Broncos smash Dragons to retain NRLW title

Brisbane have claimed consecutive NRLW titles, defending their premiership with a 30-6 demolition of St George Illawarra on grand final day.

After they flogged the Sydney Roosters in last year’s inaugural decider, the Broncos dominated the Dragons from the opening minutes in Sunday afternoon’s decider.

Halfback and captain Ali Brigginshaw controlled the match with ease, while former Dragon Raecene McGregor was impressive alongside her at five-eighth.

Forwards Millie Boyle and Amber Hall dominated the Dragons in the middle, as the Broncos ran almost double the amount of metres as the Saints and had 63 per cent of the ball.

Second-rower Annette Brander was named player of the match, after looking damaging on the edge.

Such was Brisbane’s dominance, the Dragons had just nine play-the-balls in Brisbane’s half in the opening 50 minutes of the match.

Everything that could go wrong did for the Dragons in front of 36,785 people.

Star hooker Brittany Breayley missed part of the first half with a knee injury, while youngster Maddison Weatherall was taken to hospital after a bad leg cut.

Takiele Katoa also hurt her shoulder in the second half, as did Australian lock Holli Wheeler.

The Saints also made errors at the worst times, including a first-half fumble in a scrum after the Broncos had made a push against the feed.

After Lavinia Gould opened Brisbane’s account in the fourth minute out of dummy-half, McGregor made the most of the scrum error when she stepped over in the next set.

Brigginshaw landed the knockout blow after the break, when she put winger Julia Robinson over with a sharp cut-out ball to make it 18-0.

Forward Chelsea Lenarduzzi and Amber Pilley also blew out the lead with second-half tries, before Kezie Apps scored a late consolation four-pointer for the Dragons.

The win means Brisbane have lost just one game in the competition’s two-season history, firmly establishing themselves as the league’s top team.

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