Dragons determined to win NRLW for suspended Fotu-Moala
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St George Illawarra rookie Maddison Weatherall says the Dragons are determined to win the NRLW title on Sunday for suspended teammate Teuila Fotu-Moala.
Fotu-Moala became the first woman in NRLW history charged and banned after a crusher tackle on Brisbane's Lavinia Gould in last month's opening round resulted in a three-game ban.
The club's decision to seek a downgrade backfired in the end with the former Broncos forward forced to sit out an extra week - the grand final on Sunday.
The Dragons have rallied around Fotu-Moala and the incident had a unifying effect on the team.
St George Illawarra won their next two games and found form after they dropped their first-round clash against the Broncos at Bankwest Stadium.
"All of us have tried to play for her and we made a pact to take out the competition for her and all the other girls who can't play," Weatherall told NRL.com.
Every NRLW try from Round 3
"We hit their middle a lot in the first game but in the last couple of matches we've gone to our edges and it's been a lot better.
"It's going to be a big crowd because of the men's game shortly after, we're excited but it's a bit nerve-racking so we've got to contain that."
For Weatherall, who turned 18 just three days before the competition started a month ago to make herself eligible, the second season of the NRLW has been a long time coming.
The NSW under 18s representative was in the Dragons' system last year but couldn't play due to age restrictions.
She's now one of Daniel Lacey's most important impact players coming off the bench.
Match: Broncos v Dragons
Grand Final -
home Team
Broncos
1st Position
away Team
Dragons
2nd Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
"I just try my hardest not to get pumped," Weatherall laughed.
"It was hard last year to just train with the girls but not be able to play ... But I feel more ready now.
"It's a lot harder than the 18s game I played a few months ago, you're playing grown women and I haven't really been able to do that. I just run hard and close my eyes."
Weatherall grew up with four brothers and parents with a strong rugby league background.
Weatherall says her mother Tracy is one of her biggest supporters but harshest critics and likes to compare her daughter's performances to that of her own when she was playing the game as a teenager in New Zealand.
"She tries to tell me how she was better than me at this age and that I should be smashing people," Weatherall said.
Match Highlights: Dragons v Roosters
"It makes me laugh, I'm convinced she's just talking crap but talking to my uncles they say how tough she was. It actually would be cool to represent New Zealand one day for her.
"That's my next little goal I'd like to tick."
Tickets for the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final 2019 are now on sale to the general public.
Tickets are available through Ticketek and nrl.com/tickets.
