What we learnt from Super W this season

How can we review the Super W season?

In simple terms, the Fijiana Drua came and turned the competition on its head. Most importantly, from an Australian perspective. it should force Rugby Australia to realise they have some serious work to do here.

If you haven’t watched the final between the Fijiana Drua and New South Wales Waratahs, as Molly Meldrum said back in the day, do yourself a favour. It was an epic game and should be used as an example of what women’s rugby can produce. When you have so much promotion of the AFLW and NRLW, this game was every bit as good and as exciting as what those codes produce.

Of note was the defensive effort of the Waratahs. They did a lot of tackling and relied a lot on the rolling maul to score tries. While the Waratahs backline was pretty clunky, Pauline Piliae’s defence at No. 12 was outstanding, as was the pilfer skills of open side flanker Emily Chancellor and halfback Iliseva Batibasaga, although her passing was a bit average to start with.

Add to that a name a few will know from her commentary on Stan Sport, Sera Naiqama, who runs a very good defensive lineout that caused the Drua grief all match. And we must include Lori Cramer, who is a gun goal kicker too.

But the Drua were relentless and just too good. It felt like the Waratahs, even when they got the lead a couple of times, were just hanging in there and that Fijiana were more likely to break out and score points.

A couple of non-rugby points the post-game speeches by Drua captain Bitila Tawake and Waratahs captain Grace Hamilton reflected how important the game was to them and their teams.

Credit to Rugby Australia for getting the Super W competition up and running. Recognition must go to the Australian government for assisting with the funding to get the Drua out here for a couple of months. Thanks to the Fijiana Drua players for uprooting themselves and coming to Australia for three months. Similarly, the Australian players train at least two to three times a week while holding down a full-time job or studying, and the majority do not get paid a zack. Thanks must also go to Buildcorp for their ongoing sponsorship of Super W, without it there wouldn’t be a Super W.

None of that was a paid partnership. It is easy to always whinge, whine and complain, but we need to also provide credit when it’s due.

(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Unfortunately Super W doesn’t exist in the Australian sporting landscape when it comes to media coverage. In terms of media coverage, if men’s rugby is a niche sport these days in Australia, I have no idea how you’d describe women’s rugby.

Despite the pain inflicted on a few Australian players and teams, the introduction of the Drua was a positive game changer. Up until their introduction the Australian Super W teams were really living (and playing) in a bit of a bubble. The Fijiana Drua play a game that is so different to the Australian teams. While they still have a bit of work to do with their set piece, every player can run hard, tackle and offload. They play at a speed the Australian teams have never seen – it’s like sevens rugby in that when they get a penalty they just tap and run.

What else? There is a big gap between the teams – it really is Fijiana Drua and then NSW Waratahs, with the Reds a bit further back and then the other three teams. This is not a criticism, it is a reflection of amateur sport. There is always going to be a disparity between the teams in terms of the number of players and the skills. As amateurs it is not really an option to change states and territories. The only one from a simplicity perspective is New South Wales players heading down the Hume to the Brumbies.

Waratahs coach Campbell Aitken after the final raised the big issue of the need for investment. Just as the NRLW players point to the skills of the former rugby sevens players in their competition, Aitken and captain Grace Hamilton both mentioned the benefit that comes from a couple of months of full-time training, as the Fijiana Drua experienced. They were more physical, stronger and fitter. Being together for three months aids that development.

The depth of each team has been an issue and will continue to be so. You just need to look at the Reds, who are in the second biggest player market after NSW and have found it challenging losing a few experienced players. It resulted in some real youngsters being introduced, probably more out of necessity rather than what is best for the players. I think some players have only been 16 or 17 years old.

The challenge will be getting and keeping the players. At this stage the NRLW and AFLW provide a much better option if you want to play a contact footy code. It would seem Rugby Australia is unable to financially do it, so we really need World Rugby to come to the party in some form to show the international opportunities.

Hopefully there will be some development in a trans-Tasman sense, with the Super Rugby Aupiki just starting in New Zealand.

This all assumes Rugby Australia wants to develop the women’s game.

But despite those last non-positive comments, it was a terrific competition this season for the players and also the viewers.

The Super W competition can be summarised best with a comment by Stan commentator Andrew Swain during the season: “They are having the time of their lives”.