Big weekend ahead as women's teams face Steelers, Sharks

Author: Dan Talintyre
Timestamp: Wed 24 Apr 2019, 03:13 PM

Wests Tigers Tarsha Gale and Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership sides will both take to the field this weekend after a week off, looking to continue their good run of form.

The Tarsha Gale girls will kick off the weekend with a Qualifying Final clash against the Illawarra Steelers, with a win putting them through to the Grand Final.

The minor premiers for the regular season, Illawarra will certainly present a tough test for Wests Tigers after grinding out a tight four-point win when they last met.

After a two-round bye, the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership side are also back in action as they take on Cronulla Sharks. The team will be looking to regroup after their break and put on a stellar performance in the closing game of the “Return to Lidcombe” Round which will see four games played at the iconic Lidcombe Oval.

For all live scores and updates from the weekend, visit the club's Match Centre.

TARSHA GALE

It was only two years ago that Wests Tigers finished their inaugural season of the Tarsha Gale competition in last position without a single win to their name.

The following year saw a rapid improvement from the side — finishing inside the top four and winning their way through to the Qualifying Final, before bowing out against Newcastle in a see-sawing contest that could have gone either way.

In 2019, Wests Tigers will be hoping to go another step further and continue their rise in the competition as they look to secure their first Grand Final berth and put behind them the heartbreaking of last year's Grand Final qualifier defeat.

Standing in their way is an Illawarra side that has proven virtually unbeatable all season. The Steelers' only loss all season came in the final seconds of their final Round 7 game against the Knights (who themselves face St. George) in the other Qualifying Final), but they still ended the regular season as minor premiers.

Averaging over 40 points scored per game this year, Illawarra saw somewhat of a shock defeat in the first week of the finals as they went down to the Dragons, but they bounced back last week with a comfortable 36-6 drubbing over the Parramatta Eels to reinforce their credentials as the side to beat in the Tarsha Gale competition.

When they met during the season, it was the Steelers who came from behind to record a thrilling 22-18 win over Wests Tigers in the final minutes of the game, and it's certainly shaping as another close contest between the two this weekend.

Mamana Alatini and Litiani Smith-Warwick both loom as players to watch for Wests Tigers, having each scored six and four tries respectively in their past three games.

Interestingly, Wests Tigers have used the fewest players of any side in the competition this year with 21 (equal with the Canberra Raiders), and they'll be hoping that their close knit group can steer them to another victory this Saturday.

Finals Week 3 - Finals Week 3 - Saturday 27 Apr

Full Time

Wests Tigers

Steelers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Ally Beaufils

Fullback for Steelers is number 1 Keele Browne
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 3 Litiana Smith Warwick

Winger for Steelers is number 5 Riley Scott
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Jessica Whelan

Centre for Steelers is number 7 Mikayla Kidd
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 6 Emily Curtain

Centre for Steelers is number 11 Teagan Berry
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 7 Josephine Bee

Winger for Steelers is number 9 Olivia Vale
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 10 Mackenzie Stone

Five-Eighth for Steelers is number 2 Tiana Graham
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 9 Janaya Bent

Halfback for Steelers is number 14 Emily Andrews

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 11 Makayla Ward

Prop for Steelers is number 4 Rhiannon Tungai
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 8 Bianca Cornwell

Hooker for Steelers is number 13 Maddison Weatherall
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 12 Mamana Alatini

Prop for Steelers is number 15 Chantel Tugaga
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 13 Sophie Curtain

2nd Row for Steelers is number 3 Meg Buchanan
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 16 Jessica Kennedy

2nd Row for Steelers is number 8 Ula-Mari Time-Cribb
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 17 Anna Moa

Lock for Steelers is number 10 Eleni Amone

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Abbey Riley

Interchange for Steelers is number 12 Michaela Scutts
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Brooke Gray

Interchange for Steelers is number 19 Nancy MISA

Last updated: 6/23/2022 1:41:40 AM

HARVEY NORMAN NSW WOMEN'S PREMIERSHIP

Playing in their inaugural season of the competition, Wests Tigers Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership side have shown plenty of promise through the early few rounds and will be keen to return to the winners circle this weekend.

After a two-round bye for the competition, all sides are fresh for this weekend's games, and Wests Tigers will face an extremely tough test in their return as they take on a Cronulla outfit boasting names such as Maddie Studdon and Ruan Sims.

Wests Tigers have already recorded their first win in the competition — a 26-6 victory over Brothers in Round 3 — and will be looking to improve their attacking output again this weekend, having scored just 30 points in their three games.

After a surprising loss to North Sydney in their opening game, Cronulla have responded in recent weeks with wins over St. Mary's and the Bulldogs, and will be looking to continue their top four charge this weekend against Wests Tigers.

Played at 4:55pm on Sunday, the game will cap off a terrific day of action for Wests Tigers and their associated teams as part of the "Return to Lidcombe" Round at Lidcombe Oval. Western Suburbs Ron Massey side will open up the day, before Wests Tigers' Canterbury Cup and Jersey Flegg teams both take to the field against Newtown and Cronulla respectively, with the women's game rounding out the day.

Round 7 - Round 7 - Sunday 28 Apr