They went on to record a historic 46-16 win against the Newcastle Knights in the NRLW’s decider. That pivotal clash yielded a rollicking nine tries to the Broncos, including a sensational opening score. Now they’re in serious contention for the top overall seed in the league! At the same time, the Cronulla Sharks locked up third place, overcoming a fighting New Zealand Warriors side 22-14.
Emma Verran was brilliant for the Broncos, and scored her second try of the match. At the same time, Jada Taylor put together a phenomenal season, crowned for her return from knee reconstruction. Taylor got back on the field, switched to fullback, and quickly made her mark. She highlighted her elite talent with a line break, line-break assist and six tackle busts.
Stellar Performances Shine Through
Local lad Payton Takimoana came away with all the headlines after making it across the try line for Brisbane. With that stellar effort, she has now registered 11 tries on the season, tying her for first in try-scorers this year. Tyra Wetere joined the offensive onslaught by adding a second try for the home team, putting New Zealand firmly in control.
Georgia Hannaway ignited Cronulla’s semifinal success against the Warriors. She orchestrated their first attempt, kicking off a speedy dart out of dummy-half to link up with Verran only 25 metres from the try line. Her contributions didn’t stop at assists, she had two line-break assists, and two try assists for the game.
“The key thing is we have to be disciplined with our defence and if we get into a grind, it’s hard for teams to stick with us,” – Scott Prince
Match Highlights and Key Moments
Brisbane trailed 18-16 at the break against Newcastle. Coming out of the break, they proved to be the better side, scoring three tries in five minutes to assert their power. Forwards Shalom Sauaso, Kerri Johnson, and Hayley Maddick all touched down to ensure their side’s place in the final. Tamika Upton got on the scoresheet, scoring against her old club early in the second half to make it 2-0.
After that Romy Teitzel, Hayley Maddick and Julia Robinson added three more tries for Brisbane, capping off an impressive performance to stop Newcastle in their tracks. This emphatic victory puts the Broncos right in contention with the ladder sittters and leaders the Sydney Roosters.
Sharks’ skipper Tiana Penitani Gray was beaming as she celebrated her team’s historic win. They pushed the Warriors to the brink in a thrilling finals game.
“It was tough because we knew [the Warriors] were going to show up today with home ground advantage in front of great fans,” – Tiana Penitani Gray
“It was a long trip for us but we wanted to make it worthwhile.” – Tiana Penitani Gray
Future Implications
Brisbane and Cronulla both reinforced their contenders status with impressive finals worthy wins. This formula, along with the recent rounds of matchups, has set the stage for an extremely exciting finish to the NRLW season! With Brisbane chasing the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla now positioned third on the ladder, fans can anticipate thrilling matches ahead as teams vie for playoff positions.
