Roosters roll on in NRLW as Broncos receive a big scare
Margie McDonald |
The Sydney Roosters have continued their relentless march to the NRLW finals with Brisbane not far behind, although the Broncos had to battle to overcome plucky Canberra to retain their top-two position on the ladder.
The Roosters made it six straight wins with a 24-8 victory over Gold Coast at Cbus Stadium on Sunday to stay in top spot, while the Broncos handed the Raiders their fourth loss at home, winning 44-28.
But the luckless Raiders did give the three-time premiers a run for their money.
Darren Borthwick’s team came from 20-0 down midway through the first half to trail by 26-22 with 15 minutes left on the clock.
That jolt to the ego sparked the Broncos to three more tries, by Romy Teitzel, Shalom Sauaso and Julia Robinson.
Teitzel, the Broncos’ goal-kicking back rower, claimed a personal tally of 16 points from a try and six goals, putting her on 50 for the season, eclipsing Jocelyn Kelleher (Roosters) and Jesse Southwell (Knights) – both on 48 – as the season’s top points-scorer so far.
The never-say-die Raiders did have the last say with prop Chloe Saunders scoring as the fulltime hooter sounded.
“I’m extremely proud at the way we’ve come together and connected better,” said Raiders captain Simaima Taufa as her team continue to search for a maiden win in 2025.
Sunday’s five tries were in stark contrast to the past two weeks, when the Raiders lost 26-0 to the Cowboys and 18-0 to the Knights.
“We knew we had points in us and we never gave up,” Taufa said.
“I just want them to keep having confidence in themselves, in their ability and their talent. We just have to keep backing ourselves and the chocolates will come.”
The Roosters scored five tries to two to never feel threatened by Gold Coast, despite the fact the Titans held a 3-2 record over them heading into the match.
Fijian international Taina Naividi scored a double on the Roosters’ right wing, giving her six tries in five games.
It just wasn’t the Titans’ day on the scoreboard or in the casualty ward.
They lost five-eighth Pauline Piliae-Rasabale (hamstring) for the second half after she’d scored in the first, then fullback Jaime Chapman was helped from the field (left ankle) in the 49th minute.
But debutant and First Nations player Phoenix-Raine Hippi slotted into the No.1 spot after Chapman’s injury and scored a try – in her first NRLW Indigenous Round.
In the final match of round six, North Queensland scored a come-from-behind 14-10 win over Parramatta at CommBank Stadium to leap-frog the Sharks into the top-four.
Parramatta was down on troops with five-eighth Cassey Tohi-Hiku (ankle), centre Rory Owen (leg) and middle forward Kennedy Cherrington (concussion) all missing but it didn’t seem to matter.
Cherrington’s younger sister Rueben scored the Eels’ first try, and stand-in No.6 Rosemarie Beckett grabbed the second to put her side up 10-0.
But momentum was building for the Cowboys, who had been held up over the line three times.
Winger Francesca Goldthorp then managed a double, while a third came through Jillaroos winger Jakiya Whitfeld.
The visitors were suddenly up 14-10 and hung on for the remaining 13 minutes.
AAP
