By PETER ROWE
With each side calling the other the favourite, tomorrow’s NRLWA Westpac Women’s Premiership grand final between minor premiers Ellenbrook Rabbitohs and 2023 Premiers Joondalup Giants could go either way.
The clash between the top two sides in the women’s game has all the signs of being a classic with the battle in the halves key to who will eventually emerge as premiers.
On one side is Kailey Thompson, back at the Rabbitohs after a spell playing in NSW. On the other side is Annika Stephens, who on Wednesday evening took out the NRLWA Women’s Players the Year award.
Both have great respect for each other and both are capable of a match-winning performance.
Stephens returned to the Giants lineup recently after injury and immediately had a positive effect, culminating in the 26-2 defeat of Fremantle last weekend in the preliminary final.
A week earlier Thompson was equally effective as the Bunnies took out the minor premiership with a dazzling show of their own, 26-0 over the same Fremantle team.
But, as Thompson was quick to point out this week, it’s not just about her and her opposite number. “There are some really good players on both teams.”
“They have some pace out wide, Mata Moekaa is very dangerous as is their fullback Taria Arere. We all know about Annika and her fellow half Jeune-Kelly Biddle. If we allow them to play then we’re in trouble.”
The Rabbitohs also have a strong forward pack in mother and daughter Sara and Frieda Ah-Sam – does any other league have a mum and bub duo playing?
“We know how they will play,” Stephens said last week. “Up the middle, they have a set of forwards who can make big metres. We have to match them there.”
And they also have pace. “Taliana Mika is quick and if given space to run is hard to catch,” Thompson said.
“If we can get our forwards to lay the platform then our halves can get involved. But we’re the underdogs. They are the favourites.”
The Giants were comfortable winners over the Rabbits in last season’s finale and the post match disappointment is something Thompson says she never wants to experience again.
“That was the worst feeling,” she said. “So for some of us it is a bit of redemption.”
The Mansion, Ellenbrook’s home out in the eastern suburbs, has been busy this week with the ladies training, all fit and ready to go.
“We’ve trained well and we will have a team dinner with friends and all our families on Friday evening after Captain’s Run.
“As a club we have played in all seven of the women’s premiership finals, something we’re really proud of, and with respect to Joondalup, who are also a great club, we really want this premiership this year.”
Joondalup have trained with their senior men this week, getting tips and ideas ahead of the big game.
“The boys offered to help and that shows the great spirit within the club,” coach Kurt Lahtz said.
“We’ve had a good week, no issues and we even had a team dinner on Wednesday evening.”
The Giants are at full strength and with so many new faces in the team from last year’s win over the Rabbitohs, know this time it will be a very different approach.
“There’s only five girls left from last year’s final. We’ve talked about it a bit and then moved on,” Lahtz said.
“We know the sort of game it might be, tough and they will try and drive us through the middle.
“We have to limit their metres. And rotation in the forwards will be key. We can rotate ours every 15 to 20 minutes, and perhaps theirs are every five to ten.”
Lahtz also knows the Rabbitohs will try and cancel out the threat of Stephens.
“Yeah, I think that’s a given,” he added. “They will try and isolate Anneka and keep her off the ball, so Jeune, our other half and captain knows she has to step up. She can do that.”
The Giants will also be looking for a big game from winger Mata Moekaa.
“She’s got a really unorthodox step that’s crazy,” Lahtz said. “Off one foot and then the other, it’s unique. I’m hoping we can get her into positions where she can do damage.”
So it might not be the Kailey and Annika show?
Both teams have plenty of other strike options that could prove to be matchwinners.
