Competing at this gala day was more than six months in the making, after Lacey selected his squad in November.

“We originally picked a 19-player squad, following last year’s November nines tournament, as the gala day was supposed to be played in February,” Lacey said.

“As such, we started training regularly, but as the day fast approach, we were notified that a number of the other teams weren’t ready – so they decided to push it back to the July school holidays.

“Despite this, we continued to train as a group and got everyone up to the speed of playing nine of side football, compared to the 13-a-side, which a lot of them are used to.”

During the one-day carnival at Eschol Park Sporting Complex, which involved 10 different teams, Lacey’s Dapto Swiss and Swash under 16s team defeated the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Parramatta Eels, while suffering losses to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Penrith Panthers.

“As it was the first time a lot of these girls had played at this level, I didn’t really know how they would go,” Lacey said.

“But after a number of them shook off the nerves and made that first tackle or first run, they played with great confidence and showed off the talent I knew they had.

“Overall, I think our girls took a lot from the day and it highlighted how bright the future is for rugby league in this area – which will not only strengthen the Tarsha Gale competition, but also the upcoming women’s NRL in the future.”

On the day, Lacey’s squad included Milton-Ulladulla’s Keele Brown, Ella Conlon, Ally England and Georgia Fitzpatrick,Bomaderry’s Elly Austin, Emily France, Janelle Shaw and Amelia-Jade Strickland, Corrimal’s Amber-Bree D’Amato and Olivia Vale, Berkeley’s Keeley Kopara, Rose Tafengatoto and Veina Tinao, Helenburgh’s Ebony McGrath and Sarah Turner and Shellharbour’s Riley Scott, Madi Singleton and Rhiannon Tungai.

A number of these Lisa Fiaola players will now turn their attentions to making Lacey’s Tarsha Gale squad, which will be selected after the November nines.

“I was super impressed with how the girls carried themselves on Saturday and a number of them wouldn’t look out of place in a Tarsha Gale jersey next season,” Lacey said.

“I’ve earmarked a couple who I think are up to it, who will join a strong returning core from this year’s Tarsha Gale side.

“With the mix I could have on my hands, there’s no reason why we can’t build on the success of this season and go one step further in 2019.”

The club and Lacey, who is also the coach of the inaugural St George Illawarra Dragons women’s side, are very excited for what lies ahead for the sport in the future.

“The future is extremely bright, with more and more girls making the transition from league tag to rugby league in recent times,” he said.

“After learning skills such as passing, catching and running, a lot of them see rugby league as an appealing challenge.

“So when players come to me as a 15 or 16-year-old, we just have to teach them defensive formats and patterns, as they already have the basic skills to succeed.”

And once you’re in the Steelers and Dragons system, labelled by Lacey as the ‘leaders in women’s development’, your career path is potentially mapped out for you.

“The club now have a solid pathway for the girls – all the way from the under 16s, through to the under 18s and high performance squad before they can potentially be a part of the women’s NRL squad,” he said.

“It’s the club’s vision to look after and nurture the local talent we have here on the South Coast and we are completely committed to that.

“This isn’t going unnoticed either, with girls from interstate, as well as ones from other sports contacting us about how they can get involved – so we outline the pathways we have in place on how they can be identified.”

What Lacey reiterated is backed up by the fact former Steelers Tarsha Gale stars Hannah England, Keely Davis, Maddison Pucival, Mikayla Malaki, Makayla Kidd and Maddison Weatherall are all now part of the Dragons high performance program.

“We have noticed, as a whole that the gap between the girls part of the elite top 40 squad and the girls playing club footy, has been gradually growing,” he said.

“So we at the club are trying to give our players the tools to close those gaps, by giving them the opportunity to access facilities that elite players have been using.

“The high performance program is, in my opinion, the best thing the club has ever done – educating the players on sports science, nutrition and new rules to the game.

“On top of that, we have seen massive improvements from our players in the strength program, which is what it’s all about.

“Being able to offer players who I’ve seen develop inn our system a contact is one of the most rewarding aspects of my role.”