Emma to steer a path for NQ side

GOLD Stars coach Gavin Lloyd says he believes dynamic dummy-half Emma Manzelmann will be key to the side’s charge through the first BHP Premiership.

The former junior Maroon dummy-half was impressive as the Gold Stars shook the monkey off their back in their first win of the statewide competition at the weekend.

Manzelmann punched out a 65-minute stint behind the ruck and her running game through the middle kept the Gold Stars on the front foot to put them over the advantage line as they dispatched Central Queensland Capras 36-14.

The North Queensland side struck early through captain Romy Teitzel and refused to concede the lead with two late tries sealing its first win of the season.

A returning Deborah Barchard, who missed the Gold Stars’ season opener against Valley Diehards, had a point to prove to the coaching staff, with the centre crossing for a well-earned double.

But Lloyd could not go past the performance of his dynamic dummy-half.

“She would have run for more than 150m against them. She got us on the front foot and she kept pushing up in support as well,” he said. “Emma was everywhere.” Lloyd said the win had been a relief, especially after pushing the highly fancied Diehards to the limit in Cairns the week prior.

“When we played the Diehards we were handing the ball over on tackle two or tackle three but this time around we were much better with the ball,” he said. “We kept hold of the ball and we built that pressure by completing our sets.

“It was good to beat Capras, too. In my time in rugby league, I don’t think we have ever beaten Central Queensland in any women’s competitions.”

But Lloyd was adamant his team would not rest on its laurels as it prepared to face Tweed Seagulls in one of the biggest games of the year.

The Seagulls have a strong line-up, spearheaded by Queensland Origin stars Rona Peters and Broncos NRLW excitement machine Tarryn Aiken.

The clash will be a curtainraiser for the Mendi Blackhawks’ Anzac Day clash with Sunshine Coast Falcons, and Lloyd said he would encourage his side to buy into the atmosphere and occasion at Jack Manski Oval.

“It will be a big test for our side against Tweed. They have a lot of strong players but we don’t feel threatened by it at all,” he said.

“Our efforts against Diehards and win over the Capras prove we are in the same league as these sides. We just have to stick to the basics, complete our sets and stay in it.

“We have already started talking about doing a few things for Anzac Day. We want our players to embrace it, go through their family history, talk about it and use it as a bonding session.”