TAREE City are hoping for a hot day for Sunday's Group Three women's league tag grand final against defending premiers Wauchope at Port Macquarie.
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"Wauchope doesn't have a lot of subs and they were a bit out on their feet last week in the final against Forster towards fulltime,'' Taree trainer Scott Jacklin explained.
"So the hotter the better on Sunday.''
This will be Taree's first appearance in a league tag grand final. Taree qualified after beating minor premiers Forster-Tucurry in the major semi-final. The Blues then ended Forster's season last week in the final.
Jacklin said he isn't surprised to be playing Wauchope.
"It's been an even competition,'' he said.
"It just depends on who turns up on the day.''
Jacklin said completions and defence are Taree's strong points. Taree's defence frustrated Forster out of the match in the major semi.
"Wauchope feeds off your mistakes,'' he added.
"So we have to complete. That's the key to it.''
Jacklin added that halves, the sister combination of Tahlea and Teagan Rowsell control much of Taree's play and they'll have important roles on Sunday. Jennifer Silcock scored a long range try in the major semi to seal the win for Taree and she is captable of testing any defence.
Jacklin believes if Taree can contain the dangerous Nat Steel they'll go a long way to taking the premiership trophy home for the first time.
He concedes the lack of grand final experience in the side could be a factor.
"We've been keeping it pretty low key this week,'' he said.
The game will start the day's program at 10.30.
Taree's squad is Rhiannon Fuller, Rachel Emmett, Katie Hogan, Jennifer Silcock, Brodie McCann, Jenna Rowsell, Tahlea Rowsell, Amarah Atkins, Teegan Rowsell, Taryn Dixon, Brooke Murray, Ashley Green, Keely Holden, Kelsey Schneider, Brianna Lattimore, Trisha Pearson, Chloe Clarke.