Selection headaches for Broncos after winning grand final preview
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Dual premiers Brisbane will go into next week's NRLW grand final with the mental edge after overcoming the Roosters 24-16 in a final round clash at ANZ Stadium.
The Broncos wrapped up the 2020 minor premiership ahead of the all-important rematch with the Roosters in eight days' time after both sides booked their spot with respective wins last week.
The Roosters got within two points of the Broncos midway through the second half before star playmaker Ali Brigginshaw's try and assist for Tamika Upton helped the side run away with the win.
"I thought we probably played a little within ourselves at times so hopefully we've got a bit more attack in us," Broncos coach Kelvin Wright said post-match.
"[But] we did focus a lot on our completion rates. Our completions haven't been great and I thought if we could get that up we could probably score some points.
Match: Roosters v Broncos
Round 3 -
home Team
Roosters
2nd Position
away Team
Broncos
1st Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
"I thought the start of the game was good quality and an arm-wrestle at times. We were fortunate to build some pressure and score a few tries.
"The Roosters kept fighting back so it was a good game."
Broncos playmaker Tarryn Aiken continued her strong form in the NRLW to weave past Vanessa Foliaki for the side's first try of the afternoon.
Missing rugby Sevens star Charlotte Caslick for the remainder of the season, Roosters coach Jamie Feeney switched Shanice Parker to fullback but the fill-in No.1 felt the pressure early to spill a high ball.
Brigginshaw knows when to show and when to go
Parker's error allowed the Broncos to extend their lead off the scrum with Tamika Upton's sweeping effort sending Meg Ward over in the corner.
Ward's ability to slot goals from the sideline - she kicked 4-4 for the entire match - pushed the defending premiers further ahead in a clear point of difference for opposition sides.
The Roosters did well to bounce back with a try of their own through returning winger Taleena Simon after Quincy Dodd's bust through the middle created an overlap out wide.
Roosters playmaker Zahara Temara watched on from the right edge as little sister Chante Temara ran on for her maiden game for the Broncos – the pocket-rocket providing a hit on Amelia Mafi with her first play.
Mel Howard scored through a piece of individual brilliance to get the Roosters to within two points after 30 minutes (12-10) but the side's inability to complete after the restart left them on the back foot.
Brigginshaw sprung to life to get the Broncos back into gear with a slick pass finished off by Upton.
She then made her mark on the game with a show-and-go before planting the ball down to set up a 14-point lead.
"I thought she was fantastic again today and took control of our attack," Wright said.
Get Caught Up: NRLW Round 3
"I felt when the game was in the balance there they scored early, when Ali scored that try she took the line on herself.
"You could see the emotion and what that meant to her. She's just a competitor."
The Roosters went within a dubious forward pass call of narrowing the lead with a 50-metre team effort involving 11 sets of hands, before captain Corban McGregor intercepted a pass to race 90 metres in a great try-scoring effort late in the match.
Brisbane were without enforcer Amber Hall (suspension), Jayme Fressard (knee) and Lavinia Gould (leg), while the Roosters rested gun forwards Hannah Southwell and Simaima Taufa.
Wright expected his trio to push for selection for the decider.
"They're under injury clouds but we'll see how they pull up," he said.
"Both line-ups will probably change so we can't take too much out of it (today's game).
"But I think there are certainly some positives for us. We'll regroup on Monday and start again."
