Young guns Amahli Hala and Abbi Spooner have stepped up to be X-factor players in Sunday’s StoreLocal Premier Women’s grand final at Ballymore Stadium.
Hala, 18, has shown her polish in the try-hungry Bond University backline this season.
She will be a significant factor sniffing for chances off Bull Sharks trump Mel Wilks when she breaks or bends the defence in the centres.
For Easts, Spooner, 18, has proved herself ready for the big moments with tries in each of the Tigers’ two wins in the finals.
Both teens play at fullback and hunt for chances. With the heat expected to reach close to 30 degrees by the 11am kick-off, there will be tired and breathless bodies to exploit in the defence of both sides.
“Amahli has her schedule with sevens but I think she has really enjoyed the longer minutes in the 15-a-side game this season,” Bull Sharks coach Shannon Symon said.
“She’s the complete package in terms of skills, speed and smarts. It’s the experience she is adding bit by bit and one of those areas is playing very well off Mel.
"We're well aware it is going to be hot and that plays into our hands because we back our superior fitness."
Easts coach Siaosi Lealiifano is backing the 55kg Spooner in equal measures for a match in which the Tigers start as clear underdogs against the two-time champions.
“Abbi has been amazing coming in as one of the youngest in the group,” he said.
“She may seem quiet and reserved but when she’s on the field she plays like she is six-foot-four and 100kg.
“There are lots of good players in the Bond Uni backline. You can’t limit them to nothing but you can be smart about containing them by limiting their space and not giving them chances to run it back at us.”
Both line-ups have been buffeted by significant changes.
Wallaroos prop Eva Karpani hurt her foot at Australian training this week and has been scratched.
World Cup prop Maddi Schuck has also been sidelined by a disc injury.
Fortunately, Bond are strengthened by the return of USA prop Charli Jacoby at tighthead prop.
Makeshift prop Paris Mohr will be the other pillar in the front-row with young Bond Pirate Eva Butler covering the front-row from the bench.
Tigers hooker Tiarna Molloy is on stand-down orders from the Wallaroos.
The Tigers have juggled their backrow with April Ngatupuna returning from suspension at No.8 to add her hard-running game.
Adi Dreu will be in the backrow beside her. One big inclusion for Easts is the return of lock Rosie Ebbage.
