Mell Ings, one of the founding members of the WorHawks would be as proud as punch to see the side in back to back Grand Finals. Although she has moved to the Gold Coast with her family, Mell was the heart and soul of the club in its formative years. She once stated to our Times Journalist that she wished she could have played longer and didn’t have to take the game up towards the end of her playing age. Mell certainly helped pave the way for the next generation.

 

The Harden WorHawks will be shooting for back-to-back Katrina Fanning Shield (KFS) Tier 2 titles on Saturday when taking on the Queanbeyan Blues in the Canberra Region Rugby League (CRRL) Grand Final at Crookwell Memorial Oval. Last year, the WorHawks were the underdogs when they knocked off South Coast 10-4 in the decider, but this season, expectations will be on Harden to pummel Queanbeyan. Co-coach Paul Lewis wants nothing more than to win Saturday’s match, but he also wants his players to enjoy the moment and the lead-up to Saturday’s season finale.

In the KFS tier 2 competition, Paul Lewis pictured here, and Kristy Brown were named coaches of the year, Emma Bayley was the leading try scorer.

 

“We talk about it every week, enjoying the moment,” Lewis said. “Sometimes you work so hard to try and win that you forget about what you’ve done to get to where you are. “On Saturday, it will be about enjoying playing footy with your friends, not panicking, looking to the ladies beside you, playing to your strengths, and trying to win the little moments.”

Despite a rocky regular season, where numbers were sometimes scarce, leading to the odd forfeit, the WorHawks have fired in the KFS post-season. In their qualifying final, Harden trounced Tuggeranong 38-6 at Boorowa Showground before a convincing 32-12 win over Minor Premiers, Queanbeyan.

After a week off, Harden will be refreshed and ready for the Blues, who won their way into the decider with a 28-8 win over Tuggeranong in last Saturday’s Preliminary Final.

“It was hard at the beginning of the season; I had an idea of what the team was on paper, and it was a lot different to what we were getting on game day, which changed my perspective a bit,” Lewis said. “Still, they were all buying in and working hard for each other, and it’s been like that all season; no matter the result, they have put in and tried their hardest. “They have turned it around; the girls don’t complain about anything; they’re all happy to chip in, do the hard yards, and enjoy their footy.” Lewis, who, alongside Kristy Brown, was named the 2023 KFS Tier 2 coach of the year, has been big on preaching comradery and trusting the player on either side of you. He believes that mentality and team-orientated approach to their Rugby League make the WorHawks a dangerous commodity. “The girls play for each other, and the composure they have shown all season has been amazing,” Lewis said. “Even when they were behind in games or short on players, everyone in this team trusts what their teammates can do, and they know they can play some really good footy.”

In terms of defeating Queanbeyan in the decider, Lewis and Brown will call on a big pack led by the likes of Beth Loco, Charlotte Gray, Takilele Katoa, and Abbie Grant. On the back of their bruising defence and general go-forward, Jaxan Blackhall and Georgia Miller will pull on the strings, with attacking weapons Emma Bayley, Visharn Edwards, and Mollie Hogan ready to fire out wide.

“We just want to be physical,” Lewis said. “We’ll go out there and use our strengths. We have got forwards from centres right to the forward pack, and we want to use those players and be physical in attack and defence, especially defence. “Teams can’t hide from it, which has been so impressive. Plus, we have those good ball players that can score points, so it’s a good mix.”

 

It’s set to be a colossal decider, with the KFS match to open proceedings on a monumental day in Crookwell. Kick-off: 10.30 a.m.

 

PLAYER PROFILES

Kristy Brown

Coaches nickname- Kristy (pay attention) Brown.

Where are you from? Young.

What position do you play? Forwards/Utility player (all rounder)

Highlight of the season? Winning games with only 10-11 players most weeks and Paul getting coach of the year! Huge achievements.

Most memorable/funniest moment? When I lost my voice for 8 weeks after being throat punched in a tackle and everyone called me Darren Lockyer.

Emma Bayley

Coaches nickname- Em (try time) Bayley.

Where are you from? Forbes.

What position do you play? Built like a forward but play in the centres

Highlight of the season? Every game is a highlight for me, I love that no matter how many girls we have each week, we just make it work and go hard.

Most memorable/funniest moment? Sharn’s smelly shoulder pads – girl needs to wash them.

Chelsea Leggett

Coaches nickname- Chelsea (dangermouse) Leggett.

Where are you From: The Central Coast/Young

What Position do you play? Hooker/Winger

Highlight of the season? Second week we versed Bushies and flogged them 38-6.

Most memorable/funniest moment? Winning games with only 9 or 10 girls.

Georgia Miller

Coaches nickname- Georgia (after you) Miller

Where are you from? West Wyalong

What position do you play? Halfback/five-eighth

Highlight of the season? Making the grand final in my debut season and making new friends.

Most memorable/funniest moment? Baby whacking me in a tackle and taking me out of the field instead of the opposition.

Charlotte Gray

Coaches nickname- Charlotte (get off me) Gray

Where are you from? Cowra

What position do you play? front row/prop

Highlight of the season? being with a team i call family.

Most memorable/funniest moment? most memorable moment was when i became a part of such an amazing group of girls that i call family.

Mollie Hogan

Coaches nickname- Mollie (hit man) Hogan

Where are you from? Young

What position do you play? Lock and Second Row

Highlight of the season? winning and 74 points.

Gemma Blackhall

Coaches Nickname: Gemma ‘go get changed’ Blackhall

Where are you from: Albury

Position: Usually Hooker/Lock, but more recently Centre

Highlight of the season: Probably our last game, beating Queanbeyan to get into the GF.

Most Memorable/Funniest Moment: Probably again our game against Queanbeyan, where the girl slapped me and caused a bit of a bitch fight would say that took me by surprise.

Clare Smith

Nickname- Bear

Where are you from? Harden

What position do you play? Hooker

Highlight of the season? Beating Queanbeyan to make the Grand final

Most memorable moment: Abbie Grant’s face right before Mollie gave her the biggest hospital pass.

Nickolle Kirby

Where are you from: Condobolin

What position do you play? 2nd row

Highlight of the season: idk but not the driving from Condo.

Most memorable/funniest moment: idk.