Tricolours Continue Strong Start with Big Win Over Broncos

The Roosters received the ball after Olivia Kernick fielded a wayward kick-off, with some heavy contact from Sarah Togatuki and Keilee Joseph laying the foundations in defence.

A kick out on the full followed by a flop in the ruck handed Easts possession just over halfway, and a frantic final tackle saw Zahara Temara calmly stab a kick to earn her side a drop out - but an ill-timed pass led to an error after early pressure.

Muscling up in defence, ill-discipline from the Tricolours handed the home side cheap ball, but desperate defence from Kernick and Sam Bremner saved a certain try.

Breaking the deadlock was hooker Destiny Brill, who muscled over for her first try in Red, White and Blue after taking two defenders over the line as Temara's conversion gave the side a 6-nil lead. 

Momentum swung 180 degrees as a penalty allowed the Broncos to stake their claim for points moments later, but once again the scramble from Bremner and Jessica Sergis prevented Ali Brigginshaw from diving over.

Pressure from Captain Isabelle Kelly forced an error at Brisbane's end, and after a strong run from Brill through the heart of the defence, Sergis found herself in the clear only for the centre to be taken into touch.

Following a frenetic first 20 minutes, both sides were guilty of poor handling, and off the back of a scything run from Jocelyn Kelleher, Kelly broke through only for the final pass to go forward centimetres from the line in another miss.

But it wouldn't be too long before the Roosters found themselves on the board once more as Raecene McGregor split the defence before chipping over a few tackles later for Kernick who took advantage of a wicked bounce to score. 

With just seconds remaining, the diminutive halfback broke through again to send Bremner over the line to add another four-pointer as the halftime siren sounded,  giving Easts a 16-nil lead at the break.  

The defensive pressure continued as Kelleher charged down a Brigginshaw kick, giving the Tricolours strong field position to begin the second half, but it was the Broncos who struck first as a misfired kick led to a long-range try.

The Bondi Wall was forced into their first test of the afternoon after ill-discipline invited their opponents into attacking territory, but the Broncos continued their momentum as they crossed once again as the deficit shortened to eight points. 

Needing to regain the ascendency, clever ball-playing from Keilee Joseph sent Brill careening through the backfield, and Kernick bagged her second soon after as the side took a handy 14-point lead with 20 minutes remaining. 

That lead extended just moments later as powerful runs from Leianne Tufuga and McGregor found the Roosters just ten metres from the line, and a well-timed fifth-tackle pass found Jayme Fressard in the corner.

The home side looked to return serve as ill-discipline allowed them back into the contest, but a strong shot from makeshift centre Shaniah Power cleverly shut down an overlap as the Bondi Wall held firm.

Continuing to repel their opponents and piling on the pressure in the final ten minutes, another certain try was prevented as a desperate ankle tap from Kelleher took down Jamie Chapman to seal the 20-point win. 

The Sydney Roosters will create history in Round 3 in their Grand Final rematch against the St George Illawarra Dragons as they officially open Allianz Stadium in an exciting doubleheader, which will be followed by the Round 25 NRL fixture against South Sydney.

Sydney Roosters 28 (Olivia Kernick 2, Destiny Brill, Sam Bremner, Jayme Fressard tries; Zahara Temara 4 goals) def Brisbane Broncos 8 (Tarryn Aiken 2 tries)