TITANS CUP FINALS REPLAY: Keebra Park SHS v Marsden SHS Girls

The historic Titans Cup open girls rugby league grand final between Keebra Park SHS and Marsden SHS was livestreamed today. WATCH THE REPLAY.

Keebra Park’s women’s team has joined their Open Boys as Titans Cup champions after defeating Marsden SHS 24-6 in the inaugural Open Girls decider.

The dynamic play of Australian Under-19s representative Tatiana Raftstrand-Smith spurred her side to victory.

Centre Faith Tutauha scored a double with tries in either half to complement scores by Raftstrand-Smith, Chantay Ratu and Harmony Perry.

Lock Raven Tihema-Mako kicked two goals.

Finals of the Titans Schools League.Keebra Park v Marsden (open girls). Keebras Tiana Rafstrand-Smith busts the game open. Picture Glenn Hampson

Keebra Park captain Sunny Gerrard said to raise the Titans Cup aloft as champions was a special privilege.

“To have this honour and take it away with the girls is just an amazing feeling,” the backrower said.

“We’ve put in hard work all season and it’s great to come away with the win.

“Our inspiration was just how bad we wanted it. I’m sure everyone wanted to win but at the end of the day we played our guts out and we came away as the better team.

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“At the start of the year we didn’t even really get to train so to come away with the win after having such difficulty with the season is awesome.

“It was awesome for (the graduating students), I’m sure they looked forward to it and they can say they won a final with Keebra Park forever now.”

Marsden proved challenging opposition with halfback Destiny Brill already a rising star on the Super W scene with the Queensland Reds.

Finals of the Titans Schools League.Keebra Park v Marsden (open girls). Marsdens Georgina Tuitaalili hit hard by Keebra defence..Picture Glenn Hampson

Marsden prop April Ngatupuna was awarded player of the match from the losing side for her barnstorming carries through the middle.

Keebra’s incisive backline won the battle with all five of the school’s tries scored out wide.

Coach Nathan Small said winning the trophy was just reward for his player’s efforts pushing themselves outside their comfort zone.

“That was a special moment and there was a bit of emotion at the end as well,” he said.

“We got out to a nice lead but the first time Marsden had the ball they marched down the field and scored quite easily.

“I was nervous for a bit there but the girls stuck to their gameplan and really applied the pressure.”

KEEBRA PARK 24 (Faith Tutauha (2), Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Harmony Perry, Chantay Ratu tries; Raven Tihema-Mako (2) goals) d MARSDEN SHS 6 (Oshanis Whakatau try; Charmayne Pakura goal)

WATCH THE REPLAY: KEEBRA PARK SMASH MARSDEN IN BOYS FINAL

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TIANA Raftstrand-Smith’s first foray into rugby league was practising her tackling skills with her dad using a rolled-up mattress as a four-year-old in New Zealand.

“The rest, as they say, is history,” Raftstrand-Smith said.

Now 17-years-old, the cross-code prodigy is shaping as a major factor in Keebra Park’s charge towards an inaugural Titans Cup title.

Tiana Raftstrand-Smith. Pics Tim Marsden

After moving to Australia with her extended family to purse her sporting dreams, Raftstrand-Smith discovered rugby and has achieved remarkable feats in both.

A member of the Sydney-based Rugby Sevens Australian Youth Development Program, Raftstrand-Smith has also represented Griffith University in their open Rugby Sevens team and fell just short of representing Queensland in the Under-18 State of Origin arena last year as she wasn’t old enough to qualify.

“I love playing both codes however, I have grown to love playing Rugby Sevens as it not only offers multiple pathways for women, but I feel my skills and strengths are more suited to this code,” she said.

“My ultimate goal would be to represent Australia at the Olympics and make a career as an elite athlete and to help build the sport for women like myself in the future.”

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Raftstrand-Smith has already had a taste of international sporting glory.

Last year she travelled home to New Zealand to represent Australia at the World Schools 7s Tournament where Australia was crowned World Champions.

And if she continues on her current trajectory, Raftstrand-Smith could soon be lining up against her aunty and New Zealand sevens star Portia Woodman on the world stage.

“She is a great role model for myself and my siblings as she has achieved much success in the sport and I hope to one day have the chance to play against her,” she said.

After defeating Marsden State High School in their opening Titans Cup clash, Raftstrand-Smith believes Keebra has what it takes to be crowned champions of Wednesday’s grand final.

“We will definitely be putting 110 per cent forward on game day and putting our practice into action on the field, where we wish to get the win,” she said.