The Queensland Reds unearthed a ”superstar in the making” while booking a home Super W grand final against the Fijian Drua in Townsville on Saturday.
New Zealand import Carys Dallinger kicked the match-winning penalty with 90 seconds left in a tense 23-20 semi-final victory over the ACT Brumbies in Sydney on Sunday.
But it was winger Heleina Young who really turned heads, and swung the match, with a breathtaking double strike within four minutes to start the second half at Concord Oval.
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Playing just her second game of Super W, Young’s first try was particularly impressive, with Stan Sport commentator Luke Barry-Donnellan calling her “a superstar in the making”.
“This is what we came to see – Young, showing her speed, leaving everybody in her dust,” Australian sevens star Dom du Toit said.
“That was a beautiful piece of play by the Reds. The pass from Dallinger to Young, so beautifully out in front of her, giving her the opportunity to run onto it and then show her speed, not just her speed but her footwork.
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“She still had a bit of work to do when she got that ball. Isn’t that beautiful to watch her in full flight.”
Young is a former Fijian sprint champion now based in Brisbane.
The Brumbies, who went 2-3 in the regular season, looked on track for a major upset against the 4-1 Reds before the winger’s dazzling footwork.
The teams scored three tries apiece with Tania Naden also grabbing a brace for the Brumbies, but Dallinger held her nerve with two late penalties.
“Very exciting. We definitely had to work for the entire 80 (minutes),” Reds lock Annabelle Codey told Stan Sport.
“But it’s very exciting to have the grand final in Townsville and really looking forward to it. It just shows the calibrre of player she (Dallinger) is.”
Brumbies No.8 Grace Kemp, who scored a second-half try, was understandably proud of her team’s performance.
“Our aim for this whole season was to keep building each week and we definitely did,” Kemp told Stan Sport.
“So proud of them but congrats to the Reds… we’ve all got so much heart for this game.”
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