CRC League Tag Grand Final Preview

The Woden Valley Rams and Gungahlin Bulls kick off Grand Final Day at Seiffert Oval on Saturday in their fourth consecutive meeting in the League Tag decider. 

The Rams booked their ticket into the Grand Final with victory in the Major Semi Final against the Bulls, with Emma McDonald stating her team is grateful another appearance.  

"It was nice, we are honestly grateful to be in another Grand Final and have had a great season, not every day you get to play in a Grand Final," McDonald said. 

"To go in straight away takes some of the pressure off but we've still got the big one and we have been training hard."

This year sees the Woden Valley side, enter the Grand Final in unfamilar territory, with it being the first time since 2022 they aren't defending their title, with last year's Grand Final defeating fueling the squad. 

"It is a big fuel and it has been all year, for those of us that do remember it's not a great feeling but at the end of the day it's a new season and new year, different teams and different players so we just have to do what we can do."

This season sees the Woden Valley Rams celebrate sixty years and it would mean a lot to the team to bring the title, with the League Tag team the only side out of the five featuring on Grand Final day.

"We are proud to be here and represent the club in such an important year, and it would mean so much to us and the rest of the club to bring home to trophy and put on a plaque in our sixtieth year."

Meanwhile, the Gungahlin Bulls enter this weekend's Grand Final off the back of a comprehensive victory against the Belconnen United Sharks, with Emily Warner stating it was a collective effort. 

"The girls all did well, we worked together as a team and just focused on the one percenters which was really good," Warner said. 

The Bulls suffered defeat to their opponents this weekend in the Major Semi Final, with Warner declaring her side learnt plenty from the defeat. 

"We learnt to just keep working when the going gets tough and to keep working for each other."

This weekend is the fourth straight year the Bulls and Rams will meet in the League Tag Grand Final, with this creating a healthy rivalry between the two sides. 

"It's always fun to play against them, it's a healthy rivalry we all play with each other in other codes of sport, so it's fun coming up against them."

Emily Warner has been in blistering form this year for the Bulls, scoring 30 tries throughout the campaign, her form in the regular season saw her named the Sarah Carter medalist, however the talented outside back created her teammates for her individual season. 

"I'm really grateful for the recognition but it honestly comes down to my team who work hard week in week out."

The Bulls will be looking for back-to-back titles, whilst the Rams will be seeking Grand Final redemption, with kick off early on Saturday morning this is a matchup which ignite a blockbuster day at Seiffert Oval.