The Sydney Roosters have sealed the 2022 NRLW Minor Premiership with a 38-12 win over the Gold Coast Titans at Central Coast Stadium.
Extending their winning streak to five, the undefeated Tricolours claimed their first Minor Premiership at NRLW level, with hooker Destiny Brill leading from the front, providing a double as well as a crucial try-saver.
Debutant trio Jada Taylor, Shannon Rose and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa produced strong performances in their first outing in the Red, White and Blue, while winger Jayme Fressard also scored a double, adding her season tally to five tries in four matches.
Match: Titans v Roosters
Round 5 -
home Team
Titans
6th Position
away Team
Roosters
1st Position
Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
On a gusty day in Gosford, the Tricolours ran out to pristine conditions, buoyed by the raucous crowd - and in an early win, a low-flying kick-off from Zahara Temara forced an error to regain possession 20 metres from the line.
While a kick of their own nearly produced the Titans' first points of the game, a chaser was called offside upon review from the Bunker - and following a strong charge from Isabelle Kelly, the Tricolours responded through Destiny Brill.
Brill Opens the Scoring
Quick hands saw the Roosters downfield in no time before more ill-discipline from their opponents led to another four-pointer thanks to a classy no-look-pass from Olivia Kernick handing Jada Taylor a try on debut.
The wicked bounce of the ball conjured up a line drop out for the Titans, who then replied in kind on the very next set to Madison Bartlett, bringing the difference to eight points.
Temara was intent on winning the kicking duel as the next kick-off landed her side possession, and more ball playing - this time from Jocelyn Kelleher - saw Shaniah Power stream through the defence and dot down.
Jada Taylor's Debut Delight
Power found herself involved in the next score, sending Kelly through to provide the final pass to Jayme Fressard, who scored her fourth try of the season in the corner, giving the side a 22-4 lead with ten remaining in the first half.
Both sides looked to throw the ball around in the dying stages, leading to cheap errors, but it was Sergis streaming through to close out the half from a scrum - with the Roosters taking a dominant 28-4 lead at the break.
Fressard Returns in Tryscoring Fashion
Easts continued proceedings in similar fashion with strong charges downfield, and while the Titans threatened on the line, the eventual pressure led to Bartlett's second.
Eagerness from the following set then saw the Roosters down a player with Kelly pinged for a professional foul, before a brilliant effort on the line from Brill and Sarah Togatuki prevented a certain try.
Shaniah Powers Through
Sergis swooped on a loose pass to get her side back in possession in danger, but the opposition touched down on the other end of the field as fatigue crept in, bringing the scoreline to 28-12 with ten remaining.
Another error from the kick-off handed the Tricolours a chance to ice the victory, and they did so as Brill barged her way over to slam the ball down to bag her second of the day, before Fressard added another to her name in the shadows of fulltime.
Sergis Speeds Through From the Scrum
The Sydney Roosters will face the Parramatta Eels next week in the semi-finals at Suncorp Stadium to vie for a place in the 2022 NRLW Grand Final.
Sydney Roosters 38 (Destiny Brill 2, Jayme Fressard 2, Jada Taylor, Shaniah Power, Jessica Sergis tries; Zahara Temara 5 goals) def Gold Coast Titans 12 (Madison Bartlett 2, Jetaya Faifua tries)
