The uniform might be different, the TV audience bigger and the stakes higher — but for Zoe Hanna, grand finals are just another Saturday.
The Bond University star has made a habit of turning rugby’s biggest days into her own personal showcase.
Saturday’s Super W grand final against the NSW Waratahs will be her sixth major final in just three years — a remarkable run that includes three Queensland Premier Rugby deciders and two Australian Club Championship showdowns.
She's yet to lose one and is intent on keeping it that way.
The former John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholar — who returned to Bond this year to study a Doctor of Physiotherapy after graduating with a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science — has been named in the starting side for the Queensland Reds team that will attempt to end the Waratahs’ run of dominance at North Sydney Oval.
The 21-year-old heads into the game in top form after claiming player of the match honours against the Western Force two weeks ago.
The trailblazer, who was the first female recipient of a rugby scholarship at Bond University, is one of four Bull Sharks in the side.
Premiership players Eva Karpani, Charli Jacobi and Faythe Manera have also made the squad.
Hanna has been the standout number eight in Queensland Premier Rugby over the past few seasons.
She won the Cheyenne Campbell Medal as player of the match in the Bull Sharks’ 15-12 2023 grand final triumph over Sunnybank at Ballymore Stadium, and then captained the side to a three-peat with a 36-12 win over Easts last year.
On the eve of the sporting challenge of her life so far, Hanna told Bond Sports Media she was heading into the game full of confidence but with a heavy heart over the absence of Bull Sharks teammate Jenna Bemrose who was injured last week.
"I'm super keen to be in the final with the girls, we have all worked so hard and I can't wait to play with them," she said.
"I'm gutted for Jemma, but I know the girls left can get the job done."
Bond’s Director of Sport, Michael Collins, said the entire University was behind Hanna in her bid for a Super W trophy.
“We’re all incredibly proud of Zoe,” he said.
“She has been a driving force behind so much of the Bull Sharks’ success, an inspiration to young female rugby players right across the Gold Coast, and a key reason why we have become the number one women’s rugby program in Australia.
“Zoe had the courage and determination to apply for the John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship back when it had never been awarded to a female player — and her success paved the way for the University to create a new scholarship for women.
“The girls that have followed her owe a lot to Zoe Hanna.”
It will also be an interesting day for Wallaroo Eva Karpani, who was part of the NSW Waratahs’ 2024 Super W championship-winning campaign.
She starred with two tries when the Reds advanced to the decider by taming the Fijian Drua 54-40 at Ballymore Stadium in their semi-final.
It was a tough fight for the home side, who had to weather a second-half comeback that chipped away at their commanding 42-5 half-time lead.