Harden reunion
TALLISHA Harden will go head-to-head with the woman who brought her to Burleigh when she leads the Bears out for their fourth straight premiership defence today.
Burleigh will be understrength for the 11am Southeast Queensland Women’s Division 1 blockbuster against Easts at Pizzey Park, with many of their top players unavailable due to clashing rugby union and Oztag commitments.
For the second season running, Harden will captain the Bears and opposite her will be Tigers skipper Karina Brown.
Harden, a Jillaroos representative who was player of the match in last year’s grand final, revealed the role ex-Bear Brown played in her early rugby league days.
“I was new to footy, I didn’t really know who to play for but I knew Karina Brown and ‘Goosey’ got in my ear to come down to Burleigh,” Harden said.
“As soon as I stepped into Burleigh I knew it was somewhere I really enjoyed. I really enjoy the girls’ company and the culture – I can’t see myself leaving any time soon.
“Even though Goosey is not here anymore, she started everything I guess at Burleigh and she was a big part of why that culture was so good from the beginning.”
But friendships aside, competition points are on the line today.
The Tahnee Norriscoached Bears have had somewhat a changing of the guard with fresh faces stepping in for various retirements at the end of last season and Harden is fully wary of Easts.
“Easts joined the competition last year and they did really well and made the finals,” the lock said.
“They will be looking for another big season and we, of course, don’t want to start the season off slowly.”