From opposing captains to teammates come full-time
BY the full-time siren of Friday night’s NSWRL Women’s Premiership grand final, opposing captains Simaima Taufa and Lavina O’Mealey will be teammates.
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BY the full-time siren of Friday night’s NSWRL Women’s Premiership grand final, opposing captains Simaima Taufa and Lavina O’Mealey will be teammates.
It’s something they’ve done before of course.
They go back to the days when a young Taufa marvelled at O’Mealey in pink tights wreaking havoc out of dummy-half for Redfern All Blacks.
They’ve played alongside each other for NSW, including the groundbreaking first State of Origin in June.
They’ve played alongside each other for the Jillaroos and hoisted a World Cup together.
It’s why the banter flows easily and they’ll again be good teammates when they officially become NRL Roosters at the end of Friday’s decider.
But they will first be out to stop the other for the NSWRL title.
“Whichever team turns up on the day, it’s their day, so we’ve just got to switch on,” Taufa said.
“It’s pretty much one for one; they got one up on us at ANZ Stadium and we happened to work hard as a team to get the victory over them two weeks ago (in the semi-final).
“Now we’re here, grand final.”
“Game three in the State of Origin … you’re Queensland,” O’Mealey added.
This season is O’Mealey’s last on the football field.
With everything that has come women’s rugby league’s way in recent times, she’s happy to go out during this watershed year. She has a State of Origin win in 2018 and two premierships lay within reach.
The competitor in O’Mealey wants the wins; the leader understands the visibility of this grand final and the players themselves means a lot more to the game.
“To be honest I just want it to be a really awesome, tight game for the growth of women’s league,” O’Mealey said.
“It would be good to take home another win, but I’m happy. I’ve ticked a lot of boxes in my short 10-year footy career. That isn’t the reason I do it. It’s just to help the younger generation, to follow their dreams.
“I’m excited for the brand of football that’s going to be played and the momentum that will take into the inaugural NRL Premiership.
“Hopefully we get a massive crowd out there and it goes down to golden point … Souths by one [laughs].”
Taufa is serious about wanting the win, but she can still have a laugh with her good mate.
“Although I want to see Lavina have her good comeback stories, I want victory as well,” she added.
“I will do everything I can and my team will. We’ve been working and building hard with the youth that we’ve got that we want that victory and we’re hungry for it.
“It’ll be exciting footy and I’m ready to take out Lavina.”
NSWRL Women’s Premiership Grand Final
Mounties v South Sydney
Friday August 10, 5.30pm
ANZ Stadium