Parramatta made a statement in their opening round win against the Broncos, with old heads and debutants announcing the arrival of a new-look Eels side this year.
Centre Rory Owen scored in her NRLW debut - and her third ever game or rugby league - and said while she was still learning the game, taking on board all the advice of her teammates, including captain Mahalia Murphy and winger Zali Fay, was paying dividends.
“I was super, super nervous, but as soon as I got on the field, the team was behind me, so I felt pretty comfortable and happy to be there,” Owen told NRL.com.
Match: Broncos v Eels
Round 1 -
home Team
Broncos
away Team
Eels
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
“I love our team, it's definitely the most supportive team I've been in.
“Mahalia, I always look to her. She gave me so much advice. She was my second row, she’s got my inside and Zali's got my outside.
“I just put my head down and do whatever Zali says, she's just in my ear and so she's telling me what to do, so it's all good.
“Everyone's really nice about it and patient and as soon as I look lost, they come in and help me out.”
Former Eastern Suburbs and Western Suburbs player Steve Georgallis has taken over the coaching ranks this season and was full of praise for his debutant following the win, calling her into the side despite her inexperience in the game.
“I was so happy for Rory Owen when she scored that try,” he said.
“As a coach, you live for those moments, when you see a debutant, of her age, who hasn’t played NRLW before, playing against the Broncos, against a team that have been top four the last three or four of years, it’s really special.”
On making her move to rugby league, Owen said it was an unexpected opportunity, but one she had fully embraced and was rewarded with a debut.
“I've been working hard all pre-season, but I didn't expect to play the first game, so I was really excited when Georgey told me, I'm super proud to be here,” Owen said.
“(Earlier in my sporting career) I just played heaps of touch and athletics; I ran the 400 metres, I went to nationals for 400 and so when I started union out of school, I had an athletics background.
“It's easy to pick up if you're a bit fitter, faster and got the hand eye co-ordination.
“Last year, I had my first game of rugby union, and I was going through the union pathways more and rugby sevens.
“At the end of last year, my manager called me … and said ‘I think you've got a path ahead of you if you want to jump to league and I can find you a team’ and so he got me in with the Eels.
“I started there this year and they've been super supportive, taught me so much, so I'm ready, I felt good.
"Even though I think that was my third league game, it didn't feel like it.
“Georgey is really, really good …he just pulls me aside and tells me exactly what I need to do and I do it or I try to. He’s great.”
While scoring a try in a winning debut is special enough, Owen was also able to celebrate in front of family and friends at Suncorp Stadium.
“I grew up in Queensland, in Brissie … my parents are based on the sunny coast now, but all my family's in Brisbane, so this is the dream debut because everyone got to be here," Owen said.
“I didn't expect to score a try! That was so exciting.”
