The NRLW continues tonight with the Brisbane Broncos taking on the New Zealand Warriors at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:05pm AEST.
It seems no time since it started, but we have reached the final round of the regular NRLW season. The Brisbane Broncos have effectively booked their place in the grand final. For the Warriors, only a win will keep their season alive and that may prove to be not enough.
After a raft of changes from last season, the Broncos were expected to struggle this season. The reality has been completely different, and they are now hot favourites to go back to back in the NRLW.
Last week against the Roosters, the Broncos pack, led up front by Millie Boyle and Amber Hall, dominated the yardage battle.
Lavinia Gould has been a revelation at hooker and, between her and Ali Brigginshaw, this Broncos team has plenty of points in them.
Tamika Upton has been named on the wing after a week off with a leg injury. Meg Ward shifts back to the reserves list in an otherwise unchanged line-up.
The Warriors got their season off to a good start after a win against the Roosters. However, the Dragons brought them back to earth last weekend, winning 26-6 in Auckland.
With Honey Hireme still on the sidelines, the Warriors have been heavily reliant on their pack this season to win games.
Annette Nuuausala has stood tall in this regard, making plenty of yards through the middle. Unfortunately, this has rarely translated into points.
Madison Bartlett, Amber Kani and Tasia Seumanufagai all return to the 17 in a welcome boost to the Warriors. Honey Hireme has been named in the reserves but is at long odds to play.
Prediction
The Broncos are firming as premiership favourites and I expect them to keep their unbeaten run alive this afternoon.
The Warriors are playing for their season but the Broncos will have too much class.
Broncos by 12
When: 5.05pm AEST
Where: Sydney Cricket Ground
TV: 9GEM, Fox League
Online: Livepass, Kayo
Brisbane Broncos
1. Chelsea Baker 2. Julia Robinson 3. Amy Turner 4. Amber Pilley 5. Tamika Upton 6. Raecene McGregor 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Millie Boyle 9. Lavinia Gould 10. Amber Hall 11. Annette Brander 12. Tazmin Gray 13. Rona Peters
Interchange: 14. Tarryn Aiken 15. Steph Hancock 16. Mariah Storch 17. Chelsea Lenarduzzi
New Zealand Warriors
1. Apii Nicholls 2. Hilda Mariu 3. Atawhai Tupaea 4. Jules Newman 5. Madison Bartlett 6. Timaima Ravisa 7. Charntay Poko 8. Annetta Nuuausala 9. Krystal Rota 10. Aieshaleigh Smalley 11. Kathleen Wharton 12. Crystal Tamarua 13. Georgia Hale
Interchange: 14. Kanyon Paul 15. Tasia Seumanufagai 16. Billy-Jean Ale 17. Amber Kani
thomas c
Guest
The warriors managed to keep the broncos forwards at bay and didn't make the same regular errors as some of the other team. They seemed to hold up better physically for the full 60 minutes as well. It's possible that the broncos might have only been at 90% given having basically made the finals. Some poor ref calls. The final strip penalty was diabolical, but there were some earlier ones that seemed questionable (an apparent dropped ball ruled a strip, instances where the marker wasn't called out initially).
David Holden
Roar Guru
Hope you enjoyed the call. Huge game coming up in the NRL with the Roosters and Storm matching up in what most people thought would be the grand final. Good night
David Holden
Roar Guru
FT' St George need to beat a Roosters team desperate to end their season on the high. If the Dragons can't get the 2 points, these two teams will play again next week
David Holden
Roar Guru
FT' Despite the Warriors kicking game going AWOL in the second half, their scramble defence was top notch and the Broncos couldn't score again
David Holden
Roar Guru
FT' The Broncos started the second half well and only a poor missed conversion attempt from Chelsea Baker prevented Brisbane from levelling this up with plenty of time on the clock Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
FT. The Broncos have suffered their first loss in NRLW, with the Warriors hanging on for a 10-8 win at the SCG. The Dragons now need to beat the Roosters tomorrow to make the grand final Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Well that was unexpected. Good stuff Warriors! Thanks for the call David.
David Holden
Roar Guru
60' Rota gets the ball to Hale who settles it. Nuuausala rumbles it forward. Warriors kick on the last. Upton can't control it. The Warriors go close but can't score. However, it doesn't matter as it is full time and the Warriors have hung on to score a 10-8 win Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
M20
Guest
Ref called held a little too quick there
David Holden
Roar Guru
59' Pilley penalised for a strip and the Warriors will look to wind the clock down Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
58' Aiken darts from dummy half. Pilley grubbers through and Nicholls has it 2 metres out Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
57' Good run from Nuuausala. Poko's bomb is taken well by Baker but she is quickly wrapped up Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
56' Pilley hit hard by Nuuausala. Brigginshaw regathers her own kick and they go right but Robinson is taken about 10m out. The Warriors are hanging on well Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
55' Paul gets a good offload to Ale. Warriors go left on last play and Nicholls kick is diffused Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
54' Great dummy half run from Upton. Mcgregor's chip is taken by Bartlett Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
53' Rota makes a line break and goes 50m. Poko's kick hits the upright and Baker has it Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
52' Brigginshaw with short ball to Boyle. Storch is within 10m. Peters gets offload to Boyle but she can't get the ball down and its a changeover Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
51' Poko chips on the last but can't regather. Upton has it Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
50' Hall takes it to the 20m line. Robinson does well to stay in. McGregor's kick is taken by Nicholls who makes a great run Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10
David Holden
Roar Guru
49' McGregor finds Gray who busts some tackles. McGregor's kick is good and Nicholls is forced to kick it dead. Repeat set for the Broncos Brisbane Broncos 8 Warriors 10