Rivals face twin threat
SOME siblings may like to make everything a competition but Page and Paula Malau-aduli have used their connection to employ one of the North Queensland Premier League’s sneakiest tactics.
The 17-year-old twin stars of MA Olympic’s grand final run may play contrasting positions, but their deep insights into the other’s game has enabled them to seamlessly swap position throughout a match.
With Paula starting in defence and Page in attack, their utility value as players enables the transition to happen easily, and provides each with a small respite without opposition outfits recognising a potential lapse to exploit.
This desire to help each other is part of what makes the pair avoid conflict between them — and form a powerful on-field dynamic.
“I don’t really like going up against her, I think because in pretty much everything we do we’re the same. There’s already competition there so where we can we avoid it,” Page said.
“Overlapping runs with each other, even one-twos, because we’ve got such a similar thought process it’s almost like she knows what I’m going to do before I do it.”
MA Olympic will come up against premiership winners Brothers in the grand final, intent on finally breaking the impenetrable Layne Chapman.
The Brothers’ teenage goal keeper was relentless when the two sides clashed in week one of the finals, pulling off save after save to frustrate the Mundingburra attack.
But Paula said those misgivings will be what fuels them this weekend, now armed with the knowledge on how to get by the youngster’s guard.
“It was pretty hard watching from the back and seeing she’s saved another one. But I guess it motivates us more as well, we know they’re doing their job so we have to really hold tight and stop them getting in ours,” Paula said.