Cargo skipper, Heelers primed for maiden grand final appearance

But times change.

And now Watson and the Blue Heelers will run out on grand final day favourites to lift the club’s first league tag title.

The Cargo girls finished the regular season as minor premiers, racked up an incredible 580 points – Heidi Regan’s 34 tries in 15 games had plenty to do with that – all the while conceding just 94 points, keeping their opposition scoreless in six games in 2018.

Thirteen wins, two losses and then a thumping 20-0 major semi-final triumph over Grenfell a fortnight ago too – it’s safe to say Watson’s Blue Heelers are now dishing out the punishment in 2018.

“It’s good to be doing the smashing now,” Watson laughs ahead of Sunday’s grand final against Eugowra.

The Cargo skipper said last year’s campaign, where the Blue Heelers narrowly missed out on a grand final, is the catalyst for the club’s stellar 2018, to date.

“I think most of us were here last year and we’ve managed to gel as a team really well,” she added.

“We’ve had that year together, we all hung out together during summer and we’re as close as hell.”

Watson is Cargo through-and-through and says having played in the Blue Heelers’ first league tag side in 2010 finally breaking through for a grand final appearance is a massive moment.

The Golden Eagles though, won’t be easy.

They’re the defending premiers after a 22-10 win over Grenfell in last year’s decider.

Despite Cargo enjoying a 30-0 triumph in round one, Michael Dumesny’s girls prevailed 16-12 in their second meeting and will head to Manildra confident of achieving an upset in the big dance.

But Watson is confident her side will be up for the challenge – and they’ll have all of Cargo there cheering them on.

“It’d mean a lot, the town gets into it,” she said.

“The boys have a had a great past and we’ve always been there cheering them on, and now it’s our turn.

“I’m nervous but it’s going to be great.”