Kolc backs Titans to stay on track despite loss of Levi

Gold Coast hooker Lily Kolc believes the communication and teamwork the Titans have built over this season means they can absorb the loss of skilful five-eighth Teagan Levi. 

Levi, the Paris Olympian for Australia in Sevens rugby, has played every game for the Titans and been a revelation in her switch to NRLW this year.

But a head clash against Wests Tigers on Sunday forced her to sit out the second half after she failed her concussion test.

She sat on the Campbelltown Stadium sidelines icing her face due to a deep cut to her nose and has been booked in for scans to ensure no fracture.  

The Category 1 head knock means she will sit out the last game of the regular club round against the Knights in Newcastle.

“It won’t disrupt too much.” Kolc told NRL.com.  

“I think we proved in that second half there we have the depth to handle anything,” she said, referring to the four tries the Titans scored without Levi’s input to run away 58-0 winners. 

Second-rower Evania Isa’ako went into five-eighth for Levi and had two line break assists, two try assists and a four-pointer of her own. 

That gives coach Karyn Murphy something to think about as she mentioned two other likely halves that could slot in alongside No.7 Lauren Brown.

“We’ve got some really good depth in our halves… a couple of girls that haven’t played this year in Pauline (Piliae-Rasabale) and Lailani (Montgomery), who have been at training each week playing in the halves in our opposing sessions,” Murphy said. 

“So I have no hesitation to have a look at either one of those.” 

Murphy and starting hooker Georgia Hale also have no qualms about putting 21-year-old Kolc into the fray after a few opening sets. 

She may only be 162cm but Kolc punches well above her weight, inspired by her grandfather John Kolc, who played 111 games for Parramatta in the 1970s and played for Australia against Great Britain in 1977 and was only 168cm tall himself. 

“Lily’s a real threat so it’s nice to see, when she comes on, that the game opens up for her,” Hale said. 

“The first 10-15 minute period is getting into the grind with some tired legs and bodies as a result but she moves into that spot and I move into the middle. 

“Her footy nous and knowledge has grown so much as she’s come through our pathways.” 

Kolc won the QRL’s BMD Premiership with Burleigh Bears in 2023 before her Titans NRLW debut in 2024 so she knows what it takes to make grand finals. 

“The vibe is really good as we’ve worked so hard for this as a team,” Kolc said.

"Everyone is getting around each other and helping each other.” 

She complimented the ‘older’ heads in the Titans for helping her learn the intricacies of being part of the attacking spine.

“I’m just trying to learn each week how to work with my spine better – Lauren Brown has really helped me out a lot there,” Kolc said. 

“Teags coming in, who is an Olympian, has really inspired me too along with Georgia who is a Kiwis (Test player) regular.” 

Now it’s time for Kolc to rise to the occasion. 

“I like being in the middle and the person who touches the ball the most – you have a lot of control in what happens and I enjoy that,” she said. 

Kolc made eight runs from dummy half for 88 metres against Wests Tigers alongside 23 tackles with no misses. She has a 97.7% tackle efficiency this year. 

Parramatta might well have enjoyed her talents as well since she was born in Blacktown and had the Eels connection through her grandfather. 

“We moved up to the Gold Coast when I was young so it’s been home to me. 
“I mean Parra holds a special place in my heart but I love the Titans.”