Cronulla and South Sydney were notable omissions and both clubs made plenty of noise about it amid claims of having "pioneered" the women's game.

True, both clubs have done plenty to be admired in that area and had a right to feel aggrieved.

At the time that disappointment turned to criticism of the sides that were granted licenses - St George Illawarra included - suggesting the Dragons have "no pathway" or history in female rugby league.

The assertions made in haste were likely product of their own disappointment at missing out on a license, but they were just flat-out foolish. In reality, the Illawarra's history in women's rugby league is unmatched.

Tarsha Gale is rightfully acknowledged as the Dally Messenger of women's league. The Tarsha Gale Cup of course bears her name.

He career started right here in the Illawarra - Bulli to be exact. Game On was presented with some newspaper clippings this week to attest to that.

One article written by league scribe Brian Surtees for the Sunday Telegraph in 1995 christened the all-conquering Bulli side "the unbeatables" and "the Bradmans of rugby league, setting new highs every time they lace on their boots."

That same season Gale played for Australia alongside Bulli teammates Natalie Dwyer, Sherilee Moulds and Julie McGuffie in the inaugural women's Trans-Tasman Test.

St George Illawarra women's coach Daniel Lacey regularly gets Gale down to Wollongong to talk to his side where she expresses her affinity with the region that gave her her rugby league start.

It's why it would be perfectly fitting for the Illawarra Steelers to etch their name on the Tarsha Gale Cup this weekend.

They'll take on Newcastle in grand final after falling in prelim finals in the competition's first two seasons.

Lacey knows the Knights won't be on board with narrative, but hopes win will bring the region the credit it deserves.

"One of the reasons we got an NRL license was the work done in the area from back in the 80s all the way through to now," Lacey said.

"Tarsha Gale's from Wollongong herself so the trophy's named after our area. With the progression and the amount of work that's been done, the pathways that have been put in place, we reckon it's our time.

"We finished third in 2017, we finished last season in second place. This year we finished in first position and we've gotten to the big dance.

"Everything you work for goes to this occasion and this game. We go into the whole season wanting to get our hands on that trophy. it's finally here and we're closer to it."

The Steelers had a brief hiccup in week one of the finals, going down 32-30 to St George - the other junior club that feeds into the joint-venture's NRL squad.

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They steadied with a convincing win over Parramatta a week later and overcome a 24-8 deficit against the Tigers last week to win 34-24.

It sets up a steel city showdown in the decider and Lacey said his side will take plenty of momentum from their late surge last week.

"To be down 24-8 last week into the last 20 and come back from that shows a lot of fight," he said.

"When you get to the big games you want to know you can play from in front, you can play from behind, you can chase points, you know what resolve the players do have.

"It's matched up to be a definite 50-50 bet. Newcastle are very similar to what we're like, they've got a lot of skill, a lot of pace, a lot of depth in their squad.

"They've got some players in there who are future NRL players and possibly Jillaroos and so do we. Considering they're the only team we haven't beaten this year we'd like to get one over them on Saturday."

If they can get the job done, you can bet Gale will be wearing a broad smile when she presents the trophy.