There is plenty on the line for Titans backrower Shaylee Bent this weekend, with her milestone match also doubling as a chance to secure a finals berth.
Bent will run out for her 50th NRLW game on Saturday in what is shaping as a must-win game against the Raiders, with a spot in the top six potentially on the line.
Shaylee Bent with the ball for the Titans.
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The Indigenous All Stars representative debuted in Round 1 of 2019 – the second season of the competition – with St George Illawarra as a 19-year-old and has now developed as a leader in what has become her new home on the Gold Coast.
“When I first saw Keeley [Davis], Issy [Isabelle Kelly], Ali [Brigginshaw], those girls hit 50, I was like, ‘wow, I actually won’t be too far off’’ … I started at 2019 and I was like, ‘surely it’s soon’, and I actually looked it up and hopefully I get to play that game.
“It’s also my birthday, so it’s going to be a really big weekend, so excited.
“I didn’t get to play in the first year of NRLW because it was in 2018 and I was too young.
“I remember I was 18 and I went into the squad … (the next year) I didn’t think I would be starting or just thought it was a development contract and then I got lucky and started playing each game.
“It just all happened so quick, and I think being so young then and being around the girls that are such pioneers of the game now, like Issy, Kezie [Apps] … just credit to (inaugural Dragons NRLW coach) Daniel Lacey for giving me the opportunity.
“It’s grown so much, and it’s a lot different now … your position’s not always given; it’s a lot more competitive, the younger girls coming through.
“I’m turning 25 now, so I’m getting older.
Shaylee Bent started her NRLW career with the Dragons.
©NRL Images
“My first year at Titans was 2023, but the a few years before that at the Dragons … I loved every minute of it.
“I loved my coaches, I loved the club, it was great, but then, I decided to come to the Gold Coast.
“David’s [partner David Fifita] at the Titans and also had Matt Geyer here (as an assistant coach).
“He was a really big part of why I came up here.
“He played with my uncle growing up and I thought that connection was pretty strong and then obviously having that connection to Murph [coach Karyn Murphy] as well convinced me of the line and I’ve loved it ever since.
“Fui [Taliah Fuimaono] and Chappo [Jaime Chapman] came with me as well, so I had that kind of safe feeling when I came here.
“We started our journey at the Titans together and it’s been great.”
Shaylee Bent and Taliah Fuimaono representing the Indigenous All Stars.
©NRL Images
Currently sitting in sixth spot on the ladder coming into the final round of the regular season, the Titans will be sweating on the results of the match between the eighth-placed Bulldogs and seventh-placed Eels, with both teams aiming to make their claim for the last spot in the finals.
Having felt the disappointment if their grand final loss in 2023, Bent said she thought this year’s squad had what it takes to make it to the decider once again, but they knew they couldn’t afford to look too far ahead, with their match against the Raiders their first priority.
“I think for us we just look at it week by week.
“We still have a job to do to get in that top six to secure our position.
“Just really growing each week and just working on the little things and I think that’s what we do so well as a team.
“We don’t prepare for (too far into) the future, but we just prepare for the week going by.
“I feel like we’re peaking at the right time, which is good.
“We’re just learning and we’re growing each week.
“We’ve got a lot of new girls this year compared to the year that we were in 2023 … but it was kind of similar, like we’re winning games by one or two points, but we still had that mindset of next week’s job, so obviously our goal is to get to the grand final, but like I said, just focusing on the week ahead.
“Junkyard dog is always there and the girls that have played in that year still carry that with us today and so does our new girls as well.
“It’s always in the back of our head and a lot of us use that all the time.”