Bears’ future is with Leoni
BURLEIGH have gone back to the future in pursuit of a fifth straight South East Queensland women’s rugby league division one title.
With all-conquering mentor Tahnee Norris overseas on work commitments with the Australian Institute of Sport for the entire finals series, the club’s inaugural women’s coach Roy Leoni is standing in.
Leoni is usually Burleigh’s development and pathways manager but he did coach the Bears women’s side for the first three years of their existence before handing the reins to Norris.
He has no intentions of shaking things up given the business end of the season is upon them, with the side hosting Easts at 4pm today in a semi-final shootout.
As part of a shortened finals series to cater for the upcoming NRLW, the winner will proceed to the decider against either Wests Brisbane or Brothers Ipswich, whose semifinal will kick off 3pm today at Frank Lind Oval.
“We’re just working hard on the small areas that will hopefully help them over the next couple of weeks,” Leoni said.
“We’re in no disillusion how good Easts are with Karina Brown and Vanessa Foliaki and that in their side.”
To Burleigh’s advantage, they have a stack of finals experience in their squad, which has been bolstered by NSW Origin prop Millie Boyle’s return from Wallaroos duties.
With Tyler Birch unlikely to return from a knee injury, captain Tallisha Harden will play five-eighth in a significant shift away from her usual role as a middle or edge forward.
“Tallisha is really good in that she is very versatile,” Leoni said.
“We lost Tyler Birch two weeks ago, who was the other half with Zahara (Temara), but Tallisha has stood in and is doing a really good job. She is going to play at five-eighth again this weekend.
“It’s a bit of a different role for her but she has really taken it on-board.
“Zee is obviously the main half so it’s just up to (Harden) to do her thing and control her edge. She’ll be fine. She has got a lot of good support with Taz (Tazmin Gray) and all of those other girls.”