2025 NRL Schoolgirls Cup final live stream: Central Coast SC v Marsden SHS
Queensland cemented its status as the female powerhouse of junior rugby league after Marsden downed a spirited Central Coast to claim the NRL Schoolgirls Cup on Thursday. Watch the REPLAY.
Queensland cemented its status as the female powerhouse of junior rugby league after Marsden Sports High downed a spirited Central Coast Sports College to claim the NRL Schoolgirls Cup at Leichhardt Oval.
Dominant from the outset, the Shane Hammond-coached outfit piled on five tries in the 22-4 victory, becoming the third school from north of the border to lift the trophy since the competition’s inaugural season in 2023.
Star half Liliana Lewis locked in early. Riding high after blitzing Kirwan in the Queensland grand final last week, the Broncos recruit lit up the left edge to open the scoring, and it was 8-0 when wrecking ball centre Namoe Gesa powered over on the opposite side in the 14th minute.
Forced to defend for the majority of the opening half, the Coast girls stemmed the flow of points, and after knocking over hot favourites Westfields Sports to claim a maiden state title, they weren’t without hope at the break.
Hungry for points, the Brisbane girls rolled through the middle after the break and notched a third when hooker Enah Desic opened the door for Carayanidis Ta’akimoeaka to crash over for a 14-point advantage.
Rocked by the late withdrawal of rising Roosters fullback Mia Vaotuua, Central Coast struggled to mount pressure, but remained defiant and following repeat sets opened their account midway through the second half when Knights pathways centre Madison Massey slid over out wide.
But it was the Queenslanders who finished in style, charging to the title with late tries to Bulldogs rep Evelyn Roberts and backrower Sienna Ibrahim.
“We knew they were a physical side,” said Hammond.
“Ellie Brander is very powerful and led them from the front. We probably didn’t contain her very well at the start and they were on top of us, but we stuck to our plan and got through it.”
While Lewis was crowned player of the match and five-eighth Roberts the player of the year, Hammond was proud of the entire squad.
“There’s a bunch of our girls that aren’t actually signed to clubs,” he said, highlighting the benefits of the Logan schools program that transitioned from touch to tackle in 2018.
“Rosa-Millan Lefono was strong on our right edge, as was centre Namoe Gesa. They’ve been fantastic all year and have gone from strength to strength.
“A lot of the families made it down as well. Even just playing in a different stadium, playing against different girls, all of those things are just really valuable experiences for them.”
PREVIEW
Central Coast Sports College has been dealt a cruel blow with star fullback Mia Vaotuua ruled out on the eve of the NRL Schoolgirls Cup decider.
The NSW champions will clash with Queensland rivals Marsden State High in the national final at Leichhardt Oval on Thursday.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE PLAYERS TO WATCH
The Roosters NRLW development ace had attempted to overcome a leg injury to take her place in the final., but was forced to make the tough call on Wednesday afternoon.
Central Coast coach Blake Austin said it was a shattering moment for not only the star fullback, but the entire team.
“I’ve seen a lot of athletes chase their dreams and there’s not many that I’ve seen come close to working as hard as she does,” Austin said.
“She does that for moments like this, so she’s pretty upset.
“The only shining light for her is there’s a lot bigger things waiting for her. It seems like her world’s crashing down at the moment but there’s some bigger things to come.”
Austin was playing his cards close to his chest when it came to a replacement for the fullback, but did hint at a ‘unknown’ player getting her chance on the big stage.
“The thing with my girls is they’re a team that’s often underestimated,” he said.
“If they can hold their gloves up early and throw a couple of jabs, it just might be enough to say, “Hey, we’re not going anywhere, we are up for this fight.”
The loss of Vaotuua has strengthened Marsden’s mission to keep the national title on Queensland soil for the third-straight year.
Since its inception in 2023, the national title has belonged to Queensland sides, with the Makos determined to join Mabel Park and Ipswich as champions.
Marsden knocked off reigning champions Ipswich, before taking care of Keebra Park and Kirwan on their path to Thursday’s final.
While they have strike power across the field in the form of gifted halves Liliana Lewis and Evelyn Roberts and bulldozing backrowers Sienna Ibrahim and Deleni Paitai, Marsden’s success has been built on a bedrock of solid defence.
“In the last six weeks of football, the girls have conceded no more than one try per game,’’ coach Shane Hammond said. “They have bought into the review footage and stuck to our defensive plans each week.’’
PLAYERS TO WATCH
CENTRAL COAST SC
Mia Vaotuua
Phenomenal talent who took out top tryscorer honours in the Lisa Fiaola Cup two seasons running with the Central Coast Roosters. Dynamic fullback who is destined for greater things.
Ellie Brander
Uncompromising front rower who gives the Central Coast plenty of go-forward in the middle. No surprise that she’s already made her HNWP debut with the Roosters this season.
Makenna Hammond
City U17s representative who is another of the young brigade to feature in the HNWP. A genuine workhorse who is able to get her team onto the front foot with strong carries.
MARSDEN SHS
Liliana Lewis
There is no getting away from the fact that Lewis is Marsden’s trump in the pack. While the side has others, Lewis is the type of game managing halfback who can get her team over the line in a big match. She has been riding a crest of a wave since her return from stress fractures, having won three player of the match awards in the semi-final, SEQ grand final and the state grand final. A Broncos-signed schoolgirl of great temperament, Lewis is the type of kid who can handle the publicity associated with her football.
Enah Desic
An elite hooker, Desic’s running game is unmatched in the competition. Her presence takes pressure off her halves and gives Marsden a multi-pronged attacking formation. No hooker is better at taking advantage of momentum generated by her middle forwards that Desic. She is also an outstanding goal kicker and a desperate defender.
Carayanidis Ta’akimoeaka-Pulu
Marsden SHS’s drive toward success this season started right in the heart of the ruck where middle forwards Ta’akimoeaka-Pulu and Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell were powerhouses.
Again, the momentum generated by prop Ta’akimoeaka-Pulu and the aggressive Henry Purcell is crucial to giving hooker Desic and halves Lewis and Roberts the time and space needed to organise their edge attackers.
Originally published as 2025 NRL Schoolgirls Cup final live stream: Central Coast SC v Marsden SHS
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