NRLW finals: Biggest storylines coming into semi-finals, Millie Elliott and Roosters out to avenge 2023 disappointment
From try scoring records on the verge of being broken, to star players racing the clock to be fit to play, there’s plenty of stories still to ride out this NRLW season. Hear from the players and see the biggest storylines ahead of NRLW finals.
Sydney Roosters star Millie Elliott only knows one speed.
And she’s gunning full throttle towards another shot at the NRLW title on Sunday.
The three-time NRLW premiership winner has lifted the trophy twice with Brisbane in 2019 and 2020 and once with Newcastle in 2022.
But losing last year’s semi-final 12-0 to the Gold Coast was a shock that still burns.
“Absolutely, it feels like it was just yesterday,” she says ahead of Sunday’s sudden-death final against the Knights at Allianz Stadium.
It’s one of two NRLW finals on Sunday, with minor premiers Brisbane hosting competition newcomers Cronulla at Totally Workwear Stadium.
“We all carry that feeling. We know what we’re playing for, and what the stakes are.”
The Roosters are the kind of club that expects to be playing in grand finals every season and they have the stacked roster to do it.
Last year’s loss was a huge disappointment.
It was the second season in a row the Roosters were bounced out of the semi-finals despite finishing in the top two.
There is a lingering sense they’ve underachieved for two years now and they’re desperate not to make it three.
“It’s means everything,” Elliott continues.
“We’ve been building all season, but also last year as well and going down in the semi.
“We’ve got a very similar squad and we we’ve all been through that together and we’ve all felt that.
“It would mean a lot to me and also for all of the girls here.”
SLAYING THE CHAMPS
It’s the match-up of the season, fuelled by a simmering rivalry that has brewed between the Knights and Roosters for the past four years.
Former players of both clubs are littered across both teams, but ex-Knights skipper Elliott is the highest profile.
Newcastle stars Hannah Southwell, Yasmin Clydsdale, Olivia Higgins and Tayla Predebon all won a competition with the Roosters in 2021 before making the leap up north.
While Knights winger Jasmin Strange and lock Tiana Davison have followed Elliott to the Roosters.
The rivalry is personal and fierce.
“There is that rivalry there, but there’s a great respect there too,” Southwell says.
“They’ve done really well this year, and I think they’d say the same thing about us. It’s great that we’re facing off, I’d like it to be in a grand final, but that’s OK, it can be a semi-final.”
So good is the match up it was picked to open the season, with the Knights winning a 12-10 slog in Newcastle.
It’s only fitting the season will end the same way for one side on Sunday.
THE UPTON FACTOR
For Elliott it means facing her close friend and the game’s best player, Tamika Upton.
The Knights fullback has won four premierships (two with Elliott at Brisbane), a Dally M Medal and two Karyn Murphy Medals.
She’s come alive in the second half of the NRLW season with seven try-assists in three games and is the most dangerous player on any field in the women’s game.
“When she’s there it’s like she’s two players and you’ve got to double up on her in defence, because she can be anywhere on the field,” Elliott says.
“She just reads the game so well.
“You know, I feel like a lot of people put her on a pedestal, but she deserves it.
“She plays such great footy.
“She’s such a humble girl and she just wants the best for her team, so she does a really good job at what she does. But we’re coming for her.”
INJURY ODDS
Horror injuries have hit across the entire NRLW this season.
Broncos winger Stacey Waaka will miss the rest of the season with a broken leg after scoring six tries in as many games.
Cronulla fullback Jada Taylor has been sidelined since round two with an ACL injury, and the Knights are without inspirational forward Caitlan Johnston-Green to an MCL injury.
But out of the final four, the Roosters have copped the worst of it.
Skipper Isabelle Kelly is nursing an elbow injury after suffering a dislocation against Parramatta in the final round, while representative duo Jess Sergis (knee) and Tarryn Aiken (shoulder) are long odds to return on Sunday.
It’s been one after the other since fullback Corban Baxter suffered an ACL injury in the pre-season.
“Compared to last year we really struggled when we didn’t have those players on the park and this year we’ve had to have a lot more of those grittier wins and games,” Elliott says.
“We’ve really worked on having that depth in every position. Everyone’s got a couple of positions that they can play and everyone’s willing to put the team first and have that mentality that we need to do what we need to win.”
SIX THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN THE NRLW SEMI-FINALS
1. Roosters skipper Isabelle Kelly
The NSW and Roosters captain is one of the toughest in the game, but she’s at long odds to face the Knights on Sunday after dislocating her elbow against Parramatta last weekend. She hasn’t trained all week. She’s played through injury before, though. In Origin II last year she backed up after a scary throat injury in the series opener. If she fails to take the field on Sunday it will be the first game she’s missed for the Roosters in six seasons with the club.
2. Amber’s rampage
Roosters prop Amber Hall has made a habit of taking on a fullback in the defensive line, more often than not barrelling them over to score. Watch out, Tamika Upton. If she’s short next to the ruck, usually underneath the posts, she’s more likely than not to score (as she has done several times this season).
3. Records to break
Knights winger Sheridan Gallagher Broncos star Julia Robinson have both scored nine tries this season, the equal most in the competition. They both need two to equal Teagan Berry’s record for most 11 tries in a season. Gallagher has scored a double twice this season, as well as a hat trick against the Titans in round 8. Robinson has also scored two doubles, including one against the Dragons last weekend.
4. Broncos’ left edge
Speaking of Robinson, the Queensland and Australia star is having one of her best seasons in the NRLW. Part of the reason is the firing left edge combination of herself, Mele Hufanga and Gayle Broughton. The Broncos lead the competition with 52 tries for the season, and 21 of those have been through the left channel. It’s been huge for Robinson, who leads the league with run metres (1890) and tacklebusts (68). She’s also created an NRLW record of her own with a linebreak in each of the nine games this year.
5. Undefeated champs
The Knights haven’t had a perfect season but they’re perfect in the finals so far. They’re won four straight finals games across the past two seasons, and have not lost at this level yet.
6. Rookie revelation
Cronulla centre Annessa Biddle was the breakout star of 2023 and she’s gone to a new level again this year. She leads the competition for post contact metres (741). She’s matching it with the game’s biggest stars, sitting third on 1453 metres behind Isabelle Kelly and Julia Robinson for most run metres in the comp this year.
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