KATRINA Barker is keen to finish a roller coast season on a positive.
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But the NSW Super W champion is equally excited for the young girls in her club side playing in their first grand final.
The Waratahs, unbeaten in two season, take on fairytale side Maitland in the Hunter Women's grand final at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday.
Barker, captain Tahlia Goldsmith (halfback), centre Maya Stewart and fullback Anika Butler are among the competition's stars and have represented on the national 15s and sevens stage.
"There is definitely a good vibe in the team," Barker said. "Everyone just wants to work for each other. It doesn't matter who starts and who finishes. I am super excited for the young girls. Tia Tauafao, Faith Saunders and Dana Shiels are teenagers playing in their first grand final."
The Tahs steamrolled Maitland in their earlier encounters, winning 48-5, 26-0, 28-0, but were given a wake up call by Hamilton in the major semi-final which finished in a 24-all draw.
Maitland, after notching one win the opening seven rounds, hit form in the second of the campaign.
Fly-half Holly Smith, hooker Meghann Campton and Meagan Casserly (inside centre) returned and were joined by NSW Country gun Brittney Duff, Dutch No.8 Leah van Zeeland and emerging stars Emma Bradford, Jorja Holden and Mackenzie Young.
"Brittney and Leah are class acts," Maitland coach and former Wallaroo Kelly Sager said. "The young girls have just been killing it. Waratah are deserved favourites and no-one had come close to them until Hamilton in the semi-final.Our girls just play as a team. They believe in themselves, they back each other, never drop their heads and they just have fun. A lot don't take it too seriously. They have fun in the change rooms, they have fun at training, they just love playing rugby. Their confidence has grown."
Barker started the season on a high after helping lead NSW to consecutive Super W titles.
However, the centre was overlooked for the Wallaroos' Test campaign, which included a win over Japan in Newcastle.
"The coach basically said I was too small," Barker said. "It wasn't a nice feeling. I am probably more motivated now that I didn't get picked for the Wallaroos. It makes me want to prove them wrong. That is my goal."
Barker played halfback for the Wallaroos at the 2017 World Cup in Ireland but hopes to force her way back into the side as a centre.
"I want to prove them wrong in the centres," she said. "I will take it into contact more this season. That is my goal. I didn't take the ball into contact much last Super W season because that was not how our coach wanted to play. He wanted me to be more of a ball player. And we won, so obviously it worked.
"I'm doing power training and a speed program with Brayden Mellon at Return To Perform starting next month. The aim is to improve my running game."
Barker is one of seven Hunter players alongside Stewart, Duff, Bradford, Lakesha Nathan, Leilani Nathan, and Nicole Nathan in the NSW Country NRC squad play Sydney Gold and Sydney Blue for the Chikarovski Cup on the October long weekend.
"They pick a wider NSW Super W squad from there," Barker said.
But first is Saturday and the grand final.
"It would be great to finish the season on a positive," Barker said. "I'm super pumped. I'm glad we are playing Maitland. They are a good bunch of girls. Britney Duff is pretty sharp around the rucks. If you are not close enough in support going into contact, Britney is there and the ball is gone. The girl from the Netherlands was a bit of a standout in the final. She gave them momentum. The key will be trying to keep those two out of the game. Initially we need to use our size in the forwards to get momentum, and hen spread it out to our speed. Maya, Anika, Faith and Dana are all fast."
