Goannas captain Amy Townsend has woken up sore after each and every Western Women's Rugby League game this season.
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And that's a good thing.
Townsend has been a staple of the women's tackle format in the region since its inception in 2016 and has been captain of the Wiradjuri Goannas the past two seasons.
She feels, without a doubt, the standard of the competition this year is the best it's been.
The Orange Vipers and the Goannas, last year's grand finalists, again had the best records during the regular season but didn't have things their own way in recent weeks, with the Woodbridge Cup side in particular making great strides forward.
"The main thing I've noticed is the contact is so much stronger across the board," Townsend said.
"Even the lower-ranked teams, the sides have got big bodies. They're learning the more contact you get in, the better.
"Everyone has progressed to that stage where Orange and us had already had that heavy contact."
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The Goannas may have beaten the Panorama Platypi 38-4 in last weekend's final round fixture, but Townsend's side had to get in the grind early on.
That physical battle is something Goannas sides have relished and now others are starting to advance in that side of the game as well.
"I've been sore after every game and that's a credit to all the coaches and clubs for putting in the work," Townsend added.
"Some scores might have been blowouts but you've had to work for every win."
The Goannas finished level on points with Woodbridge but nabbed second spot courtesy of a better for-and-against.
The two sides will meet in the weekend's semi-finals, with the minor premiership-winning Vipers taking on the Panorama Platypi in the other.
Woodbridge has become the biggest threat to the top two and went within one try of a stunning upset win over the Vipers last weekend.
"We don't think they're going to us a grand final spot," Townsend said.
The Goannas will be back at full strength for the semi-final, with Jinnara Tyson, Krystal Everingham, Mel Mulholland, Peta Powyer, and Lilli-Rae Campbell all back after missing recent matches.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
