone Collins
"I think for many players, staff and supporters it has just been good to do ‘normal’ things like go to training and go to games — little things that we have previously taken for granted but have obviously changed in these recent times.”
Having broken through for a good win over the Bulldogs last week to take them up to third on the ladder, Collins said Saturday's clash against the second-placed Sharks would be a great opportunity to test where they were at heading in to finals.
“The team certainly feels more relaxed in their build up to the Sharks game," he said.
"The effort has been there in the last few weeks so it was good to get a result which is important coming up against a strong team and premiership contenders like the Sharks.
"It's been a disjointed season so to have a good run of games, the girls will be able to really build on their match fitness and combinations.
"Hopefully we see a run deep in to the finals like we did in the back end of 2019.”
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Saturday, August 15, 2020
Time — 3:00pm AEST
Venue — Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Entry — Free! Please refer to the QR Code below, scan and complete the information form before attending the game. To save time at the gate take a screenshot/copy of the confirmation page that they have completed the form. Information is only collected as part of COVID.
Wests Tigers vs. Cronulla Sharks
Saturday, August 15 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 3:00pm
1. Botille Vette-Welsh (capt.)
2. Ana Fekeila
24. Patricia Raikadroka
4. Tia Cook
5. Christine Kani
6. Raecene McGregor
14. Naomi Kara
8. Awhina Akuhata
9. Tyler Pelligra
10. Filomina Hanisi
17. Christian Pio
12. Taylor Osborne
13. Sophie Curtain
Interchange:
7. Emily Curtain
15. Tangikina Hanisi
16. Janelle Williams
18. Jackie-Anne Tahu
Coach: Neil Stanley
