Broncos v Roosters: NRLW grand final preview

Author: Alicia Newton NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Sun 30 Sep 2018, 12:56 PM

Three weeks of history-making rugby league comes down to two sides going into the NRL Holden Women's Premiership grand final with different journeys to tell.

The Broncos have cruised throughout the month-long season to finish undefeated and loom as the heavy favourites going into the decider.

It's been a different story for the Roosters, who up until last week's 26-0 win over the Dragons were struggling to click after strong expectations in the lead-up to the competition. They narrowly scraped through to the decider on for-and-against with results working in their favour despite the lone victory.

These two sides met in round two of the competition, with the Broncos coming out 14-4 victors at Allianz Stadium.

Brisbane's big names in Ali Brigginshaw, Brittany Breayley, Teuila Fotu-Moala and Chelsea Baker have been at their best, while the consistency of players like Julia Robinson and Ngatokotoru Arakua have added to the side's overall success.

The Roosters got more out of their big names in Ruan Sims, Karina Brown and Elianna Walton last week, and strike centre Isabelle Kelly's game went to another level as a result. Lavina O'Mealey also looked more settled in her third game of the season.

With more than 18 players featuring in the women's State of Origin clash in June, it shapes as a blockbuster state-like contest with the addition of several Kiwi Ferns representatives.

Grand Final - Grand Final - Sunday 30 Sep

Full Time

Broncos

Roosters

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

Key match-up: Zahara Temara v Ali Brigginshaw – The packs will sort each other out and the battle will come down to the pair of Queensland halves on opposite sides. Can Temara put in a repeat performance after last week's effort against the Dragons? Brigginshaw has had the ball on a dime over the past three weeks to average 160.8 kick metres a game and 79.6 running metres. Temara's 274 kick metres completely changed the Roosters' stability in both attack and defence last week. Whoever steps up out of the pair could go a long way to winning the title.

For the Broncos to win: Their pack will need to dominate the likes of Sims, Walton, Taufa and Gray, who each ran for more than 100 metres last start. The Broncos boast experience in the front row with Steph Hancock and Heather Ballinger, while Kiwi Ferns representatives Fotu-Moala, Arakua and Maitua Feterika have been at their bullocking best throughout the competition.

NRLW Grand Final preview

For the Roosters to win: They'll need to shut down key members of Brisbane's spine and alternatively take their chances when they get them. The Tricolours will be buoyed by their defence in the past fortnight – particularly against the Broncos where they conceded just 14 points.

And another thing: The best player in the NRLW grand final will receive the first ever Karyn Murphy Medal, the equivalent to the Clive Churchill medal, following Sunday afternoon's game.

Brisbane Broncos v Sydney Roosters, Sunday 1.35pm AEST at ANZ Stadium

Grand Final - Grand Final - Sunday 30 Sep

Full Time

Broncos

Roosters

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Chelsea Baker

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 Karina Brown
Winger for Broncos is number 2 Julia Robinson

Winger for Roosters is number 2 Brydie Parker
Centre for Broncos is number 3 Meg Ward

Centre for Roosters is number 3 Shontelle Stowers
Centre for Broncos is number 4 Amber Pilley

Centre for Roosters is number 4 Isabelle Kelly
Winger for Broncos is number 5 Amelia Kuk

Winger for Roosters is number 5 Taleena Simon
Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Kimiora Breayley-Nati

Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Lavina O'Mealey
Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Ali Brigginshaw

Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Zahara Temara

Forwards

Prop for Broncos is number 8 Heather Ballinger

Prop for Roosters is number 8 Ruan Sims
Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Brittany Breayley-Nati

Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Nita Maynard
Prop for Broncos is number 15 Chelsea Lenarduzzi

Prop for Roosters is number 10 Elianna Walton
2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Teuila Fotu-Moala

2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Tazmin Rapana
2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Maitua Feterika

2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Vanessa Foliaki
Lock for Broncos is number 13 Rona Peters

Lock for Roosters is number 13 Simaima Taufa

Interchange

Interchange for Broncos is number 10 Steph Hancock

Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Kylie Hilder
Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Lavinia Gould

Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Sarah Togatuki
Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Mariah Denman

Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Victoria Latu
Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Ngatokotoru Arakua

Interchange for Roosters is number 19 Kandy Kennedy

Match Officials

Referee: Jon Stone
Referee: Kasey Badger
Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara

Last updated: 10/4/2024 2:48:11 AM

Broncos: One game-day change for the undefeated Broncos, with Chelsea Lenarduzzi getting the nod to start at prop and Stephanie Hancock switching to the bench. Meg Ward returns from a hand injury, while Mariah Storch replaces Tallisha Harden on the interchange bench. Maitua Feterika has overcome a knee injury to take her place in the side. Harden and Karley Te Kawa were cut an hour prior to kick-off, while Kody House and Lilieta Maumau were omitted on Saturday.

Roosters: The only change to the team named on Tuesday is Kandy Kennedy promoted to the bench in place of Chloe Caldwell, who was dropped an hour before kick-off along with Maddie Studdon. Zahara Temara remains and Brydie Parker keeps her spot on the wing after a strong debut against the Dragons. Quincy Dodd and Botille Vette-Welsh were cut on Saturday.

Tarsha Gale's prediction: The Roosters need to contain the middle, apply a lot more pressure on Ali Brigginshaw and get the ball out wide to Isabelle Kelly and Taleena Simon. I'm expecting great things from Vanessa Foliaki both in attack and defence and for Elianna Walton to continue her powerful and inspiring runs up the middle. It's a lot to ask, but that's what grand finals are all about. Roosters by 2

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