Wests leader Dillyn Blackburn is confident that the club’s Challenge Cup success can be the perfect springboard into a strong bid for the new StoreLocal Founders Cup.
The Wests Green women's team went eight-from eight in a hot run through the StoreLocal Challenge Cup and have now set sights on bidding for their first premiership since 2007 in the Founders Cup.
The Bulldogs top side beat improvers Brothers (24-21), University of Queensland (12-7), Bond University (25-7) and Sunnybank Green (38-14) as their best results.
"We didn't treat the Challenge Cup as pre-season. We gave it good intensity but it's just the start of what we want to achieve this year," backrower Blackburn said.
"We had 45-plus girls down to training to form two teams which was great. It was awesome to see some of our second graders step up when given a chance in the Challenge Cup.
"We're definitely chasing that premiership and improving on fourth last year."
Evergreen former Wallaroos prop Liz Patu is a major plus for stability up front.
The Challenge Cup was introduced this year to broaden the reach of women's rugby to 14 teams in south-east Queensland. It also allowed up-and-coming players a chance to experience a taste of first grade and its demands. Stronger clubs like Wests and Sunnybank fielded two sides.
The Founders Cup is the new name of the trophy for the Queensland Premier Rugby women's competition. It honours those pioneers who worked so hard to establish the first women's competition in Brisbane in 1994.
The original trophy has been found and restored.
An additional trophy has also been introduced...the Fortune Shield.
The handsome shield, in the shape of a "Q", will be awarded to the minor premiers. It honours the late Mieke Fortune, a UQ stalwart who played in Queensland's first game in 1996 and represented the Wallaroos in two World Cups.
The Founders Cup has been narrowed to eight Premier Rugby clubs for a higher-level competition. It kicks off on Saturday as a seven-round sprint to the semi-finals.
The mettle of the Bulldogs will be immediately tested by a trip down the highway to play three-time champions Bond on the Gold Coast. In the other games, Sunnybank will host Souths and Norths are at home to Easts.
Pacy Queensland Reds flyer Piper Flynn was one player who enjoyed the extra opportunities of the Challenge Cup.
She crossed for five tries for Easts in a 65-5 win over Wests Gold.
Bond's Elisha Godsiff has been part of two of the club's three premierships and the game style that has forced other clubs to rethink their approach.
"The level of the women's comp goes up every year. It's definitely going to be a hard challenge," Godsiff said.
"No one played like we did when we broke through for our first premiership (in 2022). We're still fast and skilful and we'll be a smaller side, by comparison, to others.
"Sometimes our grit is overlooked. That's really been a major part of our success."
Of the young players breaking through, Kings' Christian College product TJ Murray is one making a mark in the centres. She enjoyed the extra exposure and harder games of the Challenge Cup as preparation.
Easts fullback Abbi Spooner said the Challenge Cup had worked as a launchpad.
"I liked the idea that it introduced more girls, different girls. It still gave us a good idea of where we are at and where we need to get to for the second half of the season," Spooner said.
UQ's Lauren Robinson said the club had blooded more than 20 debutants in first grade during the Challenge Cup.
She is another who sees the 2025 season as wide open.
"No one is giving the trophy to Bond. You can look at Wests, Sunnybank, UQ, Bond and maybe one of the other clubs as threats to make the grand final. It's a good season ahead," Robinson said.
