Panthers prepare to parlay top spot into women’s premiership glory
Hornby Panthers are striving to parlay their top-of-the-table finish in the 2026 CRL Happy Hire Women’s Premiership into grand final glory this Sunday.
After leading the competition from start to finish, the Panthers booked their CRL Snap Fitness Grand Final Day date with Linwood Keas with an impressive 46-6 semi-final victory over Eastern Eagles last weekend.
“The preparation’s been good, now it’s just tidying up all the small pieces and just really letting the girls have their time, start enjoying this week and putting a couple of good training sessions together.
“We didn’t expect to be at the top, put it that way. Anyone really could have been up there. Eastern really gave us a game last week – the score didn’t really reflect how hard that was. Sydenham and Linwood, obviously those two teams have gone through more finals than us.
“So there was no expectations – I think we’re just excited that we’re here with the new bunch that we have in the team.”
The Panthers are into their second CRL Happy Hire Women’s Premiership grand final in three years.
In 2024, they went down 20-12 to Sydenham Swans in a high-quality decider after the teams were locked 6-all at halftime.
Arona is confident his team can channel that experience in a positive way this Sunday.
“There was a lot of learnings from that game and I think the girls have realised that. Their mindset’s a bit different now – they’re just really excited, whereas in 2024, I think the emotions were too high.
“We were just worried about the outside noise there [rather than] what we were supposed to do on the day. But credit to Sydenham, they really played the game well.”
Forwards Ripena Umaga and Anika Gates-Thorn – who Arona says have “been doing an amazing job” – co-captain a Panthers line-up that also includes the likes of Trillo Metals Canterbury Bulls regulars Dayna Napa and Katey Arona, and emerging talents such as Tyler Limmer.
“The good thing about the group is there’s no real standout players – they are playing like a really good connection side,” Arona praises.
“They just trust their process and everyone has a role to do. It’s all a real big buy-in by everyone.”
Despite Hornby’s minor premier status, Arona is wary of the challenge Linwood presents – particularly after a regular season series between the teams that was fought on a knife’s edge.
The Panthers held on for a 22-18 win at Linwood Park early in the campaign, but the Keas inflicted their only loss of 2026 in a 16-14 nail-biter at Leslie Park six weeks ago.
“You’ve got to respect the girls they have and what they’ve done in the game and how they play.
“We’re expecting the same, if anything a bit more from them. It’s the finals – the girls will be expecting a tough battle and a big game, like we’ve had in the last two, three, four games we’ve played against them.”
Meanwhile, the Panthers women are proud to be flying the Hornby flag on CRL Snap Fitness Grand Final Day – which the club’s currently rebuilding men’s team did eight times in nine seasons from 2016-24.
“It’s about how we connect and how we represent,” Arona says.
“We rep for the whole club and we know our men’s have gone through a tough season … but they’re heading in the right direction.”
Photo Credit: Jess Green
