NRLW testing the waters with stand-alone rugby league match at Leichhardt Oval

A ground steeped in rugby league history will host a women’s NRL game where history will be made on Sunday.

St George Illawarra Dragons Kezie Apps and Roosters gun Simaima Taufa-Kautai will put their friendship aside in the historic match. Pic: Brett Costello

• Dragons down, not out in NRLW
• Kezie Apps breaking new ground

They may be friends off the playing field but when it comes to the first Australian NRLW stand-alone match between the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons at Leichhardt Oval this Sunday all bets are off.

Sport’s newest cross town rivalry will be given added spice in the historic Holden women’s premiership match at a ground steeped in rugby league history.

Sunday’s tussle is being used to test the waters of fan support for the newest women’s league in the country while providing the best female players in the world with a new theatre to showcase their skills.

Kezie Apps in action in round one of the NRLW when the Dragons took on the Brisbane Broncos.

“It’s an opportunity for the women to have their own game and build an audience,” NRL Women’s Elite Program general manager Tiffany Slater said.

The ground breaking decision follows on from the success of the stand-alone women’s Origin match at North Sydney Oval in June.

This match attracted a television audience of over 1.5m people on Channel 9 alone and a crowd in excess of 10,000 who marched in record numbers to the game won by the Blues.

We are all friends off the field. But when we are playing that goes out the window. We want to smash them

Australian Jillaroos and Dragons captain Kezie Apps said the crowd will be in for a treat with much on the line for both sides.

“Coming off the last year where they beat us to get to the grand final, that makes it even more intense,” she said.

“We are all friends off the field. It’s not in our nature not to be. But when we are playing that goes out the window. We want to smash them.

“There’s always that extra something in a local derby.”

Sydney Roosters player Simaima Taufa-Kautai and St George-Illawarra Dragons captain Kezie Apps will be part of history at Leichardt Oval.

Simaima Taufa-Kautai is tackled during the Roosters round one NRLW match against the New Zealand Warriors.

Apps said crowd support is crucial for the sport to convince the NRL the current four team, four week women’s competition needs to be expanded to meet player and fan demand.

The low price of $10 for adults with children under 15 free is the perfect opportunity for both fans and the general public to get a taste of the newest women’s competition in Australia.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said the match encourages more women and girls to be involved in sport.

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Originally published as NRLW testing the waters with stand-alone rugby league match at Leichhardt Oval