Live stream: Kirwan Grizzlies receive boost ahead of NRL Schoolgirls Cup showdown
The Grizzlies will welcome back a familiar face while injury plagues the side ahead of the biggest game of their NRL Schoolgirls Cup season. Find out how to watch it LIVE here.
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The Kirwan Grizzlies will welcome back inspirational skipper Ava Wagner just in time for the biggest game of the NQ Schoolgirls season.
The crafty playmaker missed Kirwan’s semi-final clash with Trinity Bay due to a groin strain but will don the No.6 in Thursday’s North Queensland Schoolgirls Cup decider against favoured rivals St Patrick’s College, Mackay.
Wagner highly anticipated return to the side has been dampened somewhat by a renewed injury crisis in the Grizzlies ranks with physical forward Joanessa Viliamu, utility Kaiontae Ross and Aydah Ross-Kelly all missing for the historic showdown.
WATCH THE NORTH QUEENSLAND SCHOOLGIRLS FINAL LIVE
Grizzlies coach Kate McCulloch said Wagner’s return was great timing with the trio of regular starters sidelined.
“It’s good to get Ava back, but in saying that we’ve also lost a few girls,” McCulloch said.
“It’s always handy to have your captain coming back in and hopefully she’ll be able to bring her positive influence and lead the team around the park.”
Kirwan survived an edge-of-your-seat semi-final thriller last week to secure a place in the regional final, holding on for an 8-8 draw that saw them progress.
But undefeated St Pat’s pose a much tougher challenge, after the Mackay side cruised into the grand final off the back of a Mackay State High forfeit in the semi-finals.
Kirwan’s electric outside back Siena Tabacchi returns to the wing after starting last week’s semi-final at dummy half, before shifting back to the right edge after 15 minutes.
McCulloch said the schoolgirls grand final would come down to whichever team can get to the end of their sets and make the most of their attacking opportunities.
“For us it will come down to our completion rate and our effort off the ball,” McCulloch said.
“We need to be making sure that we are building pressure and then giving ourselves more opportunities in good field position.”
The winner of Thursday’s decider will progress into the NRL Schoolgirls Cup finals, where they will face the Pool C (Central Queensland) champion – which will be decided this Friday when Emmaus College takes on The Cathedral College in Rockhampton – on Thursday, August 22.
The winner of that final will progress to play either Ipswich State High or Marsden State High in the Queensland state final on the Sunshine Coast.
Originally published as Live stream: Kirwan Grizzlies receive boost ahead of NRL Schoolgirls Cup showdown
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