NRL finals: How Sydney Thunder gun, Rabbitoh fan Lauren Smith will watch grand final

This top cricketer is preparing for a big season on the pitch and a big night watching the Rabbitohs v Panthers NRL decider from an unusual location.

Thunder cricketer Lauren Smith is a big Bunnies fan.

When Lauren Smith packed her kit for more than a month on the road with the Sydney Thunder squad there was an unusual piece of apparel in her bag.

Sitting among her cricket clothes was a South Sydney Rabbitohs jersey.

Smith is a mad Souths fan and will be pulling on the jersey in her hotel room in Hobart on Sunday to watch the Rabbitohs take on the Penrith Panthers.

Cameron Murray after being tackled in the NRL Qualifying Final match between Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

“I know everyone in the team and the squad and all the news. I love my Bunnies boys,” said Smith, a right arm off break bowler and right handed bat made her debut for the NSW Breakers as a teenager and previously played for the Sydney Sixers before being recruited to Thunder.

“I’ve got my jersey with me and I’ll be wearing it for the match on Sunday. There will be no pie or beer though.”

The match will be a welcome distraction from 14 days of quarantine being undertaken by WBBL players preparing for the season start on October 14.

Lauren Smith of the Thunder celebrating a wicket.

The opening game of the seventh season of the top line women’s competition will be played between the Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars.

Thunder opens its campaign on October 16 against the Adelaide Strikers

Born in Randwick, Smith was raised on the NSW Central Coast started her cricket career at The Entrance.

She now lives at Homebush and plays Sydney grade with Northern Districts. moving across to Thunder last season in the hope of taking on more leadership duties.

Thunder had a setback this week with the news South African quick Shabnim Ismail had been forced to withdraw from the squad due to a knee injury she sustained during the Proteas tour to the West Indies.

However Thunder will still field the majority of the squad which won last year’s WBBL.

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Originally published as NRL finals: How Sydney Thunder gun, Rabbitoh fan Lauren Smith will watch grand final