Who are the contenders to win Friday's Rebecca Clough medal?

Wed, Jul 24, 2024, 12:00 PM
Western Force Media

The Western Force’s top 2024 performers will be recognized on Friday night when the Club holds its Season Awards at The Westin, headlined by the Rebecca Clough medal for the best women’s player.

After an historic season for the Force women’s side who reached the Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s finals for the first time, there’s no shortage of contenders to follow in the footsteps of 2022 winner Tamika Jones and 2023 winner Martha Mataele.

Six Force players earned Wallaroos call-ups following the Super W season in a strong indication that they’re in contention for the Rebecca Clough medal; namely Tamika Jones, Michaela Leonard, Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Alapeta Ngauamo, Trilleen Pomare and Samantha Wood.

But there’s clearly more contenders, including back-rower Anneka Stephens, fly-half Nicole Ledington, recruit Lucy Dinnen, plus imports like Canada international hooker Sara Cline and Japanese front-rower Natsuki Kashiwagi.

Wood, who turned 20 last week, had a breakout campaign where she started every game at scrum-half and starred as the team’s chief playmaker, setting up numerous tries with her vision and decision-making. The ARKS product’s field kicking was also a feature, alongside three penalties and nine conversions, with all that leading to her Wallaroos debut in May.

Experienced back-rower Stephens also started every game and it felt like she was at every contest, with her tenacity at the breakdown fuelling the Force. Stephens didn’t hit the score board but her line breaks led to plenty of scoring opportunities and she regularly made tackles and created turnovers.

Pomare had another excellent season playing primarily at inside-centre, bringing up her 25th Super W appearance away to Fijian Drua in Round 3. The captain’s quality shone, regularly drawing and beating defenders to create opportunities, including an assist for Rosie McGehan in Round 1 and a clever offload for Michaela Leonard’s try against the NSW Waratahs.

Vice-captain Leonard started every game at lock, offering a reliable line-out option and determined outlet in attack to drive at the opposition forwards. Leonard’s impact went beyond her on-field contributions, providing leadership which led to her being made Wallaroos captain once again.

Canada international hooker Cline finished as the Force’s leading try scorer with four tries and was an ever-present, positive influence to the forward pack, underlined by accurate lineout delivery before her premature exit due to a national call-up.

Fellow hooker Malcolm-Heke was the Force’s second top try scorer with three, reiterating the side’s rolling maul as one of its major weapons. Malcolm-Heke’s impact went beyond that, with her tireless runs past the gain line showcasing why she was called in for her Wallaroos debut.

Back-rower Jones returned from long-term injury in 2023 with an outstanding campaign where she started every game, playing a crucial role in the side’s relentless forward pack. Jones would get called into the Wallaroos’ wider training squad.

Front-rower Ngauamo also earned Wallaroos recognition after a strong season where she started five of six games at loosehead prop. She was important to the scrum and was at the front of the 22m rolling maul try against the Reds in Round 2.

Local fly-half Ledington didn’t miss a game and worked well alongside Wood, with two assists in Round 1 including a wide cut-out pass for Sheree Hume’s try.

Dinnen was a late addition to the squad but played all six games to boost the back-row stocks, with her clever toe-poke leading to Brooklyn Teki-Joyce’s try against the Brumbies.

Energetic Japanese prop Kashiwagi gave everything with her willing drives, highlighted by a pick-and-go try against the Reds in Round 2.

There were plenty of other strong contributions, including backs Hume, Siutiti Ma’ake, McGehan, Renae Nona and Aiysha Wigley who offered spark, while recruits Rosie Ebbage and Harono Te Iringa had good moments too.

Stay tuned to Western Force social media (follow along on Twitter and Instagram) on Friday night to find out all the winners.

Rebecca Clough Medal – Honour Roll

2023 - Martha Mataele

2022 - Tamika Jones