Brisbane Broncos defeat Sydney Roosters to win NRLW premiership, wild fight after full-time
Brisbane’s NRLW grand final triumph was overshadowed by a wild all-in scuffle at full-time, with a Sydney Roosters forward set to miss the start of next season for her involvement.
Sydney Roosters forward Aliyah Nasio looks set to miss the start of next NRLW season after being referred directly to judiciary for throwing punches in an ugly end to Sunday’s NRLW grand final.
The match review committee has come down hard on the rising Roosters forward with a grade three striking charge for a brain snap on the full-time siren after a tense loss to Brisbane, punching Broncos centre Julia Robinson.
There was some suggestion Robinson had broken her nose.
The incident sparked a melee on the field as the Broncos celebrated their 22-18 win over the Roosters, their first premiership since 2020.
Players were seen pushing and pulling each other to break up the fight, which lasted only a few seconds after the siren.
The judiciary could come down hard on Nasio who also missed the Roosters preliminary final win over Cronulla for a shoulder charge on Jada Ferguson in the last round of the season.
On Monday ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said he had no issue with the dramatic finish to the game, which Broncos coach Scott Prince said had no place in the game.
“No concerns, I love the passion,” V’landys said at the announcement of the Jillaroos squad on Monday morning.
Nasio was the only player charged for the melee, while Roosters second-rower Jasmin Strange is also looking at a one-week suspension or $400 fine for tripping Broncos five-eighth Gayle Broughton in the eighth minute of Sunday’s loss.
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Tempers flared as the siren blew in the best NRLW decider yet after star Brisbane centre Mele Hufanga scored the matchwinner with three minutes on the clock.
Hufanga, who will join the New Zealand Warriors next season, was awarded the Karyn Murphy Medal for player on the field in her last game in a Broncos jersey.
Trailing 18-16, Hufanga produced the most important of her 18 tackle busts for the game to storm over and score a brilliant solo try that ended an incredible fightback from the previously undefeated Roosters, who had won their last 18 games heading into the decider.
To make matters worse, Roosters coach John Strange was convinced it wasn’t a try.
“There’s probably a bit of guess work,” Strange said.
“(Referee) Belinda (Sharpe) was always going to send it up as a try, and then it’s probably hard to overturn from there.
“It is what it is, the decision was made on the run and then they had a look at it. The girls in there said they had their hands under the ball, so it didn’t touch.”
FULL-TIME BRAWL
As Brisbane secured their fourth NRLW premiership, a melee broke out on full-time that the NRL’s match review committee will want a second look at.
While half the Broncos began celebrating, the other half had to hold back some Roosters rivals, after Tricolours back-rower Aliya Nasio and Broncos centre Julia Robinson exchanged punches.
Once tensions eased, Robinson could be seen with a cut lip and blood streaming from her nose and mouth.
It could have consequences for Robinson who is almost sure to be named in the Jillaroos side for the Pacific Championships on Monday.
“We’re not going to comment except to say it’s not ideal from our point of view,” said Broncos coach Scott Prince, who said his first NRLW title was better than the premiership he won with Wests Tigers in 2005.
“There’s no place in the game for that.”
UPTON GIRL
The flashpoint was a blip at the end of the epic encounter, which was a record-breaking afternoon for Tamika Upton who became the first player to win five NRLW grand finals with a perfect strike rate.
It’s the fourth title for the Broncos and their first since 2020, Upton’s return this season revived the Queensland powerhouse as she amassed almost every accolade and record the game has to offer.
The highest tryscorer, the first to win two Dally M Medals and five premierships, while the Broncos broke records for best-ever attack and defence in an NRLW season.
“Each time it’s a longer season, the standard is getting better and better and pre-season you work so hard, you come together as a group and Princey had his vision and I feel like it’s been so long since we first started,” Upton said.
“After the game finishes you think about those times we went through as a team and how you got through it, and we built our season on that week by week.
“I’m very overwhelmed, very grateful and proud of the team.”
BRONCOS’ HOT START
Brisbane jumped out to a 12-0 halftime lead with their stingy defence on full display. The Roosters were forced into an early change when fullback Brydie Parker had a nasty head clash with Broncos secondrower Romy Teitzel.
While she was off, the Broncos built a 12-0 lead.
But 10 minutes into the second half, Parker showed no ill-effects from the head knock as she showed some fast footwork to get around Hufanga and sprint 50m down the touch line to score in the corner.
Eliza Lopamaua showed brute strength to score five minutes later, before Mia Wood gave the Roosters the lead for the first time.
A CRAZY FINISH
It was a brave fightback from the Roosters but it came at a cost. Star forwards Keeley Davis and Rima Butler both finished the game with swollen faces after a nasty head clash in the dying minutes.
Isabelle Kelly also needed treatment on an ankle injury.
The Broncos’ NRLW rookie of the year Shalom Sauaso scored with nine minutes to go before Hufanga put the result to bed.
The Broncos will be a good chance to go back to back next year with incoming NSW halfback Jesse Southwell joining them from Newcastle in 2026.
Originally published as Brisbane Broncos defeat Sydney Roosters to win NRLW premiership, wild fight after full-time
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