‘Strong start’: The Entrance’s women’s teams light up 2024

They’ve wiped away their opponents in a dominant start to the season. Find out why The Entrance’s women’s league teams have kicked off 2024 with a bang.

The Entrance Tigers’ women’s teams have made a strong start to 2024. Picture: Sue Graham

It’s been a fantastic start to the season for The Entrance Tigers.

Among the club’s five senior teams playing in the Central Coast rugby league division, they have a combined record of 12 wins and just three losses from their 15 games so far.

And while the local Central Coast first grade side has been super impressive so far, scoring 130 points and conceding just four in its opening three games, the club’s two women’s sides have also been in incredible form to kick off 2024.

Indeed, both the Tigers’ league tag and women’s tackle teams have also won all three of their respective games this season, racking up some quite remarkable statistics along the way.

The tackle team has scored 70 points and conceded just 10 while the league tag side has piled on 130 and remarkably conceded zero in what has been a total domination of their opposition over the first three games.

The Entrance Tigers women's tackle team pictured during the 2024 season. Picture: supplied

“It’s certainly been a strong start to the season,” said Daniel Wilson, co-coach of The Entrance’s women’s tackle team.

Wilson’s chargers certainly didn’t wait long to make an impression on the competition, securing some revenge for last season by defeating 2023 premiers Berkeley Vale 20-0 in what was a round one grand final rematch.

“We started the year strongly in round one,” said Wilson, who co-coaches the team with former NSW Origin player Charmayne Nathan. “Obviously there was a bit of a sore spot from some of the older players after being beaten by Berkeley Vale in the grand final and it was a big feat to come up against them in round one and take out the win.”

It was a huge achievement for the side, which – inspired by the Penrith’s motto of becoming ‘undisputed champions’ – set itself the theme of being on the ‘road to redemption’ in 2024.

“It has just continued on from there. The girls have worked very hard in the pre-season under mine and Charmayne’s tutelage. We’ve worked on defence, we’ve worked on attack but we’ve kept it simple: numbers in tackles and solid defence will win games and our attack is just simple football.”

The Tigers got some revenge over Berkeley Vale by beating the Panthers in round one. Picture: supplied

After knocking over the Panthers in the opening round, the Tigers have gone on to defeat Toukley (22-4) and Terrigal (28-6), conceding just two tries in three games of football.

“We have prided ourselves on defence and being one of the better defensive sides in the competition,” said Wilson.

As for the secret to their early season success, Wilson said there was no magic recipe: just hard work and dedication.

“We broke everything down back to basics and built it back up from the ground floor. Mine and Charmayne’s philosophy for the year was to build a common vibe within the team and the girls are a tight-knit bunch, they’ve built that over the pre-season through hard work themselves, working together in the team and working towards a common goal.”

In particular, Wilson paid tribute to his co-coach for her contributions both on and off the field.

“Charmayne played in the side last year and with her background it’s very handy to have a player and a coach of her calibre. She’s a former NSW hooker,” he said. “She has got a fantastic knowledge of the game.”

The Entrance took out the minor and major premiership in the league tag competition last year. Picture: The Entrance Tigers RLFC.

The women’s tackle team’s success in what is the second year of the competition on the Central Coast comes as the Tigers’ league tag side continues its dominance in the grade.

Defending minor and major premiers, the Tigers have a remarkable recent record in league tag, winning three of the last four grand finals and claiming five of the last six minor premierships.

They have also started the current season in scintillating fashion, hammering their opponents Berkeley Vale (60-0), Toukley (38-0) and Wyong (32-0) for a stunning record of 130 points scored and zero against.

“There are some really big names in that team, like Erin Watson who is an Australian representative in Oztag. Holly Buchanan is another huge representative as well, so they’ve got a big knowledge base,” said Wilson.

“(Co-coach) Greg Walsh has been around the game for a long time, is an Oztag player himself and our president and (captain) Holly Buchanan has got a massive background there. And I’m sure they’d tell you the same thing that they thrive off the knowledge they have and that’s why they’re so successful in the way they play.”

Ashlee Russell is a key player for the Tigers' league tag side. Picture: The Entrance Tigers RLFC

Although the skills and tactics certainly differ between league tag and tackle rugby league, Wilson said his team is taking inspiration from its stablemates.

“Obviously our league tag side has been a dominant force for a number of years now and we’re trying to do that with both of our female sides.”

And while the two teams have gotten away to a blistering start to the season, they’re trying to keep a lid on things, reminded by the fact that competitions aren’t won in May.

“We’ve had a lot of success early but we’re still very cautious, training hard and learning the processes,” said Wilson.

“We know it’s a long season, 18 rounds,” he added. “But we take each week as it comes and we just go from there.”