NRLW 2020: Broncos beat Roosters in battle of top two; Dragons fall to Warriors
In a warning sign ahead of next week’s NRLW grand final, Brisbane unleashed their ruthless side to sink the Roosters, with the forwards laying the platform for their key players to deliver the goods.
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The Broncos have landed a psychological blow after they outclassed the Roosters 24-16 ahead of their rematch in next week’s NRLW Grand Final.
The two-time defending champions struck twice in quick succession to open up a 12-0 lead in the first half, only for the Sydneysiders to hit back with four-pointers either side of half-time.
Down by two and with momentum on their side following Melanie Howard’s classy solo try, the Roosters imploded in the next set to hand their opponents field position after a calamitous last tackle option.
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In a warning sign ahead of next week’s decider, Brisbane unleashed their ruthless side to score in the next set, before skipper Ali Brigginshaw sealed the result four minutes later.
Roosters hooker Nita Maynard will have a nervous wait after she was penalised for a crusher tackle on Tamika Upton with nine minutes remaining.
Triple treat
Brisbane will start firm favourites ahead of next week’s rematch, although you’d be brave to write off a Roosters side that will welcome back Hannah Southwell.
The Broncos lifted whenever they were challenged on Saturday afternoon, with their forwards laying the platform for their key players to deliver whenever called upon.
All for nothing
They may have missed Charlotte Caslick’s spark, but the Roosters almost produced the greatest try in NRLW history, only for the touch judge to spoil the party by calling the final pass forward.
Brydie Parker looked to have scored a remarkable team try that went through nine sets of hands and saw her dive over in the right corner, but the celebrations were cut short when the flag was correctly raised.
💥💥💥#NRLWDragonsWarriors#TelstraPremiership #NRLW pic.twitter.com/qbPeLJLZCa
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) October 17, 2020
Not so sweet 16
History was made in the earlier game when the Dragons were forced to run out with only 16 players in their 22-10 loss to the Warriors on Saturday afternoon.
St George Illawarra finished winless and with the wooden spoon after they ran out of gas against a Warriors side that was full of energy following a stirring pre-game Haka.
With rep stars Kezie Apps and Isabelle Kelly already missing, the Red V received a further blow when three players were ruled out before kick-off, forcing them to play one short on the bench and without six internationals.
“You shouldn’t (have to play with 16) at this level but that’s just the cards that fell our way,” Dragons coach Daniel Lacey said.
“In a COVID year, this is something we didn’t foresee.”
It’s why the game must look to increase squads from 22 next season, especially if the competition expands to six teams or goes from three regular season matches to six.
Green Machine
Her positional play was questionable last week, but there is no doubting Ellia Green’s strength after she unleashed the tackle of the year on Dragons star Jess Sergis.
Green got the ball rolling with her side’s first try after nine minutes, but it was her hit on Sergis late in the half that got her trending on social media when she jammed in off her wing and cut the reigning Dally M medalist in half.
The Green Machine said farewell to rugby league with 168 metres from nine runs to go with three line-breaks.
“Those guys (Green and Evania Pelite) have taught us an awful lot,” Warriors coach Brad Donald said.
“They’ve shown us what professionalism in contact sport can look like. They are incredible humans off the field. Their work ethic and attitude have been second to none.”
The evolution of an NRLW enforcer
Hannah Southwell could be preparing for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup right now.
Instead, you’ll find her down at Leichhardt Oval hitting tackle pads with the Sydney Roosters undefeated NRLW side.
Southwell was the W-League’s youngest ever goalkeeper when she was 15, back in 2014.
She played two seasons at the Newcastle Jets and was even called into a Matilda’s training squad – but there was one problem.
“I just love hitting people,” Southwell said.
“When I was 12 and couldn’t play rugby league anymore, (football) was the closest thing at the time to any sort of contact, which is what I love,
“I played goalkeeper, I had terrible feet, couldn’t kick to save my life, but I had good hands so they chucked me into that.”
Southwell’s passion for tackling dates back to when she was just 5-years-old.
Every afternoon, she’d drag her father and brother to their backyard to go through contact drills.
“Dad used to drill my brother Matt and I, because we played in the same team,” Southwell said.
“He made sure we stuck every tackle, made sure our runs were hard. It’s definitely from dad, making sure he was perfect.”
Now, the Australian Jillaroo is arguably the best tackler in the women’s game.
Ruan Sims praised Southwell for her impeccable technique.
“She started as an outside back, she moved to the second row now she’s solidified herself as a ball-playing lock for the Jillaroos and NSW,” Sims said.
“Her tackle technique, it’s textbook perfect, I love watching her defend. When she gets into the line she can put on late footwork and wrong-foot the defence.”
Southwell admitted that it has taken her years to perfect her technique and that she’s always working to improve it.
“It took a lot of practice, lots of repetition. You get a few head knocks because you’re tackling quite low and if you’re not getting it right you’ll get hit in the head, so you have to make sure you stick your tackles,” Southwell said.
“From there, you get a feel for it, you know where the bodies are, you get a feel for the other person, and you know when their body’s given up.”
Southwell said that the undefeated Roosters are feeling confident ahead of today’s clash against reigning champions the Brisbane Broncos.
While they’re without Rugby Sevens star Charlotte Caslick, the Chooks are set to unleash another secret weapon – Taleena Simon.
The livewire returns to the field after missing the 2019 NRLW team through pregnancy.
“Taleena killed it the first year, I played against her when I was with the Dragons, I remember thinking, “far out this chick can run,” she’s a fantastic addition,” Southwell said.
“We love to go in as underdogs … there’s no real pressure on us, which is awesome. I can’t wait to go out there and give it to them, see what we can do as a team for the next two weeks.”
NRLW Round 3, Saturday October 17 at Allianz Stadium
Dragons v Warriors, 12:30pm
NRLW Roosters v Broncos, 4pm