Warriors happy the hype has subsided
Week one is in the books and the Warriors women say it’s a weight off their shoulders, as they prepare for week two of the inaugural NRLW premiership.
Nobody gave them a shot in week one against early competition favourites the Sydney Roosters, but that didn’t stop the Warriors women bashing and bruising their way to a tough first-up win, built on defence.
Back-rower Alice Vailea said week one was a massive learning curve for the side and the players were happy the ‘‘hype and pressure’’ of that was behind them.
However, with the men’s side failing to win their playoff game against Penrith last week, the women now have the added pressure of carrying the whole club through September. It’s something they welcome.
‘‘To be honest, I think the girls are going to enjoy the added attention,’’ Vailea said.
‘‘We had massive support all last week and now that the men unfortunately are out, knowing we again have the support of our family and possibly more fans as well as the whole club behind us is huge.’’
Vailea, 22, was one of the standout performers in the side’s last start win, running for more than 80m, four tackle busts and dished out some bruising tackles.
The teacher aide, who models her game on one-man-wrecking-ball Jason Taumalolo, knows she will have to back up with a similar performance, if her side is to beat the Dragons in Sydney tonight.
‘‘Going into last week, the first ever women’s NRL game at a big stadium, there was a lot of pressure. I thought I’d be a lot more nervous but we just went out there as a team nice and focused, which really helped,’’ she said.
‘‘We will have to be just as focused this week, more so actually, because we know the Dragons will come to play. The senior players in our team and coach help us younger girls with that.’’
Head coach Luisa Avaiki said there was a more relaxed feeling amongst the group, but was sending the message to her players not to lose focus.
‘‘It’s different [this week] in the sense that there is a little relief that the first one, and all that pressure, is
out of the way,’’ she said.
‘‘But in saying that we are still focused on our job because we have to be on, we want to be there at the end. That’s the ultimate goal and nothing has changed there.’’
While she was happy with the side’s defence last week, today was about igniting the attack and playing their own brand of ‘‘Warrior ball’’, she said.
‘‘We were guilty last week of having a lot of ball in good areas but failing to capitalise. It’s all about execution and we have to make sure we just really move the ball, get numbers on an edge and play some expansive, exciting footy which we are capable of doing.’’
At a glance
What:
NRLW, St George Illawarra Dragons v New Zealand Warriors When, where: Today 7.15pm, ANZ Stadium, Sydney