Reds wary of Drua, debut for Narokete

WALLAROOS veteran and Reds W fullback Lori Cramer is expecting a bruising contest when the side hosts Super W premiers the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua at Ballymore in Queensland on Sunday.

The match will be a replay of last year’s Super W final when the Drua broke Queensland hearts 3830 at the same venue.

Fresh from another stint with UK Premiership Women’s Rugby powerhouse Exeter, Cramer has traded her Chiefs and Waratahs jerseys for the familiar fields of Ballymore.

“I think playing against any kind of Pasifika side is a challenge in of itself,” Cramer told rugby.com.au

“Playing against Fiji is always incredibly physical. Those girls take it to another level with their skills and playing ad-lib rugby.

“There’s never a question they’re incredible rugby players but now they’ve had time to improve their strength and conditioning, it’s a bloody nightmare trying to defend some of those girls.”

But Cramer won’t be alone in the fight. The team will look to former Drua player Doreen Narokete to provide some goforward ball.

The 21-year-old versatile lock forward was picked by the Reds while she was playing for the Brothers Rugby Club during the off-season.

She was part of the Drua side that won the Super W series in 2022 and 2023 and will make her Reds debut against her former teammates.

USA Eagle Charli Jacoby will also make her starting Super Rugby Women’s debut at tighthead prop with legendary Wallaroo Liz Patu named for her return to top-flight competition footy from the bench just eight months after the birth of her child.

The kicks off at 3.35pm.