A “back to basics” recipe has Taroona on the cusp of a historic TRU double this weekend.
The Penguins have qualified for both the men’s Premiership and inaugural women’s fifteen-a-side grand finals and could lay claim to Tasmania’s top club with dual successes this Saturday.
Taroona’s acting president Simon Plumb said a women’s title for their minor premiers would be just reward after an extensive rebuild.
“Like most overnight success, it’s been on the back of two or three hard years work. We’ve gone from having two players two years ago to 20 this year,” Plumb said.
“We’ve set up a program separate from the men’s and our women have agency to create whatever they want to create.
“Credit to Justin Black who did a lot of groundwork in sevens and also Rhys Watts has worked really well through this year helping the women’s transition from sevens to fifteens, that’s been a big shift for us.
“Our women’s side have a great sense of camaraderie and winning on Saturday would be a reward for so much hard work and commitment.”
On the men’s side, Taroona are under no illusions by the challenge present in two-time reigning champions Launceston, who will line up for a fourth consecutive Premiership final this weekend.
Launceston's John Dunbar broke Penguin hearts in 2022 with a match-winning penalty goal on the siren before TJ Pieters inspired last year’s 62-19 thrashing at Rugby Park.
“Launceston are very, very tough. They’re well coached, they don’t do much wrong. They wait for your mistakes and profit from them,” Plumb said.
“But we’ve got a good side too, a few U18 Tasmanian representatives in the mix, and our coach Steve Doyle who we recruited from interstate has been a breath of fresh air.
“He’s come from NSW after previously coaching in Asia, North America and Europe and he’s done things differently for us, so hopefully we can give him a trophy in his inaugural year.”
Taroona will contest the women's final (1:40pm) and men's premiership final (3:15pm) at Rugby Park this Saturday.
