Fuimaono holds no fears ahead of Grand Final rematch
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The pain of losing last season’s Grand Final to the Roosters still lingers for Dragons’ star Taliah Fuimaono but the young playmaker is ready “to go one better” this year and bring down the Sydney powerhouse in Friday's NRLW grand final rematch.
It's been five months since the Roosters clinched the 2021 NRL Telstra Women's Premiership and every day since St George Illawarra have no doubt been plotting their revenge match which will also officially open the new Allianz stadium.
After spending 10 minutes in the sin bin for dangerous contact in last year’s showdown, the 23-year-old Penrith product said she’s ready to exorcise her grand final demons when the Red V lines up against the Tricolours on Friday.
Taliah Fuimaono sent to sin bin
“It was shattering. Our side built such a strong bond the week we spent together leading up to the grand final and we all knew how much each other wanted it, so to fall short was pretty devastating,” Fuimaono told NRL.com.
“This year I really want to get one up on them, it’s sort of a revenge thing I guess. They deserved the win but I think it was very unfortunate for us last year.
With the Dragons retaining more players from last season’s squad than any other in the competition, 17 squad members of Jamie Soward's 2022 outfit also endured the defeat in Redcliffe. Fuimaono said the fire is burning to “go one better” this year.
“Last year when I arrived at the Dragons it was a very fresh team, I didn’t really know anyone and I was really nervous,” she said. “But this year felt really good because there were so many of the same girls from last year, it kind of felt like home.
“I felt like we didn’t have to go back to basics so much whereas last year we had to learn about the players and learn all the moves fresh but this year it was kind of like we could skip all of that.
“We built such a good culture last year so it was really exciting to see a lot of players and people from the club back this year, it felt like we were ready to get stuck into it and hopefully get one better this year.”
With the Dragons' spine proving to be one of the most potent in the 2021 season, Fuimaono has continued to make the red and white No. 6 jersey her own and has helped steer the Red V to a flawless start to their 2022 campaign alongside star fullback Emma Tonegato and halfback Rachael Pearson.
Match: Roosters v Dragons
Round 3 -
home Team
Roosters
1st Position
away Team
Dragons
3rd Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
The Indigenous All Stars representative was forced to step away from the game for several months during the year after suffering a broken collarbone in the 2022 Harvey Norman’s Women’s premiership, but said she’s hoping to make up for lost time under the guidance of premiership-winning five-eighth Jamie Soward.
“That injury was very unfortunate because especially fitness and game development wise, I still have a long way to go as a five-eighth so I needed any opportunity to play footy,” she said.
“I was a bit worried position-wise when we started Dragons’ pre-season, I didn’t know where ‘Sowy’ would chuck me because I know he does see me as a versatile player.
“But he gave me the go-ahead to make it my position and I’m excited to learn off him because he has so much knowledge and experience.”
