NRLW 2022: Gold Coast Titans defeat Brisbane Broncos in first Queensland derby

NRLW bragging rights have gone to Gold Coast Titans after shocking the Broncos in the inaugural Queensland derby. Here’s how it played out.

The Gold Coast Titans will host an NRL/NRLW double header this Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium. Titans player Destiny Brill. Picture: Jerad Williams

The Gold Coast Titans have stunned the almighty Brisbane Broncos to win the maiden NRLW Queensland derby 28-26 at Cbus Super Stadium.

With scores locked at 26-26 with four minutes remaining in Saturday’s contest, a 32-metre penalty goal from Gold Coast front-rower Brianna Clark following an illegal steal from the Broncos sealed a historic victory for the Titans, who are in the competition for the first time this season.

It was only the second time in NRLW history that the Broncos – who have won the only three previous NRLW premierships – had suffered defeat, with their other loss having come in September 2019 against the New Zealand Warriors.

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“We’ve been working so hard,” Titans match-winner Clark told Fox Sports.

“We’ve got the team to get over the line, (but) we’ve just been battling against ourselves this season, so we finally got our feet together and pulled through.”

Clark was “relieved” to see her late penalty fly between the posts.

Titans players celebrate their victory over the Broncos.

“I just tried to keep my composure. I come from a soccer background so ‘hit it down the middle of the ball and it should go in’ was all I was thinking.”

Each side scored five tries in the derby, with the combined total of 54 points being the most ever scored in an NRLW match.

The Titans made a flying start, scoring two tries in the first six minutes.

The first came from veteran former Broncos front-rower Steph Hancock.

The 40-year-old prop, who won two premierships with the Broncos, crashed over from close range.

Worse was to follow for the Broncos three minutes later when Evania Pelite, who was named to start at fullback but lined up in the centres, scored under the posts to extend the Titans lead.

The Titans enjoy making history.

Roxette Murdoch of the Broncos attempts to break free of a tackle.

At 12-0 down, the Broncos, who were without star Millie Boyle, showed their championship qualities to score four of the first-half’s remaining five tries to lead 20-18 at the break.

Hagiga Mosby, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Kaitlyn Phillips and Shenae Ciesiolka all crossed for Brisbane.

In between those four Brisbane tries, Titans’ forward Shaniah Power momentarily paused the Broncos’ momentum with a stirring 20-metre run in which she beat five tacklers before crashing over next to the posts.

The Titans regained the lead early in the second half when Jasmine Peters crossed out wide.

However, the Broncos again went ahead 10 minutes later through five-eighth Tarryn Aiken, who zoomed over from dummy half, taking advantage of a dozing Gold Coast defence.

However, down 26-22, the Titans weren’t going to be denied.

Peters’ second try of the match levelled scores at 26-26 with less than 10 minutes left before Clark’s penalty secured the Titans their second win of the season to remain on target for a top-four finish.

18YO WEAPON READY FOR SHORT AT DESTINY

Chris Honnery

Any win in a five-game NRLW season is important, but a win over the Broncos would be something “extra special” for the Titans this weekend.

The first NRLW Queensland derby will kick off at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday as the Broncos and Titans battle it out for supremacy.

The Broncos are proving unstoppable this season, winning three consecutive games to sit top of the NRLW ladder.

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But the Titans – the new kids on the block – are causing a few surprises as well, downing heavyweights the Roosters in round 2 and putting up a fight against the star-studded Parramatta side last weekend.

Ali Brigginshaw (Brisbane Broncos) & Brittany Breayley-Nati (Gold Coast Titans) prepare for battle. Picture: Grant Trouville.

Now, both Queensland sides go head-to-head on Gold Coast soil and Titans skipper Brittany Breayley-Nati admitted getting one over her former club would be a significant achievement.

“A win over the Broncos would be extra special,” Breayley-Nati said.

“We haven’t really focused too much on the rivalry – it’s been more about the team and how well we prepare to take on such a full strength side in the Broncos.

“We both know it’s going to be a tough game. Whoever shows up on the day and wants it more will come away with the win, and we’re hoping that’s us.”

Gold Coast’s Jessika Elliston gets wrapped up.

While the Broncos have the likes of powerhouse forwards Millie Boyle and Chelsea Lenarduzzi, the Titans have their own strike weapon in youngster Destiny Brill.

The 18-year-old has been one of the standouts of the delayed 2021 NRLW competition, with 16 tackle busts, 263 running metres and a try.

Breayley-Nati was full of praise for the youngster, heralding her as a future star of the women’s game.

“She’s doing things that an 18-year-old shouldn’t be able to do,” she said.

“She’s an amazing player and I hope that she just gets stronger.

“She’s going to do a lot, not just for the Titans, but women’s rugby league in general.”

The NRLW will continue on Sunday, with a double-header at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

Parramatta and Sydney will battle it out from midday local time after both clubs notched up strong wins last weekend, meanwhile, the Knights will be looking for their first win against the red-hot Dragons.

The Dragons are set to welcome back Kezie Apps, Talei Holmes, Madison Bartlett and Kody House this weekend while the Eels will be bolstered by the return of Rikeya Horne, Nita Maynard and Sereana Naitokatoka.

Originally published as NRLW 2022: Gold Coast Titans defeat Brisbane Broncos in first Queensland derby