Here is a match report if you’d like an easily digestible recount:
And that concludes our live coverage this afternoon. We’ll be back (at another link) to take you through the men’s grand final.
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Broncos captain Ali Brigginshaw pays tribute to the Roosters, who she says set the standard in rounds one and two. She also thanks the referees, especially grand final referee Belinda Sharpe.
McGregor, as the losing captain, makes an eloquent speech, beginning by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land and going on to congratulate Brisbane for “setting the standard for the last three years”.
“My Roosters girls,” she continues, “I’m really proud of you. We’re building towards better things.”
Amber Hall, unsurprisingly, has won the Karyn Murphy Medal as recognition of her outstanding, ubiquitous display. She does the obligatory thanks to the NRL , sponsors, her team and fans, and family in New Zealand.
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Brigginshaw (see below) is praising her side for reigning in what she described as “by far the toughest” of the Broncos’ three grand final wins.
“The Roosters showed great character out there. The weather didn’t suit both of us but we dug deep.”
Full-time: Broncos win third straight premiership
Brisbane Broncos 20-10 Sydney Roosters: The three-peat is complete! Brisbane have gone back to back to back, continuing to write themselves into history as the only team to have won the NRLW.
The Broncos were tremendous defensively throughout a first half during which the Roosters had their fair share of possession and territory but became somewhat wasteful with the ball.
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Second half (1 minutes) - Brisbane Broncos 20-10 Sydney Roosters: Everyone is coughing up the ball now. Nobody wants it. The Broncos need merely complete their sets and should have this one wrapped up. Mel Howard is the latest to depart with what looks like an arm injury.
Second half (4 minutes) - Brisbane Broncos 20-10 Sydney Roosters: Now Ward is down injured and leaves the field for a concussion assessment having lost the ball in a tackle. Roosters get the scrum 20m from the try line but the Broncos have forced a knock-on.
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Second half (7 minutes) - Brisbane Broncos 20-10 Sydney Roosters: Shenae Ciesiolka is quick to take care of business when Temara kicks behind the Broncos’ defensive line. The Roosters have possession and, then another set, as they chase this game. They have had plenty of chances in this half but have lacked the composure of their opponents.
The crowd is a tick over 9000 for this decider, with another 30,000 or so expected to come through the turnstiles in time for the NRL finale between the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm.
Second half (13 minutes) - Brisbane Broncos 20-10 Sydney Roosters: A hair pull! Vette-Welsh gets a tug on the ponytail as she looks for a breakthrough down the right side. It’s a penalty, but the Roosters are struggling to get organised enough to make good of field position and McGregor knocks on at dummy half.
Second half (16 minutes) - Brisbane Broncos 20-10 Sydney Roosters: TRY! The Broncos have made this look oh so straightforward, again capitalising on a Roosters error after they missed a repeat set. The Broncos have a seven-tackle set and Dally M medallist Brigginshaw plays a short ball to Tallisha Harden and the latter beats two and scores her first NRLW try untouched from five metres out.
Special mention to Hall, who has been superb. Could this be the game? The Roosters have to score soon because this is quickly running away from them.
Meanwhile, Brown has left the field.
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Second half (19 minutes) - Brisbane Broncos 16-10 Sydney Roosters: Millie Boyle makes an error as she carries with one arm straight into Hannah Southwell. Never a good idea. She loses the ball and the Roosters get the scrum 40 metres from their own line.
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Second half (21 minutes) - Brisbane Broncos 16-10 Sydney Roosters: The game has been halted for an injury concern after Lauren Brown came out worse for wear in a head clash with Temara. But she is back up, passes a head injury assessment and ready to play again.
Have a look for yourself ...
💪Chelsea Lenarduzzi!💪
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) October 25, 2020
She's absolutely POWERED over! The perfect start to the second half for the Broncos
NRLW Grand Final - LIVE on Channel 9.#NRLWGF #9WWOS #NRLW #NRLWBroncosRoosters pic.twitter.com/2APyypvBdP
Second half (25 minutes) - Brisbane Broncos 16-10 Sydney Roosters: TRY! Brown darts from dummy half, dummies, goes inside to Lenarduzzi and she scores her second. The Australian shot put champion came off the bench for her first, and Meakes tries to stop her second with the low tackle around the legs from the line. But her effort is in vain. No conversion but the Broncos have a nice little buffer again.
Quick word on Roosters forward Vanessa Foliaki, who is 10kg lighter than this time last year and says she feels in the best shape of her career. The former Jillaroo was not confident she would keep a spot under new coach Jamie Feeney, but has proven herself and been a regular on the edge.
The Broncos thus far have completed all their sets for a near-perfect first half.
Here’s Amber Hall’s try ...
Amber Hall the wrecking ball 💣#NRLWGF#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/3IauQ7uq1x
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) October 25, 2020
And Yasmin Meakes’s effort ...
A great effort from Meakes 👏
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) October 25, 2020
The @sydneyroosters are on the scoreboard! #NRLWGF #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/bXGgYPXcx3
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Half-time!
Brisbane Broncos 12-10 Sydney Roosters: Well the Broncos piled on two early tries to race to a 12-0 lead, but the Roosters kept their cool under pressure, matched the double defending champions and raised them one with two of their own. Big second half coming.
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First half - Brisbane Broncos 12-10 Sydney Roosters (3 minutes): Fullback Botille Vette-Welsh, on her return to the field, dummies and makes her dash. through Raecene McGregor and Jayme Fressard for a much-needed break. Melanie Howard kicks into space another repeat set.
And here’s another try! Quincy Dodd charges over the line after help from the forwards. Dodd, played the ball on the tryline, literally barges through the Broncos defence. Temara converts and the Roosters are right back in this coming into the breakAnd just like that, it’s 12-10 and the Roosters are right back in it.
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First half - Brisbane Broncos 12-4 Sydney Roosters (7 minutes): McGregor has challenged another knock-on as Togatuki tries to play through again, but she’s incorrect this time. The final minutes of this half are turning into an arm wrestle.
First half - Brisbane Broncos 12-4 Sydney Roosters (9 minutes): The rain is starting to come down now as the Broncos pass their fifth tackle and Ali Brigginshaw kicks on the outside of her boot. It’s an awkward landing but the Roosters have it under control.
First half - Brisbane Broncos 12-4 Sydney Roosters (13 minutes): Temara cannot make her conversion but the Roosters are on the board. Meakes did very well to hold off opposing centre Julia Robinson.
First half - Brisbane Broncos 12-4 Sydney Roosters (14 minutes): The Roosters, to their credit, have stayed composed and have a repeat set.
And here’s the first captain’s challenge of the match, as Roosters skipper Corban McGregor appeals against a knock-on. Sarah Togatuki was adamant she hadn’t despite Ali Brigginshaw’s appeals and is vindicated.
The Roosters use the momentum superbly and go over for their first try. Pass, pass, pass and Yasmin Meakes backs herself to skip over the line.
First half - Brisbane Broncos 12-0 Sydney Roosters (21 minutes): Amber Hall the Wrecking Ball has practically fallen over the try line after sending Tricolours counterparts this way and that with her pace and power. Yasmin Meakes makes a last-ditch effort to take her out from behind. Hall converts and this is already looking a little worrying for the Roosters, who will have to start putting pressure on the Broncos’ line instead of inviting them in.
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First half - Brisbane Broncos 6-0 Sydney Roosters (25 minutes): Peep! And we’re off. The Broncos have possession and the Roosters are hitting them hard, making an early statement. The underdogs are winning the early field position. The two wingers, Brydie and Shanice Parker are heavily involved. The Broncos’ strength is taking advantage of mistakes and it is a simple error that gifts Tarryn Aiken a break. She beats two defenders then passes to Tamika Upton for her sixth try in seven games.
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Pre-game interview with Broncos coach Kelvin Wright. After last round’s defeat of the Roosters he felt his side had “played inside themselves”.
Here he says there were a “couple of areas we really need to tidy up, especially around the ruck”.
On the Roosters: “The way they’ve been playing, they look like they’re playing for each other and really enjoying themselves.”
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Here are the teams ...
Final teams! #NRLWGF pic.twitter.com/F3UIU1xpCK
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) October 25, 2020
Preamble
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the NRLW grand final. And what a splendid day for it. Mother Nature has put on a wet, windy one. Which way will she blow at ANZ Stadium? Is this a Brisbane three-peat in the making, or will the Roosters exact 2018 grand final revenge over the competition’s dominant force.
As the only team to have lifted the NRLW trophy, the Broncos have lost one of 11 games to date and won their two previous deciders against the Roosters and Dragons by a combined margin of 64-18. Kelvin Wright’s team saw off Jamie Feeney’s Roosters 24-16 in round three last week, though star Tricolours forwards Hannah Southwell and Simaima Taufa were rested and there were some positive signs.
The Roosters have never beaten the Broncos, and are seeking to remedy this short historical shortcoming without star rugby sevens recruit Charlotte Caslick, who sustained two fractures in her spine during their second match against the Warriors.
Kick-off is at 4.05pm AEDT, stay tuned.
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