Steelers club captain and local junior Keeley Davis has been named to make her Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership debut this Saturday as they tackle the Central Coast Roosters in Wyong.
Davis, the Jillaroo’s first-choice hooker in their successful World Cup campaign late last year, has been encouraged by the team’s performance in their first two games and is looking forward to running out in the scarlet red this weekend.
“After the World Cup, it was good to have a break and try to rehab my ankle as well as possible. I’m feeling really refreshed now and super keen to get back into it,” Keeley says.
“The last few weeks getting amongst the team and getting into some drills has been unreal and has made me really excited to play.”
Davis has been named on the interchange bench this weekend, with recent Tarsha Gale Cup graduate Salma Nour named to start at hooker again this weekend.
The experienced 22-year-old says she has enjoyed working with the crop of players entering senior football this season and is looking forward to playing with them on Saturday.
“I’ve been loving getting to work with Salma, she’s such a good young player who has come through the same pathway as me, so in particular with Salma, I try to share as much experience as I can with her, and she does the same with me.”
“There’s so much talent in our area. We’re so blessed that we have such a rich rugby league history here, and the girls coming through these days are incredible.”
As for the weekend’s match, Keeley expects both teams to play a similar, fast-paced brand of football, and defence will decide who takes the two competition points.
“I think it will be an evenly matched game, they’re a lot smaller than the last two teams we’ve played, so I think it will work for us playing that expansive style, but we’ll have to work hard in defence as well.
“We’ve had a really good pre-season, and everyone’s super fit, so I’m backing our fitness. It’ll be a really good match, and I’m just super excited to be getting back out there.”
Currently seventh on the ladder and their opponents, the Roosters, sixth, this is shaping up as a crucial match, with the Steelers bolstered by the inclusion of experienced NSW Blues halfback Rachael Pearson who will also make her Steelers debut this weekend.
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Words | Russ Haylock
Image Courtesy Illawarra Mercury | Sylvia Liber
