This time last season, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Tarsha Gale side was winding down and putting the boots away. This year, they are lacing up as Minor Premiers, ready to tackle Illawarra to remain unbeaten through to the Grand Final.
While the girls had trained hard under difficult circumstances due to wet weather and COVID, they weren't able to add any more than two wins to the board in 2022 and their season was all but cut short.
Despite the result, there was a general air of confidence among the squad that something positive lay just ahead.
Bulldogs alumni Barry Ward had been appointed to General Manager - Female Pathways and Junior League and at the time he said the results weren't indicative of their potential. Then he got to work.
Teaming up with the Club's NRL Wellbeing, Ambassadors Club and Alumni Manager Luke Goodwin, the pair set about implementing a recruitment strategy, scouting local talented juniors from the CBDJRL and the Club's numerous satellite clinics to support an expansion across the women's pathways unlike any that the Club had never seen before.
The Club emerged in 2023 with a host of new marquee player signings, as well as two new women's teams in the Lisa Fiaola Cup and Harvey Norman Women's NSW Premiership (returned).
While the Lisa Fiaola squad is yet to see a full season and the Harvey Norman Women's side is currently in the mix of a finals series, you only need to look at the club's Tarsha Gale team for an indication that the best is yet to come for the women who wear the Bulldogs badge.
From a forgettable season in 2022 to now, just a mere year later, the under-19s team are sitting undefeated at the top of the table - just one win away from booking a spot in the grand final.
Among the talented ranks taking the Tarsha Gale competition by storm, is Tatiana Finau.
Finau was identified by Ward and Goodwin through the Club's New Zealand satellite program last year and joined the Bulldogs pathways system in December.
"There was an opportunity that opened up," Finau said.
"The Bulldogs came to Auckland, there was a training camp and I took the opportunity with two hands and just showed what I had.
"I started as a teen. There were no female pathways at home, so I was playing with the boys," she explained.
Now settled into competition here in Sydney, Finau says she has adjusted to a much faster-paced game than the one she was used to playing back home.
"It's so hard moving to another Country that's so big and I'm still young, but I know it's something I want to pursue as a career. I want to go far and knowing that I came over for a reason, I just hold that reason close. That reason is to make my parents proud," she said.
The talented backrower might of had to relocate to Sydney to pursue her passion, but wearing the Bulldogs jersey is something Finau is taking great pride in: "I'm representing myself, my family, my team, and everyone that's paved the way for me to do so."
As the finals close in, she has great confidence in what her team can achieve.
"For the short time that we have had, we've bonded together. We have such a good culture.
Harvey Norman & Tarsha Gale ready for Accor
"I see myself as a bit of a leader [within the team]. I'm excited but nervous. I'll just look to bring lots of energy to the team on Saturday."
Tatiana Finau will be in the No.12 jersey and is unlikely to disappoint. With her size and fancy footwork, the 19-year-old has certainly been a Tarsha Gale Cup stand-out.
Premiership aside, her ultimate goal would be to make her NRLW debut with the Club as and when the Bulldogs gain entry to the competition.
“With the NRLW likely to expand in 2025, we not only want to gain entry, we want to field a competitive side,” said Ward.
“The club has set up a partnership with the Vari Group and is dedicated to improving female representation and development, as well as providing more pathway and employment opportunities for females in the game,” he said.
“The program includes a scholarship program for talented and up-and-coming female individuals from throughout NSW, QLD and New Zealand."
With the Bulldogs set to open the country’s first NRL gender-equal high-performance centre in 2025, the Club is certainly putting its best foot forward when it comes to development for young individuals in the game - men and women alike.
On the field, the program couldn't be going any better with the two female sides set to line up for their grand final qualifiers this weekend.
“We are happy, but humble too,” said a proud Ward.
“But that’s the standard we want, we’re currently working hard with our depth charts to strengthen our Lisa Fiaola (U15s) and Tarsha Gale squads.
We’re not all about winning premierships, but we want to build a good breed of competitive players that like to win. In preparation for next season, we have identified another seven girls from New Zealand who are set to arrive in July and play for the Club in 2024.
In the meantime, the Tarsha Gale side will look to topple Illawarra at Leichhardt Oval, Saturday 22nd April (kick-off 10am).
The Club's Harold Matthews Cup side will also play for a grand final spot at Leichhardt following the women's game (kick-off 11:30am v Panthers), while the Harvey Norman Women's side will play at the same venue for their ticket to the big dance on Sunday 23 April (kick-off 12:45pm v Steelers).
