The Illawarra Steelers face the toughest of tests when they get their 2024 Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership campaign underway, drawn to play last year’s premiers Mounties, away in Round 1.
Participating in their second season in the open women’s competition, the Steelers have received six home and five away games in the regular season.
Jamie Szczerbanik’s outfit will have the advantage of playing at home in the early rounds. They will face the West Tigers in Round 2, who finished 9th last season, and competition newcomers the Eels in Round 3 at Collegians Sporting Complex before heading out for away games to the Sharks and the Central Coast Roosters.
They return home for their Round 6 clash with the Magpies before heading up the freeway to battle with the Newcastle Knights.
The Round 8 clash at home against the Bulldogs, their nemesis from last year’s finals series, has already been circled on the draw. It will be followed by Manly away before the season finishes with home games against the Rabbitohs and Dragons.
The Scarlet and Whites had an impressive debut in 2023, finishing second in their inaugural season. However, they were unable to secure a spot in the Grand Final, bowing out 16-8 in the penultimate match of the season.