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FORCE WOMEN HUNTING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY
By Fraser Smith
The Alcohol.Think Again Western Force Women’s Team depart for the National Championships on Gold Coast on Thursday, 11 May, with their sights firmly set on bringing the trophy to the West for the first time.
This year’s team has been touted as the strongest side that Western Australia has ever selected with six current Wallaroos squad members set to take to the field.
2014 World Cup Wallaroo Natasha Haines says the side is eager to make some noise on the national scale and excited about what they can achieve this weekend.
“There’s a lot of excitement around the team,” she said. “We have quite a few new players that haven’t played for WA before so they are pumped and there’s a really good atmosphere.”
“I think this is the best team we have ever taken away so there is a nervous excitement and anticipation about the tournament.”
With a number of new players coming into the side including a host of Wanneroo Divas who have been labelled the best women’s club side in the country the Alcohol.Think Again Western Force Women look to have a great mix of talent.
“We got a couple of players from a few different clubs so that has loaded the team really well and given a really good mix of the all the clubs here in WA.”
“A couple of the Wanneroo girls have come into the team for the first time and some are coming back, with weapons like those guys in the team they are a big boost.”
“We are stoked to have them on board and to be on the same team representing WA instead of clashing against each other at club level.”
The team will be aiming to take the next step this weekend after finishing third in the last three National Championships, going down the reigning champions, Sydney.
“We are always in the same pool as Sydney and it is always Sydney that we fall down to. We are really determined to go one or two better this year, we’ve definitely got the drive and skills so we want to take it out this year.”
In a World Cup year, Haines who has recently been elevated back into the Wallaroos squad says while the gold jersey is a goal for her and a number of teammates the immediate focus is on the Nationals.
“It’s nice to be back in Wallaroos again but in sport you can be dropped anytime or injured so Wallaroos isn’t the focus for us right now, we are really set on bringing the trophy home from Nationals.”
“If the Aussie coaches come knocking for a few of our girls after the tournament then that would be great and if we perform well as a team we could see even more WA girls getting the call-up.”
With the women’s game growing at a rapid rate in the West, Haines believes a National Championship title could be the perfect way to show the country just how strong the game is in Western Australia.
“From my understanding, WA is the fastest growing state for women’s rugby. We’ve got a such an awesome league over here with some really talented players and such a high skill level across the board.”
“If we could take it out and it would be fantastic to show how strong women’s rugby and rugby as a whole is in WA. We’re getting amazing support from the community so we can’t wait to get to over there and show what we can do.”
The Alcohol.Think Again Western Force Women’s kick off their National Championship campaign at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast on Friday, 12 with the final to be played on Sunday, 14 May.