New Queensland Reds halfback Layne Morgan has worked out quickly that there is something inside her that runs more deeply than being a NSW Waratah for most of her rugby life.
It’s the vein of competitiveness she will tap on Sunday afternoon at Ballymore Stadium when she will be fiercely maroon for the first time in an interstate clash.
“Reds vs Tahs is the biggest rivalry in our game,” Morgan said.
“You never want to be beaten by the other. It’s just something instinctive, you don’t want to come off second best to your neighbour.
“I’ve had a really competitive nature since I was a little kid. We showed how hungry we are to win as Queensland in Fiji last weekend.”
She is 100 per cent Queensland on Sunday and happily feeding off the strong vibe in the team following that superb 22-19 win over Fijian Drua in Lautoka last weekend.
It doesn’t matter that Waratahs winger Desiree Miller is one of her best friends and plenty more in the NSW side were championship teammates last year in Super Rugby Women’s.
“There are close friends there I’ve never played against before. There’ll be a lot of girls out for me,” Morgan said with a laugh.
“’Horse’ (NSW prop Emily Robinson) has already thrown the ‘you’d rather be dead than red’ line at me. There’ll be that chat on the field but, off the field, the girls come together.”
Morgan and fellow Wallaroo Nat Wright are the most potent one-two punch at halfback in SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s.
It was demonstrated in Lautoka last weekend. Morgan played with poise until Wright came on as a super-sub in the second half.
It was Wright’s quick thinking to use the blindside that created the opportunity for winger Caitlin Urwin’s strong try that ultimately sealed the match.
The Reds have other backline weapons to throw at the Waratahs too with flyhalf Carys Dallinger, tackle-busting inside centre Shalom Sauaso, crafty Wallaroos fullback Lori Cramer and the unpredictable dash of their rugby sevens recruits.
Teagan Levi will start at outside centre while fellow Paris Olympian Kahli Henwood will be on the wing.
Three-time Olympian Charlotte Caslick could slot in from the bench in three different positions at a pinch. It’s most likely her Reds debut will come at fullback. Wherever it is, her polish as a passer, stepping runner and poised performer under pressure will come into play.
Morgan has already felt the energy for Queensland at Ballymore in the pre-season trials. She loves the close quarters that the fans enjoy from the grandstand.
“It’s going to be exciting for us as players and the fans. You definitely feel the support of the crowd from close range,” Morgan said.
“Against the Drua, not everything was perfect but you saw the trust in the team. We supported line breaks, we defended line breaks as a team. The connections were really strong and the extra days we had together in Fiji really helped that.”
Morgan’s first few outings beside Ipswich State High product Sauaso have given her a high opinion of the teenager.
“Shalom has so much horsepower,” Morgan said.
“She can crash through the line and ball-play and that’s rare to see.”
It all shapes as a Sunday thriller.
