Sefo set to lead Queensland charge

Mon, Mar 5, 2018, 7:03 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
Queensland's inaugural Super W captain Kirby Sefo is thrilled about the the prospect of lining up with their Reds counterparts at Suncorp Stadium, as the side looks to continue the momentum from the Brisbane Tens triumph.

Kirby Sefo will lead Queensland's Buildcorp Super W charge, handed the captaincy reins ahead of their blockbuster season opener against NSW.

Sefo, who has three Wallaroos caps to her name, will lead out a Queensland side that beat their arch rivals and hot competition favourites south of the border in the Brisbane Tens, a significant psychological boost.

Sydney have dominated the women's rugby landscape since the turn of the decade and beating a side jam packed with Wallaroos in front of a Suncorp Stadium crowd - which will play host to the season opener - was a turning point for coach Michael Hayes' side.

"It's obviously a different game to XVs but in terms of confidence I think it was something that we did really need," Sefo said at Ballymore on Monday.Sefo will be one of Queensland's stars. Photo: QRU Media/Brendan Hertel"Just to kick us off - it's always different going into each season with a new team and that was a good place for us to start, I think."

There will be no excuses for family and friends alike to not be at the season opener, which is a curtain raiser for the Reds' clash with the Bulls on Saturday.

Sefo is all for the double header format, pointing to its use as a way to get eyeballs on Super W in its formative years.

"It will be special," Sefo said of the chance to play at Suncorp again.

"Just following on from the Tens the girls have a bit of excitement out of playing in front of crowds like that and playing at Suncorp.

"That's an awesome way for it to be setup and it encourages people to watch both because they're going to be there anyway.Suncorp Stadium will host the Super W season opener. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley"It follows on from the 10s where the women played before the men's."

Sefo believes the Super W product will, in time, reach a point where players are paid, with the Wallaroos set to be handed match payments for the very first time later this year.

As a 31-year-old that found her love for the game evolving into a stellar playing career at Sunnybank six years ago, Sefo that's a significant step forward.

"It's moving forward and that's what we have to remember," she said.

"It is getting better.

"The fact that we are playing at Suncorp before the men, that's a sign it's developing.

"You only have to look at the feedback and the response from the 10s and how much excitement there was around that."

Queensland kick off their Super W campaign against NSW on Saturday at Suncorp Stadium, kicking off at 6pm AEDT, broadcast at 9pm AEDT on FOX SPORTS and on RUGBY.com.au.

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