Mabel Park State High School have taken out the inaugural NRL National Schoolgirls Cup after defeating The Hills Sports High School 26-8 at Allianz Stadium.
Mabel Park put the finishing touches on their impressive campaign to claim the historic NRL National Schoolgirls Cup after taking out the Titans Schools Cup and the Schoolgirls state final earlier this year.
The Brisbane school unveiled a number of promising NRLW talent with player-of-the-match Athena Vili leading the way up front and Nazlyn Waaka-Rhind having a day out in the No. 1 jersey, including a 70-metre runaway try to ice the historic victory.
Mabel Park opened their account in the ninth minute with Alice Shannon making an immediate impact off the bench, charging on to a short ball from close range before taking several defenders over the line to score.
The Queenslanders then clicked into gear and Mabel Park's spine joined in on the action with Lily Valtola scooting over from dummy-half and Waaka-Rhind darting and weaving her way to the line to extend Mabel Park's lead 14-0 with 23 minutes to play of the first half.
After failing to capitalise on some earlier field position, Hills reduced the deficit nine minutes into the second half with Manua Maleka finishing off a quick right side shift. A wide conversion left the scoreboard at 14-4.
Thanks to an earlier line break from centre Kiarah Siauane, Mabel Park extended their lead to 20-8 in unusual fashion when Hills floated the ball loose in the in goal and Mabel Park back-rower Athena Vili intercepted to score in the in goal.
Seconds before full-time Siauane broke the game open again for Mabel Park, charging through the line before finding Waaka-Rhind who raced 70 metres down field to ice the 26-8 victory.
Mabel Park tryscorer Waaka-Rhind said post-match it was "a surreal feeling" to take out the inaugural National final.
"It's awesome how girls footy is growing and to come out and make history and win the first Schoolgirls Cup is just awesome," the 16-year-old fullback told NRL.com.
"I have an older brother and I remember watching him in school and thinking how great it would be for the girls to have something like that.
"The experience has been great all year and to have this new bond and experience with all the girls has been awesome."