Kawana Dolphins claim 2024 Sunshine Coast rugby league open women’s premiership

The 2024 Sunshine Coast rugby league women’s premiers have been decided as we highlight the major moments, key players and deciding factors. Read the match as it happened.

Kawana Dolphins celebrate winning the 2024 open women's Sunshine Coast rugby league grand final.

The Kawana Dolphins have been crowned 2024 Sunshine Coast Open women’s champions after claiming back-to-back grand final victories and back-to-back bragging rights over the Caboolture Snakes.

As the game began in front of a healthy Sunshine Coast Stadium grandstand both teams quickly showed plenty of energy and aggression to start on the front foot.

Caboolture’s big, mobile forward pack made it easy for their playmakers to get involved but it was the fast feet of Kawana’s Felicity Powdrell who sliced through the defence and got over halfway before throwing a forward pass to Dolphins leading try scorer Malia Ting.

After end-to-end field possession it was the Dolphins who struck first thanks to a nice draw and pass play from Ashleigh Kelvin put Keely Jackson over in the right hand corner.

Kawana’s attack continued to hamper the Snake’s right edge as Powdrell made another break away run before being bought down 30m from the line.

Minutes later it was Falcons rising star Takoda Thompson who scored the Dolphins second of the match by weaving through that right defensive edge and pushing the lead out to 8-0.

With seven minutes to play in the opening half a brainstorming run from Emmogen Taumafai had the Snakes metres from the line and as they swung it wide the ball was eventually put down by their left winger in a massive try scoring opportunity.

Kawana Dolphins women's player Malia Ting in action. Picture: Infamous Photography/R.J.JARMAN

The teams came out of the sheds for the second half with Kawana leading by two unconverted tries and it didn’t take long for them to extend their lead thanks to a nice grubber kick from Courtney Lockwood had her halves partner Malia Ting dive on the ball under the sticks.

The women in maroon must’ve smelt blood in the water as it was the dazzling feet of Suvanaha Connors that broke through the Snakes defensive line before leaving Snakes fullback Latisha Hoek in the dust and diving under the posts.

A quick 20-0 scoreline was asking of a big response from Caboolture and an intercept from Kawana’s Suvanaha Connors didn’t help their chances as she glided away to score her second try of the match.

Caboolture were able to score their first try of the match with 10 minutes remaining as Letia Alefaio dived over in the right hand corner but Kawana stopped them there asEmmaley McMurdy dived over for the final try of the game.

The referee called full time with Kawana winning 30-4 as Dolphins captain Maarire Puketapu was awarded player of the match.

Kawana Dolphins captain Maarire Puketapu was awarded player of the match.

“I was actually injured all week in the lead up so I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent but with some effort, determination and encouragement from the girls it got me across the line,” Puketapu said.

Kawana head coach Geoff Wheeler said he was ecstatic with the win.

“That was unbelievable,” he said.

“The girls pretty much controlled the game from the start which is how we planned it.

“We knew at halftime we had to complete a bit better and the girls came out firing in the second half so they were able to put the game away pretty quickly after that.”

Wheeler said he was extremely proud to have gone back-to-back.

“They’re such a talented bunch, it makes my job pretty easy so back-to-back is great,” he said.

“We set out to achieve this about eight or nine months ago because it’s a big ask but I’m more than proud of these players.”

Originally published as Kawana Dolphins claim 2024 Sunshine Coast rugby league open women’s premiership