Brisbane captain Ali Brigginshaw claims Sunday’s NRLW grand final has a State of Origin feel about it, beginning the mind games early and piling the pressure on St George Illawarra.
Ignoring the fact that the Broncos are both the defending and minor premiers, Brigginshaw declared the Dragons favourites for Sunday’s decider.
It highlighted a tense press conference between the two teams who are now clear rivals, after five ex-Broncos left the club for the Dragons at the end of last year.
Brigginshaw’s attempt to claim underdog status came despite Brisbane having lost just one match in the competition’s two-year history.
They also beat the Dragons 14-4 just three weeks ago.
“The talk (at the start of the season) was about the Dragons and who they have signed,” Brigginshaw said.
“That took the pressure off us at the start of the year. The girls came up with a fresh mind.
“Yes, we’re the defending premiers but it’s a new year. I thought the girls had done great.”
Dragons captain Kezie Apps laughed off the comments as “outside noise” and insisted her team were the underdogs.
Coach Daniel Lacey also claimed his Dragons were the “feel-good story”, after they came last in the inaugural season.
“We’ve basically gone from round one (after losing to Brisbane) to two do-or-die matches,” Lacey said.
“It brings out the best in the best players. We can draw from that and be that feel-good story.
“We came last last year. People wrote us off. We were last after round one. We had three do or die games (after the loss to Brisbane, including Sunday’s decider).”
The Dragons have Dally M player of the year Jess Sergis on their side, who has scored three tries and busted 14 tackles at centre this season.
Mille Boyle has been the best for the Broncos, starring at prop after playing alongside Aps as a Bega junior on the NSW south coach during her childhood.
Meanwhile Brigginshaw denied any ill-feeling to the Dragons after the five players – including star hooker Brittany Brealey – all left in the off-season.
But the Queensland captain said she wanted payback on the likes of Apps, after the Dragons skipper had also led NSW to Origin success against her this year.
“I still feel that loss from NSW,” Brigginshaw said.
“There is a big rivalry between the Dragons and Broncos and it has that Queensland-NSW feel.
“Kezie is the captain of NSW and I’m the captain of Queensland. And I want that win more than anything.”