TCC girls looking to claim back-to-back titles while St Pat’s hoping it’s third time lucky

The Cathedral College coach Damon Moore is predicting ‘one hell of a battle’ when his team tackles the skilful Mackay outfit in a replay of last year’s carnival decider. See the full team lists in our game preview.

The Cathedral College from Rockhampton and St Patrick's College from Mackay will face off for the second consecutive year in the girls final at the Confraternity Carnival.

The Cathedral College open girls are being urged to “back themselves” as they prepare for one of the biggest occasions in their rugby league careers.

They have won a place in the Confraternity Carnival grand final, which will be played as the curtain raiser to the women’s State of Origin series in Townsville’s Country Bank Stadium on Thursday.

They also have the chance to forge some history in the girls division by winning back-to-back titles when they take on St Patrick’s College, Mackay, in a replay of last year’s decider.

The Cathedral College will feature in the Confraternity Carnival girls final, which will be played as the curtain-raiser to the women's State of Origin series decider in Townsville.

St Brendan’s were denied the chance to defend their title in the boys division after a shock 10-nil loss to St Patrick’s in Tuesday’s quarter final.

It’s the second consecutive year in a row that a defending Shield champion has been knocked out of the running by Tuesday.

The region’s two other contenders - The Cathedral College and Emmaus College - were also beaten in the quarters.

The TCC girls will have some added incentive in their quest for success with Emma Paki, one of the school’s past students, lining up again for the Maroons alongside fellow Rocky product Tamika Upton.

Rockhampton’s Emma Paki (right) celebrates with her Queensland teammates after their win in Game II. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)

Coach Damon Moore is confident his players are up for the challenge.

“The girls are super-excited already,” he said.

“It will be such a great experience and great exposure for them too.

“There will be plenty of NRLW people floating around and they get the opportunity to play in front of what should hopefully be a decent sized crowd.”

TCC, like their grand final opponents, won their three round games before scoring a grinding 4-nil win in the wet in their semi-final against Mt Maria, Mitchelton.

St Patrick’s crossed for two tries in their 10-nil win over Marymount College, Burleigh Waters.

“The girls were unbelievable; they were just so tough and so gritty,” he said.

The Cathedral College's winger Rhiannon Brown goes in for the team's winning try in Tuesday's semi-final. Photo: Scott Radford-Chisholm Photography/QISSRL

“It was a tough, tough battle. Our forward pack was so good in defence and they just kept working and working and working.

“A really proud effort is how I would describe it.”

Moore said the team’s forwards, led by Lyndsey Major-Booth and Mikeely Griffiths, could take a lot of credit for the team’s unbeaten run to the final.

Second rower Zoe Robson and hooker Josie Wogand, who was Player of the Match in the team’s first two games, had also been outstanding.

The Cathedral College front rower Mikeely Griffiths makes a barnstorming run. Photo: Scott Radford-Chisholm Photography/QISSRL

Moore expects “one hell of a battle” in Thursday’s game against their talented rivals, saying he will be surprised if there is more than two points in it.

TCC won last year’s decider 14-10.

“My message to the girls will be to just keep doing what you’re doing and back yourselves,” he said.

“Anything that gets thrown at them they just take head-on. They’ve got no fear and they just go for it, which will hold them in good stead come grand final time.”

St Patrick’s will be hoping it’s third time lucky after failing to secure a win in their past two grand final appearances.

They will be looking for big games from the experienced trio of Paige Mooney, Ella Webb and Ava Wheeler.

St Patrick's girls team beat Marymount 10-nil in Tuesday's semi-final to set up a showdown with The Cathedral College. Photo: Scott Radford-Chisholm Photography/QISSRL

Coach Imogen Healy wants her players to enjoy the excitement of another Confraternity Carnival.

“It’s such a celebration of school football and girls’ football and it’s something that we really

want the girls to take in because they will remember it for a long time,” she said.

“These games can be decided by those little moments so it’s important the girls recognise that and celebrate them.”

The girls grand final starts at 4pm.

The Cathedral College squad

Manaia Faiumu Malone, Liliene Hollier, Freya Hansen, Melayer Guthrie, Rhiannah Brown, Maycee Brown, Madeline Johnson, Salome Mann, Josie Wogand, Lyndsey Major-Booth, Zoe Robson, Alexis Bukowski, Mackayla Oakley, Kayla Vella, Mikeely Griffiths, Tylah Taituma, Dakotah O’Leary, Annie McLean, Paige Chapman, Tyla Barnes, Jada Smith.

St Patrick’s squad

Anthea Campbell, Scarlett Foord, Ella Webb, Ruby Lucas, Maddie Simon, Keely Pitt, Paige Mooney, Jada Cahill, Jaymie Clancy, Charlotte Large, Ebony Temple, Sophie Searle, Cianna Faulkner, Ruby Watt, Kelsi Hazledine, Lucy McKendry, Ava Wheeler, Tayla Camilleri, Keeley Logan, Brielle Contor, Tailor Meredith.

Originally published as TCC girls looking to claim back-to-back titles while St Pat’s hoping it’s third time lucky