NRLW Grand Final form guide: Knights vs. Titans burning issues, team news
Can the Knights avoid a second half fade-out? Do Gold Coast have enough big-game experience? PAMELA WHALEY answers the biggest grand final burning questions.
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The biggest ever NRLW season has come down to this.
Newcastle Knights will defend their premiership against the fast finishing Gold Coast Titans in Sunday’s decider at Accor Stadium.
Pamela Whaley runs the rule over the teams.
BURNING QUESTION 1
Can the Knights avoid a second half fade out?
Reigning premiers Newcastle have had an amazing season and lost just one game across the entire year, which means they’ve lost just two in their last 17 matches.
It’s an incredible record for the Knights who are backed by such passionate fans who showed out in a record NRLW crowd for Sunday’s semi-final win.
But if they’re going to start a dynasty with back-to-back premierships, they will need to show plenty of resilience against a mighty Titans side.
The Knights knocked the Broncos out in a 30-24 thriller at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday but it was too close for comfort.
They leaked four tries in the second half after leading 18-4 at halftime, and if it weren’t for three missed conversions from Broncos half Ali Brigginshaw, the game would have been sent into extra-time.
If they show any signs of clocking off on grand final day, the Titans will make them pay.
Titans half Lauren Brown has kicked two field goals this year to get her team across the line in a tight finish.
BURNING QUESTION 2
Do Gold Coast have enough big game experience to win a premiership to make sporting history?
No Gold Coast team has celebrated premiership success, and the Titans have made history by being the first team to even make a grand final – across any code.
There’s a lot riding on their shoulders this week, but they’ve been motivated by the phrase ‘gold for gold’ all season.
And that’s exactly what they’re going to do.
The biggest question mark on them is their lack of big game experience and whether they have what it takes to match this red hot Knights team.
There’s a lot of teenagers in the Titans side – Destiny Mino-Sinipati, Chantay Kiria-Ratu, Rilee Jorgensen and Sienna Lofipo – but the experience is there too.
Shannon Mato, Jessika Elliston, Steph Hancock and Brittany Breayley-Nati have all won an NRLW premiership at the Broncos, while Niall Williams has won Olympic silver and gold medals in the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Evania Pelite has also won gold at the Rio Olympics with the Australian Rugby Sevens team, and skipper Georgia Hale has played every season of the NRLW and is still at the top of her game.
They may have youth in key positions, but there’s enough stars here who know what it takes to win.
TEAM NEWS
The Knights have had a lucky season with injuries and will be full-strength for Sunday’s decider.
Star prop Caitlan Johnston is facing a one week suspension for a high tackle, but will take the early guilty plea and will be free to play with a $400 fine.
The Titans are also expected to line up unchanged from Sunday’s win over the Roosters.
Jillaroos and NSW star Taliah Fuimaono has been 18th person on the bench for the past two weeks as she recovers from an ankle injury, but has been a week-to-week prospect.
She’ll be assessed this week again leading into the grand final, but with no game time under her belt, it’ll be a big call to include her on the bench and change a winning side, if she is fit.
DOMINANT KNIGHTS SNUBBED IN NRLW DALLY M NOMINATIONS
They’ve been the best team of the NRLW season but minor premiers Newcastle are facing scarce reward for it at the Dally Ms.
Just four Knights players have been nominated in the team of the year, while fellow semi-finalists have more than double the number of nods ahead of Wednesday night’s event.
Gold Coast and Brisbane have the most nominations with eight players across all positions, while the Sydney Roosters have seven, including Dally M favourite, five-eighth Tarryn Aiken.
After losing just one game across the regular season, the Knights have only Sheridan Gallagher (winger), Shanice Parker (centre) Yasmin Clydsdale (second rower) as well as Tamika Upton (fullback) in contention for team of the year.
Teenage halfback Jesse Southwell is a notable omission, while their best chance for recognition is skipper Upton, who played every game for the reigning premiers.
She’s among the Dally M contenders, but biting at her heels is St George Illawarra No. 1 Teagan Berry, who finished the season as highest tryscorer.
‘The Flash’ scored 11 tries in nine games this year for the Dragons, and is a chance to win the Dally M medal, as well as try of the year after a wonderful season.
She’s one of two Dragons nominated for team of the year, with halfback Raecene McGregor also given the nod alongside Broncos skipper Ali Brigginshaw and Titans half Lauren Brown.
As a state, Queensland is in a position to sweep the awards with 17 team of the year nominations in total between the three clubs, including Emma Manzelmann (hooker) as the lone nominee for the Cowboys.
They have jagged another nomination through China Polata for rookie of the year, who is up against Rilee Jorgensen (Titans) and Annessa Biddle (Sharks) for the gong.
Broncos centre Mele Hufanga has been the standout NRLW debutant this season, but a difference in criteria for rookie of the year has eliminated her chance of the award.
To qualify for the NRLW rookie of the year, a player must be under 23 years of age and have played two consecutive years in a rugby league pathway, while Hufanga is 28 and has come across from rugby union this season.
However, all clubs are represented in the votes, with last-placed Eels earning just one nominee for Mahalia Murphy for second-rower of the year.
Canberra have the most representatives among the NRLW’s four new clubs with four players nominated, as well as Darren Borthwick up for coach of the year.
Knights coach Ronald Griffiths and Karyn Murphy at the Titans are also up for coach of the year.
It caps off a great season for the Titans who have gone from last year’s wooden spoon to third on the ladder at the end of the regular season.
Skipper Georgia Hale has been nominated for captain of the year too, along with Brigginshaw and Simaima Taufa.
DALLY M CATEGORIES
Fullback of the Year
Teagan Berry – Dragons
Evania Pelite – Titans
Tamika Upton – Knights
Winger of the Year (2 winners)
Jakiya Whitfeld – Tigers
Sheridan Gallagher – Knights
Julia Robinson – Broncos
Jayme Fressard – Roosters
Shakiah Tungai – Raiders
Destiny Mino-Sinapati – Titans
Centre of the Year (2 winners)
Annessa Biddle – Sharks
Mele Hufanga – Broncos
Jaime Chapman – Titans
Shanice Parker – Knights
Jessica Sergis – Roosters
Isabelle Kelly – Roosters
Five-Eighth of the Year
Gayle Broughton – Broncos
Tarryn Aiken – Roosters
Zahara Temara – Raiders
Halfback of the Year
Raecene McGregor – Dragons
Lauren Brown – Titans
Ali Brigginshaw – Broncos
Hooker of the Year
Destiny Brill – Broncos
Emma Manzelmann – Cowboys
Brittany Breayley-Nati – Titans
Prop of the Year (2 winners)
Ellie Johnston – Sharks
Millie Boyle – Roosters
Sarah Togatuki – Tigers
Jessika Elliston – Titans
Brianna Clark – Broncos
Shannon Mato – Titans
Second Row of the Year (2 winners)
Kezie Apps – Tigers
Shaylee Bent – Titans
Otesa Pule – Roosters
Olivia Kernick – Roosters
Yasmin Clydsdale – Knights
Mahalia Murphy – Eels
Lock of the Year
Mariah Denman – Broncos
Simaima Taufa – Raiders
Georgia Hale – Titans
Coach of the Year
Ronald Griffiths – Knights
Karyn Murphy – Titans
Darrin Borthwick – Raiders
Captain of the Year
Georgia Hale – Titans
Ali Brigginshaw – Broncos
Simaima Taufa – Raiders
Rookie of the Year
Annessa Biddle – Sharks
China Polata – Cowboys
Rilee Jorgensen – Titans
Try of the Year
Teagan Berry – Dragons
Leianne Tufuga – Tigers
Jesse Southwell – Knights
Tackle of the Year
Jakiya Whitfeld – Tigers
Rilee Jorgensen – Titans
Krystal Blackwell – Cowboys
Top Try Scorer
Teagan Berry – Dragons
Top Point Scorer
Ali Brigginshaw -Broncos
NRLW Provan-Summons Medal
Lavinia Gould – Broncos
Toni Hunt – Broncos
Rilee Jorgensen – Titans
Suspended players who are ineligible
Any player (NRL or NRLW) who has been suspended for two or more games throughout the year will be ineligible to win a Dally M award.
Mia Middleton
2 matches – Dangerous Throw (Grade 2)
Ashleigh Werner
2 matches – Dangerous Contact (Referred)
Kennedy Cherrington
4 matches – Dangerous Throw (Grade 3)
Mackenzie Weale
3 matches – Dangerous Contact (Grade 3)
Annetta-Claudia Nuuausala
3 matches – Dangerous Contact (Grade 3)
Pani Hopoate
3 matches – Dangerous Contact (Grade 3)
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