The starting hooker role in the Newcastle Knights’ Tarsha Gale Cup squad has been up for grabs all season, with Tazmyne Luschwitz and Olivia Glanville both contesting the ‘9’ jersey.
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It’s Glanville that has been given the nod as the squad face the West Tigers this weekend however, with Luschwitz stepping back onto the bench despite crossing for a try in last week’s 50-12 win over the Panthers.
“We know we can go far in the finals,” head coach Josh Potapczyk said of the match against the Tigers on the weekend. “A few weeks ago things clicked for us on the field and we have a great understanding of our game-plan.”
“The team has a lot of players who can dictate the game, we just have to make sure we are the ones who are playing our game plan and we have a lot of confidence in that.
The Knights’ confidence is “sky high” as they continue the finals campaign, Potapczyk said.
“Early on in the season I said this team had a lot of question marks, and the girls have squared up and showed they have the quality to win in their first season,” Potapczyk said.
“We’re looking forward to the game on the weekend, if we play to our strengths we can go all the way.”
The squad also has a lot of points in their lockers, Potapczyk said, and the 38-point domination against the Panthers last week shows there’s a number of tryscorers in the team’s ranks.
A hat-trick for Caitlin Johnston, as well as Emily Harman and Tia Cook doubles at Leichardt Oval, showed both forwards and wingers can be used as strike weapons in the red-and-blue.
“We have an understanding of how we want to play now, and we can execute our game plans,” Potapczyk said. “We’re looking forward to the final matches.”
Team List: Joeli Morris, Emily Harman, Shenay Ball, Skye Pullman, Ellie Russell, Harmony Liddell, Olivia Glanville, Sophie Buller, Caitlan Johnston; Interchange: Tazmyne Luschwitz, Janiya Brown, Olivia Kernick, Tia Cook, Bree O’Neill, Georgie Smith, Caitlin Shoulders, Jasmin Strange, Tyla Binnie.