Westpac Girls League Tag – 9:00am
Kwinana Titans vs Alkimos Tigers
For the 2026 season, it was a case of the opposites for these teams. The Kwinana Titans, while a new side, inherited some super class from the Lions winning side last year. And they dominated the regular season, winning all their games and having no problems topping the table with a massive for and against difference. A dominant performance in the major semi, punched their ticket to the Grand Final. The Tigers are the opposite. Not even nominating a GLT to begin the season, they put a side in for a late flood of players, but lost a bunch of their stars from last season. Struggling through the year, they had to win in the final week of the season and snuck in by the skin of their teeth. Two brave victories later, they are in the final with nothing to lose.
The Titans are a fit and fearless team, who dominate with their defence, making it awkward for teams to make metres in their sets of six. Led by the likes of Henshaw, Connor and Davis in the middle of the field, they are a tough team to break down defensively. When they get the ball, its like watching fireworks. With speed to burn around the field, their stars in Aurora Allen, Ashlee Dean and last years GF MVP Harper McKay kick into overdrive when the ball is in their hands. With evasion and great ball skills, they make other teams miss for fun and are nightmares to defend. Special mention to Daphne Malana. Watch when this dynamic pocket rocket gets the ball. She is all acceleration, speed and attitude and in my opinion is one of the best players to watch on the day.
The Tigers are a vocal, at times erratic but ultimately dangerous side. Its true what their coach said, that they are the mighty ducks with nothing to lose, and have quack quack quack’d their way to the grand final through pure grit. They have their own ball players, with Niah Kauika-Monk one of the shrewdest minds in the game. While they aren’t as solid defensively as some of their rivals, players like Pakau, Rose, Maina and Hohepa will cause problems. Like most teams they are missing a few on GF day, but they won’t let this be an excuse and they will throw the ball around with abandon in this one. Amani Erueti will be one of their goto players, but the one to watch will surely be their diminutive captain Adele Carosin. Their captain and leader is a vocal talisman, who attacks the game with her feet and speed at every opportunity. A smiling assassin she will be the key to their hopes.
Big Matchup – Harper McKay vs Adele Carosin
Conclusion
It does seem like all the ticks are in the Titans corner. Speed, skill, defence and attack. They are deserved favourites. But its the grand final and the Tigers have already caused two upsets. Can they go 3 for 3??
Westpac U14 Girls – 11:30am
Willagee Bears vs Fremantle Roosters
Last year the Bears were here and were the over whelming favourites. Only to be overturned by an amazing performance from the Titans, who snuck into 4th place after winning their final game of the season. And its a repeat this year. The Bears are the best team in the competition and have lost only one match, the final round of the season. And it was Fremantle who beat them, and the Roosters girls had to win to even make the final 4.
The Bears are a well drilled and professional side. With good sets, shape, they are well coached and have some really savy operators in the bunch. Their ability to score points from anywhere has been incredible, with a monster for and against this year. Led by captain Bailey Phillips and state representative Reegan Kani, they bottle up teams in the middle of the field breaking tackles at will. And then its the spine who does the rest. Autumn and Ocean Salle-Hohaia are brilliant movers who have speed, footwork and balance to spare. And it all comes together around their general Harper Ngarotata-Day. Harper is all effort, with toughness to go with an alarming amount of skill, the Bears will be incredibly hard to beat.
However it is the Roosters who are flying and in form. Since defeating the Bears in the final round, they have blown away their two semi final opponents, with their eyes and targets fixed on the Bears in the grand final. A forward pack anchored by solid works such as Sampson, Samuel and Tomuli, they get about their business without fanfare. But its the edges that can strike at any moment. The dependable Eva Dixey is at the back, and gets through a tonne of work, while superb finisher Ania Pukepuke has already shown her fleet of foot and ability to defeat defenders one on one. But its the name Jetta that will be called on by the Willagee defence more than any, as Kylah is undoutable the one to watch. With size, speed and a rare understanding of when to pass to her team mates, she is the complete package.
Big Matchup – Harper Ngarotata-Day vs Kylah Jetta
Conclusion
The Bears will be certain to not let the thoughts of last year creep in, and will be much better prepared, but beware the underdog on a run. It could go either way. Their stars will need to show the way in this test of patience and composure.
Westpac U16.5 Girls – 2:00pm
Joondalup Giants vs Kwinana Titans
Unlike the other girls competitions, this one has played to script. The two best teams all year have made it to the final dance and they have been eyeing each other off since Joondalup put 30 on the Titans in round 2. That seems to wake the Titans up, who then returned the favour with a big win in round 10. A brilliant match in the Major Semi Final two weeks ago only set the stage for what should be a classic encounter.
The Joondalup Giants come in after a week off and will be primed to hit the ground running. With a large contingent of U16 state representatives, they are not a fancy side. Doing the little things right, they power through the middle of the field and get through their defensive work much like a prime Penrith Panthers team. They never beat themselves, and you have to take the win. With Jazlyne Rickit, Kaia Houghton and Joydana Ama in the forward pack powering them in the middle, they rely on their edges to defend everything their opponents throw at them. Pirini-Maitu, Krmpotic and Zapata chase and tackle everything that moves, and allows their stars to come to the fore. A star power halves pairing of the smart Canaan Suifili is beautifully complimented by the electric Zali Parkinson. And the MVP of the U16s State team Kaiya Puki does the rest. With a rare blend of power, speed and explosiveness, she is the ace in the Joondalup side.
In the Kwinana Titans, the Giants have their match. If the Giants are the Panthers, then the Titans are the Dolphins and can hurt you from absolutely anywhere. While they will be missing Azalea Te Moananui, they still reek with firepower. With power runners, Cairns, Connor, Vulaki and others in the side, they will be looking to create dents and suck in defenders for their speed merchants out wide. Awhitu-Kerei and Homer are dynamite on the edge, and when you throw in the skillful Halligan at fullback, its a tough ask for opposition defenders out wide. With Shontate Baron-Johns calling the shots in the middle, and their swiss army knife in Kymani Ngawaka able to play anywhere on the field, they are a dynamic side when they get it right. The finishing touch, is Ateca Ravatudei. A silky playmaker, her footwork, speed and flair make her probably the most dangerous player in any game, from anywhere on the field. Whether she is on her own line, or 20 metres out from the try line, she is always looking for the try line.
Big Matchup – Kaiya Puki vs Ateca Ravatudei
Conclusion
This will be the match of the day in the girls games. Puki dragged the Giants over the line last time, with Ravatudei answering every time. So while the stars will do their things, it will be the role players behind them that make the difference. Who will stand up and write them name into history?