The Kiama Knights under 16’s girls tackle team were crowned the Illawarra Group 7 Rugby League Merged Competition premiers on Saturday August 24 when they defeated Corrimal 14-10 at Wollongong’s Win Stadium.

The Knights’ had a very impressive final series considering that when the regular season wrapped up they were in 3rd position on the ladder and couldn’t afford to lose any of their final series matches.

Their first semi final was a do or die game against the 4th placed Collegians. Their next final was a preliminary final against the 2nd placed Western Suburbs and the grand final was against the 1st placed Corrimal team.

They miraculously won all three games and president of the Kiama Knights Junior Rugby League Club (JRLC) Carl Middleton says the keys to their success was enjoyment and how close-knit they were as a team.

“Whenever you saw those girls run out they were just having fun and enjoying their footy. They were really cohesive and they got along well as a team and a group. And when a footy team is like that and they gel like these girls did then the rest will just follow,” says Middleton.

The girls celebrating after the hooter. Source: Kiama Junior Knights Facebook

Some of the players in the team were new to tackle rugby league and both Middleton and coach Craig Simon say their improvement from the start of the year to now has been astounding.

“Their skill level has been outstanding which is a big factor in why they win. It’s a credit to those girls because for anyone who starts rugby league it usually takes a little bit to build up your skills, but it appears that these girls just picked it up quickly. So it's a credit to Craig and the team around him, but mostly it's a credit to those girls,” says Middleton.

“With half the side new to the team, some completely new to tackle rugby league, they all improved out of sight. By the end of the season they were coming to me asking to start the games because they were enjoying it so much,” says Simon.

Simon says he is very impressed with how the Illawarra girls tackle competition has developed and advanced since its inception and believes this year was as good as he’s seen it.

“Girls tackle is improving every week and it will continue to improve. The ball movement and reading of the game is getting better. But the defence, especially the tackling techniques, are standouts and it just makes the comp very competitive,” says Simon.

The Knights won their grand final 14 - 10 and scored three tries. These were scored by Ella Churchill, Ella Greatz and Noa Lindsay. Their one conversion was kicked by Neve Higgins.