Diverse and dangerous Bull Sharks want to make history

Bond University’s premier women’s team wear the ‘motley crew’ tag with pride. The side, which is made up of an assortment of ages, backgrounds and experience, is only one win away from a shot at a maiden premiership.  

As soon as 2022 rookie captain Elisha Godsiff stepped onto the training paddock, she knew she had found her tribe.

“Everyone is going through their own adversity and has their own unique life. We have university students, people from overseas, women who are in fulltime jobs, mums, we have the lot so it’s very cool,” she said.

For the first time Bond University Rugby Club is hosting the Queensland Rugby Union preliminary finals on Sunday. The women are facing the GPS Gallopers.

Unlike previous rounds this season where they have trained at Carrara, the women have been preparing at Bond’s home ground.

“The whole experience has been overwhelming, we haven’t made it past this point in the three years the team has been going for,” said Godsiff.

“I think we’ll have to play a high tempo game, that’s our strength. The girls are fit and we can get around the park quite well.

“We’re still dealing with illness and injuries but hopefully we’ll have a relatively similar team to last week so that will be good, that will be a first.”

The Bull Sharks won’t be able to utilise the skills of Madison Schuck who has been named in the Wallaroos squad for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next month.

But they have another ‘huge asset’ in fellow Australian representative Melanie Wilks whose experience was pivotal in the one-point victory against Sunnybank last weekend.

The women are the only Bull Sharks rugby team still in the hunt for a premiership. First grade men’s coach Grant Anderson has been working with the forwards to give them an edge.

“I would say it’s a little bit of pressure, but the girls are just so excited to have the opportunity to play off for the grand final.

“The fact we could make the decider has been a huge motivation so that’s the biggest thing on our minds at the moment.”

The women are hoping a vocal crowd will support them when they open the preliminary finals action at 10:30 Sunday morning.