Women’s footy team beat all odds in iconic victory away from home

The Stanthorpe Gremlins ladies team has clinched a nailbiting win in the inaugural rugby league competition, overcoming numerous Covid restriction challenges throughout the season and uncertainty surrounding the grand final game.

The Stanthorpe Gremlins senior ladies team pushed through many challenges including border closures and playing with no spectators, on their way to become the 2021 premiers in the newly revived Border Rivers Rugby League competition. Photo: Contributed

The Stanthorpe Gremlins senior ladies team pushed through a raft of pandemic challenges including border closures and no spectators, to get themselves well on the way to become the 2021 premiers in the newly revived Border Rivers Rugby League competition.

In the weeks leading up to the ladies league tag grand final, there were concerns over the viability of the game, given the Covid restrictions and border closures.

Club president Roger O’Brien said it wasn’t until Thursday night the premiership game was approved to continue.

“We trained the house down in the lead up to the game and kept in our minds that the game would go ahead,” he said.

“We just kept on improving week-in, week-out and had high expectations to win the game because we knew we could do it.”

Stanthorpe Gremlins senior ladies league tag team celebrate being the 2021 premiers in the Border Rivers Rugby League competition. Photo: Contributed

Despite facing the undefeated minor premiers, the Stanthorpe Gremlins claimed victory over the Tenterfield Tigers by two points on Saturday, in what was a tightly fought contest with continuous lead changes throughout.

Due to border closures between Queensland and New South Wales, no Gremlins supporters were able to travel to Tenterfield for the match.

O’Brien said to win the grand final in the competition’s inaugural year was a massive effort, but the 16 to 14 win was even sweeter because there was no local supporters in attendance only coaching staff and managers.

“I think the girls really dug in and did it for each other,” he said.

The club’s under 16 boys and girls teams are hoping they too can make the finals and win that elusive premiership in coming weeks.

The Stanthorpe Gremlins junior league games kick off from 9.30am on Saturday at Sullivan Oval where the teams take on the Clifton and Allora Wattles.