For Panuara’s Grace Hamilton and her NSW Waratahs, it all comes down to this, the inaugural Buildcorp Super W decider at Allianz Stadium.
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Knowing full well how grand finals can completely change the landscape, Hamilton says the fact her side has been irresistible in running through the preliminary stages undefeated counts for very little too, if it can’t back that up with one more bumper, 80-minute performance.
Especially considering her Waratahs are facing Queensland, the only team that’s seriously tested them.
“We’re confident in what we can do, we’ve got a solid squad and all 23 and fit and ready to go but Queensland’s a strong side and they’ve gone from strength-to-strength since we last played them,” Hamilton said, NSW prevailing 18-0 in that clash way back in round one.
“We can’t take them lightly anywhere, they have good ball skills, support well and they’re hard over the breakdown.
“So I wouldn't say we’re super-confident or anything like that but we’ve done the hard work so it’s about trusting the process for us. Our job’s just to do everything better than them, and I have faith all the girls standing beside me on Friday can.”
After rocketing into the spotlight in the Wallaroos’ World Cup campaign last year, Hamilton has backed that up with a massive season for the Waratahs, she’s been one of the side’s best from the side of the scrum.
She wants to be better on Friday though, and says she’ll do “anything” to help her side write itself into the history books as the first Super W champions.
“There’s things I can do better, and improve on, which I’ll look to do on Friday afternoon,” she said.
“I have a job to do and a role to play in this team and if I can execute that to the best of my ability, I’m happy. I wear my heart on my sleeve on the field, and anything I can do to help my team I will.”
Being a part of the inaugural tournament is something Hamilton won’t soon forget because it’s such “a massive step forward” for women’s rugby and, considering that, she says a NSW win would be a landmark moment for more than just the playing group.
“It is a massive step forward. Being part of the inaugural year is something I think we’ll all treasure forever and winning would just make it better, it’d be the icing on the cake,” she said.
“Not just for us girls though. It’d just be the best, for our full squad too, our families, our supporters and for NSW Rugby in general.”
Cowra’s Inge Visser once again joins Hamilton in the Waratahs’ pack.
She’ll pack down at lock, as usual, and will also vice-captain the side once again.
Friday afternoon’s Super W final kicks off at 4.45pm, at Allianz Stadium.
- NSW WARATAHS: 1 Emily Robinson, 2 Tasmin Sheppard, 3 Evelyn Horomia, 4 Ana-Lise Sio, 5 Inge Visser, 6 Grace Hamilton, 7 Ariana Kaiwai, 8 Laura Devereux, 9 Cobie-Jane Morgan, 10 Chloe Leaupepe, 11 Atasi Lafai, 12 Kennedy Cherrington, 13 Crystal Maguire, 14 Shanice Parker, 15 Ash Hewson ©; Bench: 16 Sarah Laman, 17 Melissa Fatu, 18 Nancy Vaiaku, 19 Fi Jones, 20 Natalie Maclarn, 21 Katrina Barker, 22 Illiseva Batibasaga, 23 Josephine Falesita
- QUEENSLAND REDS: 1 Liz Patu, 2 Cheyenne Campbell, 3 Wynona Baice, 4 Kiri Lingman, 5 Jasmin Kemp, 6 Kirby Sefo ©, 7 Lavinia Gould, 8 Alexandra Hargreaves, 9 Asaka Ono, 10 Zahara Te Mara, 11 Ivania Wong, 12 Nareta Masters, 13 Alysia Lefau-Fakasoliea, 14 Lori Cramer, 15 Sam Treherne; Bench: 16 Toa Filimoehala, 17 Hana Ngaha, 18 Vuanimasei Rasolea, 19 Shannon Mato, 20 Ashlee Knight, 21 Lucy Lockhart, 22 Ana Afuie, 23 Sarah Riordan
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
