Tarsha Gale Cup finals | Six players to watch

Over the next three weekends the six top teams from the Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup will battle it out to see who survives for Grand Final day (29 April). 

Here are six players from the top-six finalists who could play a decisive role in getting their team to the 2023 season decider. 

1.      Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs – Noaria Kapua, second row

The Bulldogs scored 30 points or more in six of their eight wins this season to remain undefeated in the women’s Under 19s competition.

Goal-kicking second rower Noaria Kapua has not only landed eight goals as back-up kicker for fellow back-rower Tatiana Finau, but she’s scored five tries in eight games.

2.      Roosters Indigenous Academy – Ally Bullman, second row

The only other team to win all eight games this season, including two where they held South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Dragons scoreless while piling on 96 points. The Roosters also had the best defence in the competition.

Consistent throughout the year was another goal-kicking back-rower in Ally Bullman, who was also the Roosters’ skipper this year after being part of the Premiership-winning team last season. She scored seven tries and 18 goals, sharing the kicking duties with winger Mia Barber.

3.      Newcastle Knights – Leah Ollerton, hooker

The Knights enjoyed six wins from eight games, scoring 33 tries or an average of four tries per match.

They conceded 19 tries and helping keep that number down was their hooker, skipper, and tackling machine, Leah Ollerton (pictured above). She also scored six tries to top her team’s count – one more than her two goal-kickers, winger Lilly McNamara and centre Charlotte Barwick.

4.      Illawarra Steelers – Mia-rose Walsh, centre

The Steelers held two teams scoreless in Penrith Panthers and the Dragons from their four wins, and had their third-best defensive record in the Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup this year. They also drew with Parramatta in Round Three.

In attack, centre Mai-rose Walsh top scored nine tries, although her centre partner Sulieti Ahio - who also played second row - wasn’t far behind with six tries after scoring from both positions.

5.      Parramatta Eels – Alysha Bell, wing

The Eels had the same statistics as the Steelers – four wins and a draw – but were not as strong in attack scoring 112 points to Illawarra’s 162.

Goal-kicking winger Alysha Bell contributed the most points with 13 goals and four tries, edging past her centre Caitlin Peadon who also had four tries.

6.      Canberra Raiders – Georgia Willey, fullback

The Raiders could definitely score tries – 29 in total – but conceded more points than the Eels and Steelers. Still, they were quick learners going from one try in Round Two to eight in Round Four.

Fullback and captain Georgia Willey led the charge scoring eight tries in five games. She was well supported by centre-utility Lara Cosgrove with seven tries, who also stepped in as back-up goal-kicker for Mya McGlynn.