Everything you need to know: South East Premier Grade Women's grand final

Author: Jacob Grams QRL community content producer
Timestamp: Thu 29 Aug 2024, 03:30 PM

The South East Premier Grade Women's competition is set to come to a thrilling conclusion when Goodna Eagles take on Currumbin Eagles this Saturday from 2.30pm.

Goodna will be hunting for their third consecutive title against the first-time grand finalists, with the match to be broadcast live and free for new and existing subscribers to Qplus.tv.

It's going to be a warm one, with temperatures expected to top 35 degrees, providing players an additional challenge to whatever their opposite number throws at them.

All contests between the two sides this season have come down to single-figure margins, Goodna walking away with a 32-28 win in Round 1, Currumbin inflicting the defending premiers' only defeat of the year 22-14 in Round 10 and Goodna earning a week off leading into the decider after a 20-14 win in the qualifying final.

Both sides are set to be bolstered by key inclusions absent from their previous match, with Goodna hoping to welcome back Nakita Sao and the experienced Loms Tuifao and Currumbin having Jasmine Morrissey available after recovering from a thumb injury.

They each also have plenty more talent at their disposal, involving players set to feature for City in the XXXX Queensland City v Country next month.

Test and NRLW experienced Teaghan Hartigan will be a key player for Currumbin. Photo: Jacob Grams/QRL

Those selected for the community rugby league representative fixture on September 22 include young gun Pauline Moliga and BMD Premiership-experienced Jayda Lofipo for Goodna, while Currumbin boasts try scoring machine Shanarlii Peckham and centre Jaime Phillips.

The Premier Grade match will be just one part of a footy feast of four matches at BMD Kougari Oval on Saturday from 10am, featuring the Community North, Community South and reserve grade grand finals.

Everything you need to know

What: QRL South East Female Rugby League grand finals

When: Saturday, August 31, 10am-4pm

Where: BMD Kougari Oval, 92 Wondall Rd, Manly West

Broadcast: Qplus.tv (from 2.30pm, South East Premier Grade Women's grand final only)

Spectator entry: $7

South East Premier Grade Women's grand final - What the coaches said

Goodna hooker Aliya Hura in action in the 2023 grand final win. Photo: Jacob Grams/QRL

Goodna Eagles coach Roger Eliu: "We've been concentrating on ourselves. We've been there a couple of times, so we know what's needed to win grand finals. Last weekend we trained in the heat to get used to it, but at the end of the day, whether it's raining, hot, or whatever, it's going to come down to who wants it more. It's going to be a hard game no matter what. Currumbin is the only team to have beaten us this year. Our first game we got lucky. They're a very good side and got a good coach in Jordan (Dwyer) as well. But in a grand final, it's a whole different game, it doesn't matter what's happened in the season, a grand final is a whole new ball game. We've got a few young guns in our team (fullback) Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa, (centre) Mercedez Taulelei-Siala, (winger/centre) Pauline Moliga... they're the ones to look out for, all fit and full of energy. But I always believe you've got to win the battle and the fight first, and if our forwards are not doing the work, then our back can't do their thing. I always structure our games around the forward, because we need them to go forward."

Extended squad: Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa, Pauline Moliga, Mercedez Taulelei-Siala, Julie Tusa, Paris Va, Lima Soe, Bridget Smith (c), Ula Peilua, Aliya Hura, Savannah Tato, Jaydah Tofae, Lyllian Mikaio, Jayda Lofipo, Patrice Chambers, Cecilia Smith, Bella Pita, Tessa Vaoga, Alayna Poasa, Tyesha Mikaio, Loms Tuifao, Nakita Sao.

Currumbin Eagles coach Jordy Dwyer: "It's a our first grand final, so everyone's really pumped. We couldn't be more excited. We're just enjoying the week, the girls did recovery earlier in the week and we're just taking it as it comes and trying not to make a huge deal of it as yet, but it's natural excitement I suppose in the sense of achievement to get there. It was a goal to go one better than we did last year - we got knocked out by Goodna in the prelim (in 2023) - and they're obviously the benchmark, we've been chasing them and we've had some good tussles this year. There's not much between us. We're going to have to be very good on the weekend to beat them. We're polar opposite teams, Goodna's a really powerful side and we don't possess the size they have, but we've got a lot of skill and speed and fitness. We probably haven't given the best of ourselves in both finals, but we've stuck in there, stuck in the fight, which has been pleasing, so if we can start better and control the footy, we'll go a long way to getting the result we want. Our captain Teaghan Hartigan is one of the best leaders you'll ever see playing our game. We've got some players who have come back from BMD and Bridget Hoy has come back from NRLW, but Teaghan and her sister Sienna Laing have been leading the way for us and our fullback Lily Patston have been outstanding all year, so those three and Lailee Phillips... will help us get over the line."

Currumbin Eagles coach Jordy Dwyer, who coached Gold Coast Vikings to victory in the 2024 XXXX Chair's Challenge. Photo: Jacob Grams/QRL

Extended squad: Lily Patston, Nikeah Wyles-Togo, Tiah Bettridge, Sienna Smith,
Bridget Hoy, Sienna Laing, Isabella Lee, Azariah Wallace, Teaghan Hartigan (c), Kadison-Tyra Robertson, Gabi Lolohea, Jaime Phillips, Emylee Hawke, Lailee Phillips, Tallis Kahu, Tamika Smith, Baylee Davies, Lena Cohen, Georgia Jenkins, Mikayla Mcdonald, Shanarlii Peckham, Jasmine Morrissey.