Warriors star tips Roosters as favourites for NRL women’s premiership trophy
WARRIORS star Hilda Mariu says the talent-stacked Roosters are the team to beat in the women’s NRL Premiership but says the only club from across the Tasman has special motivation to shine.
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WARRIORS star Hilda Mariu has identified the talent-stacked Roosters as the team to beat in the upcoming women’s NRL Premiership but says the only club from across the Tasman in the inaugural competition has a special motivation to impress.
Mariu said New Zealand’s loss to Australia at last year’s rugby league World Cup has given her side additional motivation to claim the trophy unveiled on Sunday for the winner of the NRL women’s premiership which will run alongside the NRL finals.
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Of their 22 players, 18 Warriors are current or former Kiwi Ferns and Mariu says the pain of any loss to Australia run deep.
“It is always a motivation for us, not winning the World Cup,” Mariu said. “It is a drive for us.”
On paper the Kiwi Ferns star says the Roosters are the standout team in a competition also involving the Broncos and the Dragons and set to kick off the weekend of September 7-8 with games played as double headers with the men’s NRL finals.
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“I definitely believe the Roosters have an awesome team on paper,” Mariu said.
“They have the Jillaroos backline and an awesome forward pack.’’
Among the Roosters are signing are Jillaroos captain Ruan Sims, Vanessa Foliaki, Simaima Taufa and Maddie Studdon.
Representatives from all four teams in the competition were on hand on Sunday for the unveiling of the competition trophy.
The NRL said the trophy is not a replica of the men’s but will sit beside it well as it is the same height but made of different materials, has the same base but a different focal point. and is a reflection of the women’s ‘Same Game. Our Way’ creed.
The competition will involve three rounds with the decider to be played on September 30 in the lead-up the men’s NRL Grand Final at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.