I attended Ballymore Stadium on Sunday afternoon, to watch the Queensland Women’s 15 take on the Melbourne Rebels Women.
It was a drizzly Brisbane day but there was a decent spectator turnout, probably about the same as the similarly non-ticketed Brisbane City/Fijian Drua match that I attended last year.
With the dominant 60-0 performance by the Queenslanders that unfolded before them, the crowd certainly was certainly had plenty of reasons to get into the mood, and responded accordingly by making plenty of noise. It was a really enjoyable match, with the Queenslanders dominating at the breakdown and destroying the Victorians in the scrum, and making some enormous hits in defence.
The Queensland forward that jumped out at me was Number 8 Alex Hargreaves, who made her mark some awesome rumbling runs off the back of the scrum, busting tackles left, right and centre, and getting her team on the front foot. In the backs Samantha Trehearne showed why she is a Wallaroo, with her pace and ability to see space having her inevitably appearing in the right place at the right time when her team made a break, with a try for her efforts.
The poor old Victorians were outgunned up front but their backs made the odd break, but unfortunately couldn’t link to convert it into points. It was a hard lesson for them on how much work they have to do to be competitive, which after all is the point of the Super W and to be expected of a team from a more recently established rugby state.
One thing I will say for them is that they were brave, the forwards in particular must have been trampled half a dozen times in the scrum by a far bigger pack. I know that I wouldn’t have wanted to keep packing down under those circumstances, but the Rebels Women just kept doing their job and hats off to them for the demonstration of ticker.
Image: Sean Teuma
My positive experience at the game lead me to think of quite few articles leading up to the Super W, that have talked about concerns that it has been launched as an amateur tournament. I think that the fact that the pay issue has taken precedence over the rugby for so many writers is a shame, as it has put a bit of a downer on what is a great initiative.
Irrespective, to me the crowd looked like a bunch of people who were having enough fun to consider reaching into their pockets for a ticketed game, the next time one comes to Ballymore, so long as the prices were kept reasonable.
I also think that if these games were properly marketed, they would there is the potential to attract new fans who want to support their state, but who can’t afford to attend Super Rugby matches. A lot of families in particular would benefit from that, as would rugby when they bring along their little future players and fans to get rugby into their blood.
I also think that the tournament could attract people who are interested in supporting the growth of women’s sport, especially if it was marketed as being a social event with a good gender balance. Like an afternoon at the races. I think a lot of people who wouldn’t normally go to a rugby match, would enjoy that.
So my take away from my first Super W experience, is that I think that the tournament has heaps of potential to grow Women’s rugby in Australia, to the point where it can achieve professional status.
People just need to be positive and patient, while the unions need to be brave and innovative in marketing the tournament. And the people in the media who care about women’s rugby succeeding, could do their bit by talking more positively about the actual footy than they do on the pay negotiations.
Because rugby is fun to read about, but arguments about pay are dull.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Mike, your team and the whole comp is really a credit to all involved.
Harry Jones
Expert
Thanks, Rhys!
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Thanks Hoy, I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. And by taking your girls along I think you represent another potential group to market women's rugby too ... fathers of daughters who are smart enough to avoid future arguments over the TV come game time, by indoctrinating them into the game early. I think there has to be at least one TV advertisement in that ;-).
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Thanks Chook ;-)
Rhys Bosley
Guest
I agree Shop, RA has done brilliantly with the Women's 7s and with the Super W is now on the right path with the 15s too.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
Hi Mike, Thanks for getting back to me, it is great to have a response from a coach on an article. I'm sorry but I didn't know that the photo was a league team as photography isn't my department. However, I suspect as a site that relies on a lot of volunteer contributors who don't take photos, the Roar generally uses stock images, with there being so few of women's rugby that they had to use what was available and got their codes mixed up. Perhaps having the QRU media department (and those of other unions) provide some stock images of the Super W games to the Roar, could be another way of encouraging more and better stories? Thanks again for the feedback and even more so for the great rugby, I can't wait for the game against the Force Women! Cheers, Rhys.
Mike Hayes
Guest
Hi Rhys As Head Coach of the QLD Women's team I want to thank you and all those that have chosen to support our wonderful women's Rugby team. Thank you for your kind words and some good follow up discussion from other contributors as well. Some very astute observers ;) Not sure about the Rugby League photograph within the middle of the article but then again I'm not the most IT advanced person to comment. So much work goes on behind the scenes with this campaign and I am grateful to all those involved with getting this concept off the ground. These women are amazing athletes and fantastic role models for Rugby women of the the future. Thanks to all our supporters. Warmest Regards Mike Hayes
The Sheriff
Guest
A good article BUT the (sub) editor let a Rookie down by not picking up some unfortunate errors. The skill level of the Women is remarkable.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Great right up. I was there. Took my young girls, who were keen to see the QLD girls again after the Reds curtain raiser. The Reds forwards looked really well drilled, and as a whole, I was surprised at the turn around between the first game against NSW and this game. Against NSW, who did everything they could not to score at Suncorp Stadium a few weeks ago, the QLD girls just spent the whole second half, in their 22. Just could not get out, and their tactics of running it from their goal line didn't help either, but they were chasing the game. On Sunday, they were kicking well, supporting well... just looked like a complete team. A few aspects of the game... The Reds fullback was making breaks, but could probably do with a lesson on passing... there were a few breaks where a pass would have been the better option, but she kept choosing to run it herself and play broke down a bit. Lefau-Fakaosilea, who I thought was fantastic against NSW, had a day to forget, dropping just about everything she touched, but still scored a try, and was very powerful over the ball, gaining at least two turnover penalties... I wonder if she needs to move close to the action. Reds forwards were fantastic. Powerful scrum, great breakdown work in both defense and attack. Was a great day, and as Rhys said, a solid Sunday crowd.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Thanks Rhys... nice review. Pity about the weather! +1 on your last para... on the money, no pun intended ;)
Shop
Roar Guru
Thanks Crowd, I think women’s rugby is one area which RA are doing a solid job. Good report.