NRLW grand final: Roosters reflect on heartbreaking defeat to a dominant Broncos team
IN the end, the Broncos were too good, too strong. Roosters captain Simaima Taufa fought back tears — but she knows her team left nothing behind in the inaugural NRLW grand final.
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HEARTBROKEN Sydney Roosters captain Simaima Taufa fought back tears after the NRLW Grand Final as the reality of going down in the inaugural decider sunk in.
The Brisbane Broncos dominated the three rounds of competition and they dominated the final taking the historic first premiership back to the Queensland capital after a thorough 34-12 victory.
It was a bruising game, played with grand final grit, and the Roosters knew they would need their best and a full 60-minute performance to win. In the end they could only go with the Broncos for 15 minutes.
Scores were level at 6-6 before the Broncos laid on two quick tries, first through Heather Ballinger, the second the hardest blow — a penalty try after winger Taleena Simon dislodged the ball from Kimiora Nati using her foot, sustaining an ankle sprain in the process.
They went on to tally 28 first half points and from there it was about rallying for the Roosters and ensuring they didn’t give up.
“Just not giving up and making the jersey proud,” an emotional Taufa said. “Digging in and working for each other and to make sure we leave it out on the field.
Broncos five-eighth Kimiora Nati scored a hat-trick of tries and took the Karyn Murphy Medal for player of the match in the process. She opened the scoring for the Broncos, then she claimed the penalty one 13 minutes later. Her third was the Broncos’ only four-pointer for the second half.
But it was the 28 first half points that put them in an unassailable position at the break and it proved too much for the Roosters to run down.
Forwards Heather Ballinger, Steph Hancock and Ngatokotoru Arakua laid a platform for the Brisbane playmakers in Brittany Breayley, Ali Brigginshaw and Kimiora Nati to go to work.
“As forwards you love a battle, it was very physical, but you’ve always got to be ready for the challenge,” said second-rower Tazmin Gray.
“As a whole engine room we try to do our best to get them on the back foot, which I think at the start of the game we did battle them, but we got caught out at the back end of the half.”
The Broncos made eight line-breaks and 45 tackle-breaks to the Roosters’ one and 24, and that dominance was turned into points on the scoreboard. They put the Roosters on the back foot and when it came time to attack themselves there was little left in the tank.
The Roosters had opened the scoring with a penalty kick and levelled at 6-6 through a try to Gray in the 11th minute. At that point they were going with their more favoured opponents. A few minutes later the momentum started to turn.
Ballinger crashed over, then the penalty try and there were two more — to Arakua and Lavinia Gould — before halftime sounded.
Each side would cross just one more time in the second half; Roosters five-eighth Lavina O’Mealey went herself under the posts with 16 minutes left in the game. Nati added the Broncos’ extra in the 46th.
It was fitting reward for the Brisbane side that had gone through the three round games undefeated to finish without a loss.
“We were beaten by a better team on the day,” said retiring Roosters forward Kylie Hilder. “We know that and we realise that.
“As upset as we are, we also know that we didn’t play our best football, so you can’t be too upset when you know you haven’t done your job properly out there.
“We had a good start and were really confident then it was just a couple of silly mistakes on our behalf and we gave them opportunities and they took their opportunities.
“Suddenly the ball started rolling the other way. Halftime we just wanted to get some pride back in the jersey and get out there and play some footy and it was only six-all in the second half.”
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