Knights v Titans NRLW grand final locked in after stunning semi-final double header
The Titans scored a stunning upset over competition heavyweights the Roosters to book a blockbuster grand final as the NRLW smashed crowd records.
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Gold Coast will make history as the first team to play a grand final for the club after Sunday’s 12-0 gritty NRLW semi-final win over Sydney Roosters.
In a stunning upset against the competition favourites at Allianz Stadium, the Titans have booked their first grand final opposite Newcastle at Accor Stadium on Sunday on the back of brutal defence.
It caps off a massive turnaround for Karyn Murphy’s team who have gone from wooden spooners in last year’s competition to the grand final in just 12 months.
In 2022 they won just won game for the season but on Sunday they won the biggest game in their NRLW team’s history to become the club’s lone grand finalists.
The Roosters came into Sunday’s final with the weight of expectation on their shoulders after a huge season where they finished second, but were tipped as favourites for the title since the pre-season.
However, for the second season in a row they failed at the final hurdle after finishing last year with the minor premiership but losing the semi-final to Parramatta.
Nothing went their way on Sunday and the signs were bad early when fullback Corban Baxter hobbled off with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half.
She attempted to run it off for the second half but she lasted only 15 minutes before being taken off for good.
It caused mass disruption to the Roosters side who could not get going again in the face of an intense Titans team.
In one of the highest quality games of the season, the Titans drew blood at the end of the first half when Brittany Breayley Nati dove over to score after a grinding 30 minutes.
It took them another half an hour for Destiny Mino-Sinapati to score on the left wing and put the result to bed.
Murphy now has a decision to make for next week’s grand final, with Jillaroos star Taliah Fuimaono nearing a return from an ankle injury.
She hasn’t played since round one but has been named as18th player for two weeks in a row and was seen running unhindered on the sideline at Allianz Stadium.
The question for Murphy is where she fits into the 17 after Sunday’s stunning performance, and whether that chance would be justified.
Match report: Knights defeat Broncos 30-24
—Sean Teuma
The back-to-back title prospects of Newcastle are in full swing after holding out a late Brisbane charge to prevail 30-24 in the first semi final.
In front of a standalone NRLW record crowd of 12,689 at McDonald Jones Stadium, the Knights were clinical from the opening whistle and found enough when it counted to book their spot in next weekend’s grand final.
It gives them the opportunity to add to their trophy cabinet after winning last year’s competition as they aim to be just the second team to claim consecutive premierships.
While it sounds like a record on repeat it was once again the Tamika Upton show as the classy Knights fullback showed why she is a favourite for the Karyn Murphy Medal in the grand final.
Upton had a hand in all three first half tries for Newcastle, before scoring one of her own at a crucial period to put her side up by 14 in the second stanza and continue to haunt her former club.
She already has three premierships to her name and now gets the chance to add a fourth title in just five years in the NRLW.
On the flipside it ends a mixed season from the Broncos, who dropped their first two games of the season before going on a four-game win streak to earn their spot in the semis.
RUTHLESS KNIGHTS PUNISH BRONCOS EARLY
Mistakes in the opening period of the game cruelled the Broncos, and they were unable to defend those costly errors.
The three opening tries from the Knights came off the back of Brisbane mistakes, compounded by some sloppy defence as well.
There was a question mark over a potential forward pass in the lead up to the second try, but it was all academic as captain Hannah Southwell posted her first ever NRLW try.
Then front rower Caitlan Johnston was able to outsprint the backs on the back of a grubber close to the line from Upton, catching them shorthanded and leaving a few defenders red-faced.
COACH KILLERS HALT MOMENTUM
Despite finding themselves in big trouble through the first 25 minutes, the Broncos were able to get back into the contest with a piece of individual brilliance from Shenae Ciesiolka.
With momentum on their side and an opportunity to cut further into the lead, Brisbane was twice caught on the last tackle with regulation hit-ups as opposed to asking genuine questions of the Newcastle defence deep on their own line.
CHELSEA’S DOOZY IMPACT
Brisbane were begging for someone to turn the game in their favour, and Chelsea Lenarduzzi did everything in her power to do just that from the bench.
In a crucial period just after halftime, she made a crucial challenge to keep the ball in her team’s hands, before barging her way over from close range from that ensuing set.
With devastating power runners Mele Hufunga and Tazmin Grey only combining for six runs in the first half, the interchange forward led the charge with 14 hit-ups in a strong stint.
KNIGHTS LOOKING TO TIGHTEN UP
While their spot on grand final day is confirmed, the league’s best defensive team will be looking to one area to really clamp down on.
A strong attacking showing masked a poor defensive efficiency, with the Knights missing 46 tackles throughout the afternoon.
They will need to improve that if they want to lift the trophy once again.
Originally published as Knights v Titans NRLW grand final locked in after stunning semi-final double header
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