Broncos beat Roosters to claim NRLW premiership
Margie McDonald |
Brisbane centre Mele Hufanga scored the match-winning try and collected the Karyn Murphy Medal in her side’s 22-18 upset of minor premiers Sydney Roosters in a gripping 2025 NRLW grand final.
Hufanga embodied Brisbane’s never-say-die attitude at Accor Stadium on Sunday with her 16 runs for 199 metres including 17 tackle-busts. Her try in the 65th minute swung the premiership the Broncos’ way for the fourth time in NRLW history.
The Roosters had put on three unanswered tries in the second half, coming from 12-0 down at the break to lead 18-12 with nine minutes left.
But then up stepped Hufanga.
“When it came down to the last four minutes, I just remember telling (five-eighth) Gayle (Broughton) ‘I want the ball; I want the ball’,” Hufanga said.
“We ran one of our plays and as soon as the ball touched my hand I was going to get over that line.”
Several replays were needed to show ball touching grass as Roosters second rower Jasmin Strange tried desperately to keep her hand underneath.
Roosters coach John Strange said he wasn’t sure the replays showed clearly the ball being grounded.
“We kept fighting and a couple of those decisions could have gone either way, so that’s out of our control,” he said.
“I was just really proud of the girls. It’s a weird feeling for me. I know they lost that game but I feel really happy and that comes from the pride I have in coaching these girls.”
The match was played at breakneck speed and several players needed patching up before playing on.
“We were trying to get girls off in the second half. Keeley (Davis) couldn’t see out of her right eye but she didn’t want to come off.
“Rima (Butler) may have a fractured cheekbone and she didn’t want to come off. Brydie (Parker) smashed her head open and couldn’t see high kicks with all the bandaging.
“As a coach, you can only ask your players to give everything and that’s what they did,” Strange said.
The match ended on a sour note with several players caught up in a brawl, with a few punches were thrown.
“I won’t really comment on it right now. But obviously we’ll have a conversation with the people we need to chat with,” said Broncos coach Scott Prince.
“It’s not ideal from our point of view. There’s no place in the game for that. I’m sure the NRL will take care of it.”
Prince won an NRL Premiership 20 years ago on the same ground with Wests Tigers, but said coaching a premiership win was “far better”.
He has just re-signed with the Broncos for another two years.
“When you’re in one it’s an individual thing. But as a coach, to see the girls progress, get better, the highs and lows – that’s the satisfaction you want. It’s very, very special.”
Fullback and Dally M winner Tamika Upton celebrated her fifth NRLW title, after previous triumphs with the Broncos (2019, 2020) and Newcastle (2022, 2023).
“We came together as a group and worked so hard. We just built on that, just week after week chipping away,” Upton said.
For captain Ali Brigginshaw it was her fourth premiership – five years after her last in 2020 when the Broncos again beat the Roosters, 20-10.
“I’m just overwhelmed and proud,” Brigginshaw said.
AAP
