Influential Queensland Reds hooker Tiarna Molloy has a simple summation of the worthy grand final climax against NSW Waratahs at North Sydney Oval on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s Queensland vs NSW. It’s the rivalry in women’s rugby,” Molloy said of the decider to the SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s season.
“The commentators keep saying the Waratahs have never been beaten by another Australian team. That definitely puts extra fire in the belly but all minds are focussed on what we need to do as a team to get the job done.”
The Reds and Waratahs have fought out some thrillers on grand final day since the Super Rugby Women’s era began in 2018.
Heartrates were high when the tight 2018 (16-13) and 2019 (8-5) deciders did so much to launch Super Rugby Women’s as a spectacle.
This season has been the tightest and most unpredictable on record and the Reds have proved their mettle on the road with wins in Lautoka and Canberra.
The Reds today named their grand final side with two changes in the pack following the 54-40 victory over the Fijian Drua in last Sunday’s semi-final at Ballymore Stadium.
Co-captain and flanker Jemma Bemrose’s impressive Reds’ season ended with ankle damage in the process of scoring her key try last weekend. No.8 Sarah Riordan (knee) is also sidelined.
Bond University’s Zoe Hanna, Player of the Match against the Western Force, and experienced Wests No.8 Maraea Tupai come into the starting backrow with the impact of Dillyn Blackburn fresh on the bench.
The in-form Molloy, a standout with her robust charges and support play, said the Reds had gained strength and confidence from achievements through the season.
“Some past teams would not have held on when the Fijian Drua came back hard at us in the second half. We didn’t just hold on, we punched back with two tries,” Molloy said.
“That’s just one part of the growth of the team this season.”
Two-try prop Eva Karpani and Wallaroos teammate Layne Morgan, at halfback, both stood tall against the Fijians. Both featured for NSW last season.
“Eva and Layne have come in fully committed. They are like Queenslanders now and belt out our team song as loudly as anyone,” said Molloy, who led the team song with Morgan in the Reds dressing room last Sunday.
“They’ve bought into our team culture and they are both leaders, who have brought experience to the team and showed what it takes to perform in big moments.”
Grand final - SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s
Saturday, April 12
2:35pm (AEST)
North Sydney Oval
Live on Stan Sport
1 Bree-Anna Browne
2 Tiarna Molloy
3 Eva Karpani
4 Tiarah Minns
5 Vineta Teutau
6 Zoe Hanna
7 Carola Kreis
8 Maraea Tupai
9 Layne Morgan
10 Lori Cramer (cc)
11 Ivania Wong (cc)
12 Shalom Sauaso
13 Faythe Manera
14 Caitlin Urwin
15 Charlotte Caslick
16 Zophronia Setu
17 Cristo Taufua
18 Charli Jacoby
19 Deni Ross
20 Dillyn Blackburn
21 Nat Wright
22 Carys Dallinger
23 Piper Flynn
