Summary
Cometh the hour, cometh the men.
Without Graham and Gallen, shorn of Dugan and then Feki, you had the residual feeling that it would take something very special from the Sharks to win this one, tonight.
As if to presume that any of those in light blue tonight had actual agency over a match that seemed long ago to have been pre-determined in the stars.
Because as long as there is Cameron Smith, and there is Billy Slater on a footy field, in this kind of mood, what chance does any opposition realistically ever have?
Not to undersell the collective effort from the Storm, who in fairness didn’t have a single chink in their misery defence tonight; with every man in purple performing admirably.
But when it came to the key moments; the tiny intangibles, it was Smith, it was Slater, and it was Melbourne Storm who point blank refused to allow the Sharks to get a run going in this game.
How different it all could have been though after one massive, massive moment in the 14th minute – when a shoulder-charge from Slater prevented Feki from scoring for the Sharks.
It looms as the biggest post-match decision for the NRL match committee; which could see the veteran star finish his decorated career serving out a suspension, and sitting out a fairytale grand final swansong.
It would be a bitter subscript to an otherwise near-flawless showing from the three-time premiers, who look to become the first side in the 21st Century to win back-to-back shields.
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Full-time: Melbourne 22-6 Cronulla
And that’s all she wrote! The Storm players celebrate – for seemingly the 57th time this decade, they’re through to a NRL grand final!
Cameron Smith shares a moment with Luke Lewis; Andrew Fifita congratulates Billy Slater. For all the talk about the animosity pre-game between these two clubs it’s nice to see those touches after the whistle.
The Storm – too good on the night, as the Sharks suffered one injury too many, one missed opportunity too many, and were made to pay in the most utterly ruthless fashion.
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78 min: Leutele tries to find space on the Storm right-edge, but he’s finished his night how he started it; with an error.
A close up of a very long-faced Cronulla bench. He’s not the prettiest of humans at the best of times, Paul Gallen, but he’s got a face like a dropped pie right about now.
76 min: It’s another poor final ball kick selection from Townsend, as he chips into goal, but Slater anticipates it early, and drops to collect easily.
They look to finish the game on attack again the Storm, but Smith puts a quintessentially Smith kick into touch to eat up another few minutes, and keep the temperature tepid.
74 min: The Sharks feeling aggrieved once again, as Bukuya wins a one-on-one strip with his opposite number, only to be punished for a knock on.
It’s another of those line-ball calls, that if you’re a Sharks fan you’d argue have gone against you all night.
72 min: Ach. Tough one on Holmes, as the Sharks are pinged for offside, with the fullback rejoining a play after being ahead of the ball carrier.
That’s snuffed any chance of momentum.
Terrific work from Munster, surely they’re not going to hurt them again?! Addo-Carr with an acrobatic leap for the corner - he’s flown like Julia Robinson in the earlier NRLW game (see below) but unfortunately he’s hit the sideline in goal.
Would have been a spectacular try, that’s for sure.
Try! Melbourne 22-6 Cronulla (Lewis)
70 min: Well at least one small consolation, for a guy who’s absolutely sweated his heart out there tonight. Paulo causing some trouble running at the Storm line, and when he offloaded to Lewis you just knew he had no thoughts but to barge over.
Terrific reward for the veteran, not that he’ll care much at this stage.
Is there enough time for some late drama here?
66 min: Addo-Carr covers well at the back, but they’ve forced a repeat six, here the Sharks with a clever improvised final play ball back inside.
Moylan attacks the line, surely the Storm can’t hold them out for 80?
Penalty! Melbourne 22-0 Cronulla
63 min: He tortured flies as a kid, didn’t he, Cam Smith?
It’s death of a thousand Cam Smiths here, as the Storm add another two after Ramien is penalised for taking out Slater without the ball, and the skipper points to the sticks and then takes his sweet time about the kick. As is his prerogative.
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61 min: Segeyaro with an attempted 40-20. Not a bad shout that, and he wasn’t a million miles away from it, the interchange man, but the Storm defence cleans up.
Now a forward pass is called against the Sharks. Melbourne with the feed inside Cronulla’s half. If they go in here, the Storm, it is absolutely certainly all looking a bit WorkChoices under Tony Abbott for the visitors. Dead, buried, cremated.
59 min: You don’t want to rag on a bunch of players that are clearly trying their hardest; but they seem bereft at the moment, the Sharks.
Bereft of ideas; bereft of composure; bereft of confidence.
57 min: That’s a better set piece from Cronulla, who almost put a steaming Scott Sorensen into a gap. They probe with another towering cross-field bomb, and Lee rises high once more.
But it’s almost a counterattack from Addo-Carr! Desperate fingertip tackle from Ramien prevents a 90m bust from the flying winger.
54 min: Ramien with a half bust as he almost gets outside Scott. Now it’s Holmes with metres up the centre – but they’ve forced the pass once again; Paulo’s offload not held, and the home crowd roars their delight.
Good tackle on Croft who spills the ball. The Sharks now have it once more, but they’re bringing out from 30m from their own line.
51 min: They boast the second best defence in the league, the Storm, and watching this past five minutes you can tell why. Brilliant goalline organisation, and they’ve prevented a Sharks unit that’s huffed and puffed.
Munster with a pressure-relieving kick, and now it’s the Sharks from well-inside their own half.
49 min: Cronulla starting to enjoy a bit more possession this half, but the Storm defence hasn’t been too overly concerned. Despite Moylan and Townsend’s strong understanding this season, it’s all been a bit frantic tonight, and dare you suggest disorganised.
Melbourne concede another penalty; they know the Sharks won’t take the two, so some good “game management” to break the momentum and reset after a breather.
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47 min: Munster with a huge step to break the line, and they’ve only just hung on, the Sharks. Slater eyeing getting round the edge of Moylan, once again, but the five-eight just manages to drag him down by the collar.
They go on the attack again the Sharks – they’ve been Harlem Globetrotters this second half, but a lot of forced offloads, a lot of risky passes, and it ends to no avail on this occasion once more.
45 min: Big scare for Holmes at the back – a difficult bouncing kick almost embarrasses the fullback. But they don’t turn the screws on this occasion, the Storm.
Slater is caught in a tackle, and the fans are calling it a crusher tackle from Prior and Fifita. Possibly copped a finger in the eye as well for his troubles.
No try!
Yowee. They’ve been awarded a try on the field, the Sharks, but the video men upstairs have taken it away! Townsend with a bombing bomb, Lee rises well and batts inside for Ramien who grounds – but after an extensive look, he’s adjudged to have knocked it forward!
Let off for the Storm!
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42 min: An early penalty against the Storm – Croft penalised for a hand on the ball. Can they get some points on the board here, Cronulla-Sutherland?
Moylan and Lewis probe the line, Fifita with a big carry and offload, but it’s sloppy stuff. Again they hit the makeshift left winger, but he’s run out of territory, Capewell.
They go to the air – what can they muster?
Second half!
And we’re back underway, what can the Sharks string together now.
The Storm receive the kick and it’s a pretty straightforward set. In fairness, they don’t have to over-gild it at this stage.
And for anyone thinking this game is almost dead and buried by half-time, it’s not much better an equation just down the road at the MCG, where it appears the Tigers are on the wrong end of a shellacking, so far.
What a treat for fans of seeing a beaming Eddie McGuire on the television!
A fair bit of chat in the commentary box at half-time over that try-saving “tackle” from Billy Slater on Sosaia Feki.
It’s a shoulder charge, plain and simple, and you’d imagine, it has to be reviewed by the match committee. League legend Mal Meninga effectively begs the authorities not to rub Slater out from the final (assuming Storm win this game), but by the letter of the law, it’s an illegal act, and a professional foul.
Murky, murky waters, and what a headache for the NRL big dogs to navigate.
And so, the $69,000 question:
How do they turn this one around, Cronulla?
Your thoughts on that opening stanza? Where was it lost; where was it won? And is this match a fait accompli now?
Half-time: Melbourne 20-0 Cronulla
Who would be an NRL coach. If you’re Shane Flanagan, you’re wondering what on Jesu’s sweet kingdom just happened to your footy team.
It’s a forty you’d never want to look back and watch again, in which the Melbourne Storm have just punished absolutely every little half-moment they could.
Fifita looks like a man about to shoot fire out the nostrils. They’re incredibly frustrated, the Sharks, and you can understand why.
Try! Melbourne 20-0 Cronulla (Slater)
40 min: Oh dear, oh dear. The camel’s back has well and truly snapped here.
Huge indiscipline from Fifita who gets caught up in a push-and-shove with Kenny Bromwell. They’re at sixes and sevens here, the Sharks, and meanwhile – with about five players getting caught up in a melee, Smith and Slater have combined to run in another one!
Poor from the markers, Smith puts a little grubber on while the Sharks defenders are distracted by the biff, and the two calmest heads on the pitch combine to finish this match inside 40!
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39 min: They switch wide, and oh no – they fire for the corner flag, but it’s Capewell who goes into touch just agonisingly short!
It’s the opportunity that a natural left winger would finish with aplomb, but you’ll remember, with Feki limping out injured, it’s the second rower deputising out wide.
Such a crucial moment for the Sharks to gain some momentum going into the half.
36 min: Here we go, here we go. Townsend with a much better kick; it’s swirled and turned Slater inside out; and finally – an error from the veteran!
A knock on just 5m out. And now a penalty for being inside the ten.
Big. Set. Of. Six. Here.
33 min: A sloppy play the ball from Vunivalu, and could this be a glimmer of hope for the Sharks just before half-time?
They need to mount a terrific set of six here. Fifita charges up the guts, and frees the arms for the offload – Brailey gets hold of it, and he’s pulled down inside a metre short of the line! How close is that!
They play wide, and put it on the toe, but who’s there to clean up? Slater to defuse the kick, and he brings it back into the field of play.
It’s all coming up Milhouse for the Victorian side!
Try! Melbourne 14-0 Cronulla (Slater)
29 min: Wowee. That’s a real kick in the teeth for Sharks fans. A very tidy set move, Munster with good ball movement, but it’s the angled run from Slater, who gets outside Moylan and slice through to cross near the corner.
Smith with the conversion – it kisses the post, but in keeping with their fortunes tonight, it glides through! A shake of the head, in relief, but they go outside two converted tries ahead, the Storm.
28 min: A bit of niggle in this one already.
Slater with a mistake at the play the ball, but the refs’ have allowed him to play it again, to the angry of the Sharks big men.
And in quick succession a penalty – again for inside the ten! A tough little patch.
26 min: He almost makes amends, Fifita. Great defence and the Sharks line remains intact. It’s a steadier set, and Townsend finishes with a rolled kick into touch, about 15m out from the Storm line.
25 min: Penalty against Fifita for a push on Asofa-Solomona after the play-the-ball. A bit of ill-discipline, and it’s cost his team. He was complaining of a raised arm but the massive Storm ball-carrier. Nothing much in that.
Now the Storm with another chance to attack. If they go in here, surely it’s almost curtains, even this early on, no?
22 min: Penalty against Vunivalu who contests a leap against Feki. He’s stayed down, the winger, who clutches his shoulder. It’s not looking pretty as he hobbles to the sideline.
This would be a disaster for Sharks fans – and it’s Scott Sorensen into the fray, and now a major reschuffle. Capewell, the second rower, moves to the wing!
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Try! Melbourne 8-0 Cronulla (Croft)
20 min: Fine work from Kaufusi, he steps inside his defender, gets away the offload, and who’s backing up down the guts – it’s Billy the Kid! Slater finds the halfback inside him, and the youngster crosses for the try! Just the seventh of his career.
No mistake with the boot from Smith.
You’d be a happy man if you’re in the Storm coaching box, so far. A very tidy scoreboard reflection with the first quarter gone.
18 min: Ooph. A massive first hit from Prior who lines up the runner Finucane.
Storm swing wide, but as it flies through the hands its adjudged to have gone forward. Luke Lewis up in the grill of the referee, not sure what the complaint is, but he’s really unhappy. 3-1 is the early penalty count, and in fairness they’ve earned the ones they’ve had awarded against them, the Sharks.
16 min: Just a penalty, but hopefully there aren’t any suspension carry over points looming over the veteran fullback.
The Sharks with a chance, but it’s Moylan with the handling error. A very big let-off here, and you don’t imagine they can squander too many of those.
And now a penalty against Cronulla. Ouch. Opportunity well and truly over.
14 min: They’re not quite firing, the Shark’s halves with their early kicking. Not quite co-ordinating the chase with the final kick selection, as Slater comfortably defuses a bomb, without any contest.
A chance to run here, and they look to spread wide – it’s fine hands from Moylan and it’s Feki spearing for the corner flag, but he’s stopped in his track by Slater!
Ooph. Replays suggest it’s a shoulder charge; could he be in trouble, the fullback? Would be one hell of an awful way to finish his NRL career!
12 min: Glasby is down again; could be a rib problem. Not a good look for home fans, and it could be an early entry from Asofa-Solomona off the bench.
Holmes collects a little grubber, and almost sparks an immediate counter-attack. He’s just caught by Chambers – that could have been costly for the Storm!
Good field position here, Sharks. What can they muster?
10 min: Addo-Carr with his first chance to run, sheesh, you don’t want to give this man too much space. They wrap him up eventually, do the Sharks.
Lee collects a deep kick, before Fifita runs into a wall of purple. Townsend looks to fire a long kick in response, but it’s straight down the throat of Slater, and once again, they bring it out far too comfortably, the Storm.
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8 min: Lewis puts one on the boot and it bounces wickedly over the head of Slater, but the chase isn’t organised, so no risk of a repeat set. Gee he’s started sharply the skipper for the night – at the heart of everything for the Sharks, and he sucks in some early big breaths.
Holmes defuses the bombed effort well – we’ve started a break-neck speed so far. Glasby with a slight knock but hopefully it’s just an early winding, rather than an injury.
6 min: Holmes drives deep with the restart, and again the Storm carry from their own line.
Munster with a show-and-go, and almost glides through the line. Good metres here, and the crowd comes to life with the first appearance of Billy Slater. Good defence from Woods who wraps him up, and that’s the end of the set.
Penalty! Melbourne 2-0 Cronulla
4 min: Ach. And now a penalty, against the Sharks. And Cameron Smith takes no time before pointing to the sticks. A nice little cooler from that fierce Cronulla opening – he’ll take his time, lower the temperature a little and help himself to a very easy two.
No mistake.
2 min: And it’s Billy Slater getting a fair working over by Lewis; and he’s put another big hit on early. Do you reckon he wants to lead from the front tonight?
Big defensive six from the visitors, and they bring the ball back from comfortably inside their own half, but all that good work is undone! Leutele has spilled one – he’s seen some big blocks of purple running at him hard, and the eyes have come off the pill!
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Pffffffft! First half
A huge roar from the crowd, and we’re underway! Storm kickoff, and launch it deep, and it’s Woods with the first carry, in his first ever start for the Sharks.
Glasby up in the face of Fififa, watch that individual battle unfold tonight. Now Lewis with a carry – the experienced heads making the early running.
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Now we’re not a million miles away from kickoff down at AAMI Park, in fact here come the Sharks as they’re led out by Luke Lewis.
We’ve spoken about the absence of Gallen, but not a bad replacement for the armband tonight – don’t forget he was the Clive Churchill medallist when Cronulla won that memorable grand final over tonight’s opponents in 2016.
A bit of a wait out on the pitch now for the visitors – Cam Smith is still in the sheds briefing his troops. Do you reckon that’s an accident? Absolutely no chance.
A bit of theatre, a bit of niggle. You won’t want to be carrying the first hit up in purple tonight, you’d imagine.
And finally, now the Storm have joined us out on the pitch, in front of a packed AAMI Park. Looks a bit different from the old Melbourne Heart days, that’s for sure.
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Now, it is of course preliminary finals night in the AFL tonight as well. Obviously the more engrossing clash will be happening here, but if you fancy it, feel free to cast the eyes across this one as well:
Geoff Lemon is your man-with-the-plan down in Melb-Vegas as the Tigers and Magpies go head to head. Hardly seems a fair fight, does it – they wouldn’t last a minute in the wild, those black and white birds.
I mean, you don’t care to write them off, especially now that they’re buoyed by the enduring love of new prime minister Scott “Sharkies” Morrison, the boys from the Shire, but on those two 17s alone; well.. they’ll need absolutely every man at their best tonight.
Don’t forget they did enjoy the double over the Storm this season; but without Gallen or Graham the odds of a three-peat are heavily diminished. Aaron Woods though – that’s one hell of a “replacement” forward to bring in to your starting XIII.
What do you reckon – Storm with too much tonight? The “ghost of Gal” enough to inspire those in light blue?
Send your best predictions, pre-whistle musings and premonitions to join the conversation: via email, or twitter.
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Without further ado, your respective teams for tonight:
Storm:
Slater, Vunivalu, Chambers, Scott, Addo-Carr, Munster, Croft, J. Bromwich, C. Smith (c), Glasby, Kaufusi, Stimson, Finucane
Interchange: K. Bromwich, Welch, Asofa-Solomona, B. Smith
Sharks:
Holmes, Feki, Ramien, Leutele, Lee, Moylan, Townsend, Fifita, Brailey, Prior, Lewis (c), Capewell, Woods
Interchange: Sorensen, Segeyaro, Bukuya, Paulo
Joseph Paulo the benefactor of the eleventh hour scratching of Paul Gallen, no Josh Dugan either, you’ll note (as well as Wade Graham who remains out).
Conversely, for the Storm two huge boosts, with the returns of Will Chambers who slots straight back in in the centres, and human wrecking ball, Nelson Asofa-Solomona who earns a spot on the pine.
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Righty, right.
We’ve seen one belting game of league today already, but there’s a fair bit of feeling for this one – a new grudge match of sorts, lessened only a fraction by the absence of Captain Niggle himself, Paul Gallen.
Standing in as captain Luke Lewis hasn’t played down the feeling between these two, asked if things could boil over tonight the veteran backrower, didn’t blink before responding “they’re every chance”. Effectively an unequivocal yes, then.
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We’ll be back with the Storm v Sharks NRL preliminary final shortly – I’m just ducking out to grab some athlete’s fuel. And to digest that impressive Brisbane performance.
Don’t go anywhere.
Full-time: Broncos 32-10 Warriors
For anyone who’s come to AAMI Park for the Storm-Sharks preliminary final tonight having never watched a game of women’s rugby league, wow. Could they have seen a better advert for the game than this?
Brisbane the first team to qualify for the inaugural Women’s Premiership grand final, and in the end they were just too strong across the park for a hard-working Warriors side.
Breayley’s virtuoso solo run just after the break set the tone for that second half, in which the Broncos just finished stronger and stronger.
The Dragons in the box seat to become their opponents next week, as they take on the Roosters tomorrow, but on today’s showing it’s hard to see any side being able to lay a paw on this Brisbane team.
Terrific in defence, incisive in attack. What a team.
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55 min: A bit of razzle-dazzle from the Broncos, they’ve got no interest in taking the foot off the accelerator here, in news that must delight the Dragons/Roosters who will be no doubt watching this match keenly.
Fotu-Moala with a show-and-go one hand offer, before putting it on the toe, but her grubbered kick rolls dead in-goal.
They’re tiring, the Warriors, but this scoreline is in no way a fair reflection of the effort they’ve shown tonight.
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51 min: Ooph. And it’s technically the correct ruling, but gee, they’ve got right to feel hard done by the Warriors.
She’s got a name you won’t forget and she conjured a try to match, did Masuisuimatamaalii Tauaua-Pauaraisa – but it’s been rubbed out due to an obstruction in the lead up. Gutted!
Try! Broncos 32-10 Warriors (Robinson)
45 min: She’s only new to the game, but she’s making a big impression quickly is Robinson – there looked a wall of white and purple in her way, but the tall winger has just launched over them! It’s the full superman, or should we say superwoman, dive to clear her opponents. Brilliant stuff to finish a fine flowing move, with Kimiora Nati’s double cutout sparking the attack.
Finally Baker misses one, she was beginning to look a bit Halligan-esque with the boot tonight.
43 min: Another nervy moment for the Brisbane bench, as Chelsea Baker stays down injured. She had a nervy fumble early on, but almost everything she’s touched since then has rained gold. She’s back up, and hopefully can soldier on. Key player – Broncos fans will be tracking her progress over these final fifteen minutes.
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Try! Broncos 28-10 Warriors (House)
39 min: Ooph, heartbreaking for the Warriors, what a game of margins.
They looked to have lost the opportunity had the Broncos, but an offload from Baker kept the play alive. Brigginshaw with an improvised kick for the corner that just eluded the Warriors fullback as House flew in to try and ground. We went upstairs for the video, and the faintest of touches from House – literally one frame – before scrambling defence could clear the ball.
Baker with another successful effort, and the Warriors need to watch this points differential, or it brings the Dragons or the Roosters right back in contention in booking themselves a finals berth.
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38 min: Two hugely impressive passages of play, at both ends. Smalley with the offload to give Rota a shot at the line, but the hooker opted to take on the line rather than spread wide and the Broncos defence scrambled brilliantly to force an error.
Then, moments later a brilliant bust from Baker looked like it would put the Broncos in for another, only for a flying Apii Nicholls to cut her opposite number down. Absolutely textbook tackle – show that to your daughters, terrific technique from the Warriors fullback!
A sizeable break in play after concern for Maitua Feterika, who leaves the pitch with a nasty knee injury.
If you were in any doubt about the pace of Breayley, check out that mazy run for the try! Like Usain Bolt at training with the Central Coast Mariners, you’d imagine – no one’s come close to catching her.
Breayley goes for a run from half! 👏#NRLWBroncosWarriors 22-10 after 33 minutes. #NRLW pic.twitter.com/IER16WHmqv
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) September 21, 2018
Try! Broncos 22-10 Warriors (Breayley)
30 min: Phwaor! Move over Damien Cook – you’d struggle to see a better dummy half run than this from the Broncos’ No 9. Just her second run all game, but she noticed the marker was slow to square up, and glided brilliantly through the Warriors line.
Baker with another impressive conversion attempt; she’s slotted that one from the sideline as well!
Second half!
It’s the Broncos bringing it out from their own line and they’re straight on the attack. Looking to gain some early metres.
Half-time: Broncos 16-10 Warriors
Well, an end-to-end pulsating first thirty in this one, with both sides well and truly committed to attacking footy. It’s the favourites, the Broncos, by a nose, at the interval, as they look to enter next week’s grand final as the competition’s only undefeated team.
Don’t pre-write that story line though, as there are thirteen women in white and purple pretty eager to ensure that’s no fait accompli. Massive half to come!
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25 min: Huge tackle, Brigginshaw! Nicholls with the final tackle run, and the five-eight Mariu with a well-disguised short pass to put it on her chest, but with the fullback flying through she’s scythed down mid-flight by the Broncos halfback!
Absolute try-saver.
Try! Broncos 16-10 Warriors (Te Kawa)
19 min: Do you reckon both these sides want to make the grand final? It’s like watching two heavyweight boxers out there trading blow for blow – whatever either can muster, the other has equalled.
Terrific hands once again, from Breayley to Brigginshaw and it ends with Te Kawa in the corner.
Baker with the conversion from the touchline, superb strike – could that conversion be crucial later on?
Try! Broncos 10-10 Warriors (Hale)
15 min: Blink and you’ll miss this one. They’ve scored 10 across 60 minutes in both their Women’s Premiership games thus far this season; but it’s taken just a quarter of that for the Warriors to reach that tally today.
Some of the Broncos forwards getting caught centrally as the Warriors shifted with a quick cutout pass. There was an attempted intercept from a Broncos back but it ended with ball-to-ground, and thank you very much, says Georgia Hale.
No dice for Nicholls from the boot, we’re locked up again.
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Try! Broncos 10-6 Warriors (Robinson)
11 min: They’ve made quick work turning this around, the favourites – looks like plenty of points to come tonight.
Magic hands from Breayley, as the hooker drew her opposite numbers before getting it wide through the hands. Robinson too quick, and she glides through in the corner. A convert from netball, the winger, so no issues with the handling or the grounding.
Baker with a decent strike from the touchline, but the conversion attempt just drifts right.
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And profuse apologies, like an email lurking in your drafts folder I just noticed I never fired through the team news pre-game. Here’s how our two combatants square up:
Broncos:
(1-13) Chelsea Baker, Julia Robinson, Kody House, Amber Pilley, Karley Te Kawa, Kimiora Nati, Ali Brigginshaw, Heather Ballinger, Brittany Breayley, Steph Hancock, Teuila Fotu-Moala, Maitua Feterika, Rona Peters.
Bench: Lavinia Gould, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Tallisha Harden, Ngatokotoru Arakua
Warriors:
(1-13) Apii Nicholls, Hilda Mariu, Sarina Clark, Shontelle Woodman, Langi Veainu, Laura Mariu, Georgia Hale, Tanika-Jazz Noble, Krystal Rota, Aieshaleigh Smalley, Onjeurlina Leiataua, Alice Vailea, Luisa Gago.
Bench: Lorina Papali’i, Masuisuimatamaalii Tauaua-Pauaraisa, Raquel Anderson-Pitman, Va’anessa Molia-Fraser
Try! Broncos 6-6 Warriors (Peters)
9 min: And how’s that for a response! They saw almost none of the pill to start the match, but in their first meaningful attack the Broncos have struck straight back.
A good ball on the chest for Peters, and there was no stopping her from close range. No sisters in sight!
The pink-haired Baker adding the extras from a few metres to the left, and we’re back level.
Try! Broncos 0-6 Warriors (Smalley)
5 min: Wowee. Well they’ve enjoyed near sustained pressure over the opening first five minutes, the Warriors, but ultimately it’s an error that’s finally allowed the visitors in.
A clever grubber through from Laura Mariu looked to be covered by Broncos fullback Chelsea Baker, but a fumble gifted the on-rushing Aieshaleigh Smalley, who crashed over from close range.
First blood, Warriors – and no mistake from Nicholls with the extras!
First half!
And we’re underway – with some robust tackles to start from the Brisbane defence, as the Warriors start with ball in hand!
It’s an early penalty to the Warriors, and they kick for touch (just!) to set up for some positive early field position.
G’day / Kia Ora! From wherever you’re following this NRLW coverage I guess.
Plenty of interest on both sides of the ditch for this one, where the Warriors’ season is on the line, as they seek to bounce back from a disappointing loss last week to the Dragons.
Some fascinating personal subplots to this one – forget State of Origin and “mate against mate”, today we’ve got “sister v sister (v sister)” as the Bronco’s Kiwi-born star Rona Peters takes on siblings Hilda and Kahurangi, and if that wasn’t enough, she’s also up against sister-in-law Laura Mariu.
We’re about 5-10 minutes away from first whistle, and we’ll try and bring you try-by-try action for this one.
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Preamble
Nothing adds fire to a preliminary final like a nice round of tit-for-tat pre-match verbals, and in that regard both Cronulla and Melbourne camps have arrived with plenty of fuel.
Sharks Prop Matt Prior lit the first jiffy with the casual observation that Melbourne’s players try to “wrestle your head off” with coach Shane Flanagan doubling down with a reference to the Storm’s track record of “wrestle, push or shove”.
Those comments weren’t well-received by Storm supremo Craig Bellamy, who fired back at the “squeaky-clean Sharks”, loading on a fair pile of wood with his response that “Most other clubs in the competition would be sitting back laughing about them calling us grubs.”
There’s no Paul Gallen or Wade Graham for the visitors who lose their key niggler to a shoulder injury; veteran Luke Lewis will captain the side in what could be his last match for the club. The Storm will be looking to ensure it is, and to provide their stalwart fullback Billy Slater with one last ticket to the Big Dance.
Plenty of subplots to this one, especially after the niggle of the 2016 grand final between these two sides, and two very “gritty” encounters this season.
Before all that we’ve got Round 3 of the NRL Women’s Premiership, where it’s the all-conquering Broncos who will be looking to bang a nail into the Warriors’ prospects of qualifying for next weekend’s grand final. All four teams remain in contention, and points difference could prove decisive. So it’s a proper #AllToPlayFor ding-dong.
