The shortened 2021 Super W season may not have gone according to plan for Harriet Elleman and her ACT Brumbies but the tenacious forward still took plenty of positives from the campaign.
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Bomaderry product Elleman, during her fourth stint with the club and first as vice-captain, helped the Brumbies finish third - just shy of their grand final goal.
"My team played exceptionally well and I believe the scorelines did not reflect this as a whole," said Elleman, who also credited her side for adapting to the ever-changing COVID-19 protocols thrown at them during the three-week competition.
"Our forward pack was so strong and we feel we dominated in our set-pieces and executed at every opportunity and were unlucky to not make it into the grand final."
Despite this, the Nowra High School alumna still rates this season as a positive one for her Canberra-based franchise.
"I fully believe we took a step forward as a club this season," the 28-year-old said.
"We had so many debutants take the field this year and wear the Brumbies jersey, which was exciting to watch and be a part of.
"That shows there are so many talented female rugby players in southern inland and ACT area and we are only going to grow as a team.
"Although we did not make the grand final this year, we definitely showed that we are a force to be reckoned with and an 80-minute women's rugby team.
"We fought every game until after the bell and demonstrated the depth of our team with our spark coming on from the sidelines and putting in the effort also - which should put us in good stead for next season."
Elleman, who started all four matches at hooker, wasn't just impressed with her team's showing but also her own.
"I was very happy with how I played this season - I felt that stepping up into a leadership role was an honour and I took it with both hands," she said.
"I loved running onto that field with my squad knowing what we are capable of producing.
"I actually got to play a couple of games for a full 80 minutes which was new to me and just showed that I was strong enough and fit enough to still make an impact in our scrums, line-outs and mauls in the 90th minute, so clearly the hard work has been paying off.
"In saying that, there's still room for growth and I need to spend more time on my throwing, so I can add another skill to my belt for games going forward."
Based on the success of this season, which saw the NSW Waratahs win their third straight title, Elleman hopes the competition will revert back to its full format in 2022.
"It is very important for Super W to go back to normal in 2022, so the growth of women's rugby can continue," said the 14 capped ACT player.
"Next year is a world cup year and the best female rugby players in Australia need the opportunity to put their best foot forward to represent their state and potential higher honours in Super W.
"Having home and away games will allow more spectators and more community involvement aiding to grow the game."
Elleman will now shift her focus back to club footy with the Wagga Waratahs, with their finals series set to kick-off next month.
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