Premiership decider will be ‘battle of the forwards’
DRAGONS skipper Kezie Apps believes Sunday’s premiership decider will be the toughest challenge in her rugby league career as both sides prepare for a physical battle to be crowned the 2021 NRLW Premiers.
The Roosters and Dragons grand final squads came together on Friday morning to officially launch the premiership deciding weekend, to be played at Moreton Daily Stadium on Sunday.
The tricolours have been buoyed by the news that backrower Sarah Togatuki has been cleared to play in Sunday’s grand final after facing the judiciary earlier in the week for a careless high tackle charge.
Meanwhile, the Dragons boast one of the leading forwards in the game in Elsie Albert alongside experienced NRLW campaigners in Apps and Holli Wheeler.
Apps said the NRLW premiership will be a battle which will be won down the middle as both sides look to create opportunities for their star-studded outside backs.
“It’s going to be the hardest game we’re ever going to play to be honest,” Apps said.
“It’s definitely going to be a battle of the forwards.
“The Roosters have an amazing forward pack but so do we so it will be a game that is won in the middle.
“Hopefully we can then give some joy to our outside backs.”
Both sides are set to field near-full strength teams, with Dragons forward Tegan Dymock still under an injury cloud despite being named in the 17.
St George Illawarra halfback and one of the breakout stars of this season Rachael Pearson will also play on Sunday despite an injury concern, which coach Jamie Soward shrugged off on Friday.
“Rachael is fine,” Soward said.