Call for NRL fans to be part of show of force at Dragons v Roosters stand-alone
Why this rugby league gun wants Parramatta, Canterbury Bankstown, Souths, Cronulla, Penrith, Manly, West Tigers, Newcastle and Raiders fans to unite for this game.
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Parramatta, Canterbury Bankstown, Souths, Penrith, Cronulla, Manly, West Tigers, Newcastle, Raiders fans — the women’s game needs you.
That is the message from Jillaroos gun Kezie Apps, who is urging all fans of rugby league to drop their tribalism and unite in force for a historic game at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday to help convince the powerbrokers of the sport to push forward with expansion plans.
The Dragons captain wants any fans without a women’s team in the NRLW to back the Dragons and Roosters in force as they play the first women’s premiership stand-alone match on Australian soil.
“This is one game to watch live, be part of history. The more people we get to support us and watch it, the bigger we can be in the future,” she said.
The NRL has resisted expansion in season two of the women’s competition which is still restricted to four clubs who play just three games each before the top two battle in a season decider.
The more people we reach out and touch, the better
Officials have yet to reveal whether the competition will have a growth spurt in 2020.
The State of Origin stand-alone in June at North Sydney Oval exposed a real appetite for the women’s game with the Blues, Maroons battle attracting a television audience of over 1.5m people on Channel 9 alone and a 10,000 plus crowd.
“We want to show there is a hunger and need to expand the game,’’ Apps said.
“This is a way to show we have the support to grow.
“It’s a great game to bring the family to, whether you are a NRL fan or not.
“And we want fans from the other clubs as well, clubs without women’s team. Leichhardt is Tigers territory but we want them all.
“The more people we reach out and touch, the better.’’
CAPTAIN: Kezie Apps breaking new ground
NRLW: Testing the waters
Leichhardt is App’s own personal field of dreams and she could not be happier to return to an oval with special memories on a quest to help her Dragons club create history.
The result is also vital to the Dragons’ quest to make their first NRLW grand final.
“This is an exciting step for us. We are creating history here at a very significant ground,” she said of the NRLW testing the waters for stand-alone games.
“For me Leichhardt is special.
“I played my first ever Origin game there in 2014. I can’t begin to tell you how exciting that was for me, so it will be special for me to return after my first Origin.
“A lot has changed since 2014. We lost that game, hopefully this time with the Dragions it’s different.’’
A Broncos win over the Warrior on Saturday will see the Dragons and Roosters game decided the second team to make it through to the grand final.
Tickets for Sunday’s game are at a low price of $10 for adults with children under 15 free.
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DRAGONS V ROOSTERS
1.15pm, Sunday, Leichhardt Oval
Dragons: 1. Botille Vette-Welsh 2. Stephanie Mooka 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Tiana Penitani 5. Shakiah Tungai 6. Keeley Davis 7. Maddie Studdon 8. Ngatokotoru Arakua 9. Brittany Breayley 10. Maitua Feterika 11. Kezie Apps (c) 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Holli Wheeler
Interchange: 14. Rikeya Horne 15. Takilele Katoa 16. Maddison Weatherall 17. Najvada George. Reserves: 18. Sarah Togatuki 19. Aaliyah Fasavalu-Fa’amausili 20. Lexi Kiriwi
Roosters: 1. Corban McGregor 2. Karina Brown 3. Bobbi Law 4. Isabelle Kelly (c) 5. Kiana Takairangi 6. Kirra Dibb 7. Melanie Howard 8. Ruan Sims 9. Nita Maynard 10. Aliti Namoce 11. Tallisha Harden 12. Hannah Southwell 13. Zahara Temara
Interchange: 14. Quincy Dodd 15. Jasmine Allende 16. Vanessa Foliaki 17. Caitlan Johnston
Reserves: 18. Shanice Parker 19. Rebecca Young 20. Simone Smith 21. Shontelle Stowers
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