The Hunter River Times

BY ALEX TIGANI

Scone Thoroughbreds’ first grade playing coach Adam Clydsdale is set for an eventful weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, he will hope to lead his side to glory in the 2022 Bengalla Hunter Valley Group 21 Scanlon Shield before a home crowd at Scone Park.

Then he will fly straight to Brisbane to witness his fiancée Yasmin Meakes play in the NRL Telstra Women’s grand final for the Sydney Roosters against the Dragons at Moreton Daily Stadium.

“It actually worked out not too bad, being able to play on the Saturday and then head up first thing on Sunday morning,” Clydsdale told The Hunter River Times.

The 29-year-old in no stranger to the big time having played for the Newcastle Knights, Canberra Raiders and Cronulla Sharks from 2013-17.

Yet he admits he was left on the edge of his seat on Sunday afternoon, when the Roosters’ pulled off an upset 22-16 semi-final win over the Brisbane Broncos.

It was first time the Broncos had been denied a grand final spot in the history of the NRL Women’s competition.

“The last 15 minutes I was on the edge of my seat, I don’t think I had many fingernails left just from chewing them,” he added.

“I was that excited I almost had a tear to my eye to be honest, I was just so proud of Yasmin and the girls and now there’s one more to get.”

Meakes and Parker to make NRLW history

For the first time in NRLW history a team other than Brisbane will raise the trophy on Sunday.

If all goes to plan, Scone’s Yasmin Meakes and Muswellbrook’s Brydie Parker hope to share the glory after pulling off an incredible comeback to down the three-time defending champion Broncos 22-16 in the semi-final.

A composed Parker landed an impressive tackle with poise with 20 seconds to go before the final buzzer ignited a plethora of celebrations at Leichardt Oval.

“I was next to Zahara (Temara) when she made that last kick and Tamika (Upton) kept it in the field of play,” Meakes told The Hunter River Times.

“I just remember thinking; I just have to make this tackle because the buzzer has already gone.

“Then when I saw the girls on the right edge making the tackle and the ball was dead, I ran over to my left edge to Isabelle (Kelly), Brydie (Parker) and Zahara (Temara) and we all just hugged in a little circle which was nice because I really like playing with my left side.”

Earlier in the day, the Dragons also did enough to advance to the big dance with a 24-18 win over a Gold Coast Titans line-up coached by Muswellbrook’s Jamie Feeney.

Though the Dragons’ had the edge over the Roosters in their Round 5 meeting, Meakes reflected on the result as a match riddled with errors.

“We actually played ourselves into the game properly in the semi final whereas we struggled the first couple of rounds just putting together a full 60-minute performance and you saw that in the 16-10 loss to the Dragons,” she reflected.

We asked her fiancée Adam Clydsdale for his advice ahead of Sunday’s historic clash and, in return, we also asked for her inspirating words ahead of his Scanlon Shield tournament to be held at Scone Park on Saturday.

“Yasmin would give me advice not on football, more around the house,” Clydsdale playfully added.

“Obviously, I am on the downhill slope with my career and Yasmin’s on the rise so I’m just proud of her and obviously the big focus is on Sunday’s game.”

As for her inspiring words?

“Lead from the front, like he always does,” she concluded with a smile.

“He is someone special that Scone has and I feel like he is always a leader from the front.”