Roosters stars Lavina O’Mealey and Kylie Hilder have one last shot at glory
Lavina O’Mealey and Kylie Hilder will depart the game cherishing being part of the inaugural competition, but there is one more thing to tick off the list — NRLW premiership.
Women's sport
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EVERYONE will be keenly watching to see if Billy Slater can depart the NRL as a premiership winner.
Same goes in the women’s game with Roosters pair Lavina O’Mealey and Kylie Hilder. They are two players who have been among the pioneers for the past decade; who chipped away at club level and represented state and country for next to nothing.
They are the ones people talk about when they mention the sacrifice, dedication and commitment that made this competition a reality.
And though they both will depart the game cherishing the fact they were part of the inaugural competition, there is one more thing to tick off the list — NRLW premiership.
“Of course we’re going out there to win it. Always,” O’Mealey said.
“We’re a team full of competitors. We don’t want to be just a part of it, we want to win the first one. We’re going to really focus, not so much on the result, but just preparations leading up to it. If you play the grand final too early in the week you can exhaust yourself.
“We’re cruising through this week and we’ll ramp it up in the back end.”
It’s one last haul for the two veterans.
Hilder, 42, was hanging up her boots at the end of last year but put it off for a season when the NRLW was announced.
She knows she made the right decision.
It’s right because on Sunday her Roosters have a shot at winning the title. And it’s right because three punishing rounds of physical football have her body telling her time is up.
“A lot of the girls who played Origin say each game is like that. Against the Warriors it was a physical game and we’ve had to pull ourselves together to get back out there and play footy against the Broncos,” Hilder said.
“That game was also a physical game.
“The position I’m playing, in the middle (hooker), the body is just hanging together.
“I know myself that it’s time to hang the boots. I did when it was with touch football and I have that same feeling.
“I’ve been so privileged and happy to be part of it but definitely know I’ve done what I needed to do and ticked that box and can happily go.”
Grand final week has been big for the female players with fan days, media sessions and training still crammed in around their work and home commitments.
The Roosters have the added weight of knowing a couple of their treasured teammates definitely won’t be there with them next season.
The emotion of sending them out victorious won’t distract from the task at hand. In fact, they’ve barely spoken about it.
“We haven’t really been focused on that, just focused on our combinations and just getting our unity together and coming together as a squad,” said forward Elianna Walton.
“That’s something we can talk about. (Lavina) doesn’t really like the spotlight too much. She likes to come, play footy and be on her way.”
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