There must be a chuckle out of Bond University at every misguided theory that fast, flashy backs are the single reason behind three straight women’s premierships.
It’s true. Speak to any casual observer and the Bull Sharks’ supremacy is always reduced to breathless backline plays and running teams ragged with a sevens-style mentality.
You are nothing without a good pack and the Bull Sharks forwards are the most unsung of recent seasons.
It’s on again at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday afternoon (2:45pm) when the Bull Sharks shoot for a fourth straight premiership against Easts in the StoreLocal Founders Cup grand final.
Pack fixtures like lock Lucy Thorpe, back into the line-up after a head knock, backrower Jemma Bemrose, lock Elisha Godsiff and high-energy flanker Grace Baker, always the first to any try celebration, lead the quality in the forwards. It’s always productive. Having former Wallaroo Madi Schuck at prop is a major plus too.
Missing three-time premiership forward Zoe Hanna with a shoulder injury is the only down side.
It was a rumble upfield from Thorpe that got the Bull Sharks rolling in last year’s grand final when they scored six tries in a 36-12 win over Easts.
Only when the forwards do their thing can speedster Dianne Waight and Co do theirs in the backs.
The Tigers have been here before. They led 12-0 in the 2022 grand final and scored first in last year’s decider as well. Both times, the Bull Sharks finished by far the stronger.
“A lot of teams underestimate us in the middle,” Queensland Reds co-captain Bemrose said.
“The forwards know what we are capable of.”
Another fact is never acknowledged. The Bull Sharks haven't finished minor premiers in any of their three title years. Nor have they this year. They conjure a special formula on grand final days even though chief magician Mel Wilks is not there this year.
The Tigers hit this grand final with confidence too after toppling minor premiers Wests 24-10 in the preliminary final.
That win had the blueprint of what they offer today.
There was plenty of industry in the pack but much of their go-forward was generated off the direct, strong-running of flyhalf Renae Nona and inside centre Loretta Lealiifano.
As much as Bond have speed out wide so do the Tigers with breakout Reds winger Piper Flynn, at outside centre, and pacy finisher Leilani Hills on the wing.
There’s a missile at fullback too in Abbi Spooner who is fearless with her cover defence to jolt attackers into touch.
Spooner had to chose between playing for Queensland in the Next Gen 7s in Canberra on Sunday or the grand final.
“It was a hard decision but I love my club. I’ve been playing with the girls all season and it’s grand final time,” Spooner said.
“I have to be here for the girls.”
Classy Bond halfback Evie Sampson has made the same choice.
Spooner detailed how important Nona is to the grand final result as a recruit from Sunnybank.
“It’s the experience she has around the game. She’s really fitted in at Easts,” Spooner said.
“She throws a mean dummy, she makes breaks and she is always getting us on the front foot.”
For Easts women like Nona, Lealiifano, Flynn, reserve prop Malatina Brown and others, there is another factor at play.
They have all felt the pain of losing grand finals to Bond. That’s a powerful force to flip the grand final script on Saturday at Ballymore.
