The journey from a stint with the Queensland Country Heelers in the Australian Rugby Shield to Queensland Red isn’t lost on Caboolture Snakes prop Olivia Fidow after a heavy-hitting performance in Reds Development 21 to 24 loss to New Zealand Universities.
It was just nine days ago when she ran out in the ARS on Sunshine Coast before where her performances caught the eye of the Reds’ coaching brass for a spot in the the offseason fixture.
Fidow admits 2024 was perhaps her “worst year of rugby” until her fortunes changes at the ARS
“I actually wasn’t going to play rugby at the start of the year,” she said.
“But when you love a sport so much, you always find a way back to it.
“At the ARS, we had a couple of props who dropped out during the week, so I had to put my big girl pants on and dig deep for the team. I emptied the tank with my performances there and that kind of led me here.”
Fidow had her nerves but says the help of 31-cap Wallaroos Liz Patu helped her throughout the week to prepare her for the contest.
“I was nervous, but I had to remind myself that this is rugby, if you execute the basics, you’ll be alright.”
“I had a bit of a fan girl moment with Liz at training on Wednesday when we went one-on-one. She had this aura about her but at the same time, I knew she was just like me. She made me feel comfortable within the team.”
Fidow and Patu were among a strong forward pack for the Reds which also featured exciting Sunnybank 17-year-old prop Skye Faimalie, who stood firm in key set piece moments to stifle a big NZ Universities side.
Under light rain at Wests Bulldogs Rugby Club, it was the away team who broke through in the far corner but couldn’t add the extras.
Wests centre Michelle Curry made the most of her two line-breaks early in the contest. Her first attempt stuttered just inches from the goal line, but it was her second where she cut through and ran all of 30m to add the team’s first points.
NZ Universities responded to take a 12-7 lead into the break before backrower Marea Tupai and standout lock Lucy Thorpe added to the Reds' tally to take the lead for the first time.
A yellow card for Okeroa Manihera for a shoulder charge late in the game opened up the space for the away side, who added two late tries to lead by 10 with little to play.
That was until the evergreen Liz Patu parted several defenders to score under the posts to reduce the final margin.
FINAL
Queensland Reds 21 defeated by New Zealand Universities 24
