The NRLW finals are finally here, in the competition’s new six-team format that will see four teams match up in Week One, while the powerhouse Roosters and Broncos loom in Week Two with grand final spots on the line.
Women’s rugby league icon Tarsha Gale gave us her thoughts on how the finals will play out, and the strengths and weaknesses of each contender.
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KNIGHTS (3) v TITANS (6)
Saturday 2.30pm, McDonald Jones Stadium
Gale believes Newcastle’s class and experience will shine through in the opening final.
“I think they’ll beat the Titans,” she said.
“The halves pairing of Jesse Southwell and Georgia Roache is just phenomenal. The kicking game of Southwell, the pass selection of Roache, they just combine so very, very well. They’ve played together a fair bit too, so I think that will come into it.”
The Knights are missing Simone Karpani from the forward pack due to concussion, but Tayla Predebon is back into the starting front-row.
“One of their big strengths has been their forward pack,” Gale said.
“They’ve still got great depth there in the middle with Tiana Davison, and Yassy Clydsdale on the edge is just absolutely outstanding.”
While Newcastle had to fill the big shoes of Tamika Upton at fullback this season, and did so nicely with Bo Vette-Welsh, the Titans have been way down on troops due to pregnancy and injury. It is a credit to them that they’re playing finals at all.
“Karyn Murphy’s done an incredible job with her young team,” Gale said, albeit pointing out a significant flaw.
“My concern is they’ve had plenty of opportunity (in attack). They’ve had the third-most tackles in the red zone, which is your opportunity to score, but they’ve failed to turn it into points. It’s just that execution that I think is going to play against the Titans.”
Mainstays Jess Elliston and Lauren Brown have been huge for the Titans, while Phoenix Raine-Hippi has been among the big successes of the exciting young brigade – but this may be it for the Gold Coast’s season.
Knights playmaker Jesse Southwell will need to have a huge finals series if Newcastle are to reach the grand final.Source: Getty Images
COWBOYS (4) v SHARKS (5)
Saturday 4.15pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium
North Queensland will be playing their first NRLW finals game, against a team that contested the grand final last season. Gale suspects that may be telling.
“I’m tipping the Sharks to get it over the Cowboys, just because of the big occasion,” she said, with the proviso of wanting to see clever halfback Shantay Kiria-Ratu and prolific winger Georgia Ravics safely take the field.
The immediate form line is tough for both sides, with the Cowboys copping a 50-4 thrashing from Brisbane and Cronulla a 40-10 touch-up from the Roosters last weekend.
While their form has been patchy all year, the Sharks are the third-best attacking team in the NRLW, behind only the two heavyweights. They have admirably covered damaging injury absences for hooker Quincy Dodd and fullback Jada Taylor.
“I think Sharks are a much better team than what we’ve seen during the round games, because of those injuries and having Emma Verran have to go from five-eighth back to fullback, and now back in at five-eighth because Jada Taylor’s back,” Gale said.
“I don’t think that’s fared well for them during the season but when you’ve got players like Ellie Johnston who’s getting better and better, and more aggressive, I’m loving the extra grunt that Ellie Johnston’s giving.
“ (Captain/centre) Tiana Penitani is a big-stage footy player. She will always step up to the mark, a bit like Issy Kelly does. She’s strong and she’s powerful.”
Fullback Jakiya Whitfield and hooker Emma Manzelmann have been standouts for the Cowboys, but the side is light-on for finals experience. The halves have also chopped and changed this season in a merry-go-round of Kirra Dibb, Rosie Kelly and Tahlulah Tillett; with Dibb and Tillett named for this weekend.
“Kirra Dibb likes to be in control, but they’ve only played two games together in that combination. That concerns me,” Gale said.
“They nearly had nearly 60 missed tackles (last weekend) and I know it’s the Broncos, but I’ve got to be thinking your confidence is going to be way down and it’s such a mind game, especially when you get into these finals.”
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BEWARE THE ROOSTERS AND BRONCOS
All signs this season have pointed to a Roosters v Broncos grand final, and it would take a monumental upset in finals Week Two from one of the other sides to bring about anything else.
The reigning-premier Roosters went undefeated and Brisbane’s only loss came against the Tricolours – a tight 30-26 defeat in Round 3.
Gale reckons the balance of power may have shifted late in the season, with Broncos fullback Tamika Upton in outrageous form alongside plenty of firing teammates.
“I’m tipping the Broncos to get it over on the Roosters,” Gale said, highlighting a sometimes modest completion rate as their lone Achilles heel.
“They have just gone strength to strength and they’re just a team that puts their foot on your throat and refuse to let up. Earlier in the season they were getting off to a bit of a slow start, but I think they’re picking up on that now.
“I just think the Broncos really want it. They’ve been a bit miffed about not playing grand final footy and I know Ali Brigginshaw will be driving for excellence, she really will be. Her halves combination with Gayle Broughton is just outstanding.
“Another big plus for the Broncos is that they’ve been able to play pretty much most of their 1-17 every single game, in the exact same position. So the combinations that you’ve got … you know how they play, the timing’s a lot better. I think that fares for them very well.
“The Broncos are one of the teams that haven’t really been hit terribly hard with injuries, plus the fact that a lot of them play together at a Queensland level.”
Broncos fullback Tamika Upton is in sensational form.Source: Getty Images
Julia Robinson has been brilliant in a switch to the centres this season, while young forward Shalom Sauaso has been “absolutely incredible” and just won the RLPA Rookie of the Year award. Queensland Origin forward Chelsea Lenarduzzi is bringing reliable impact off the bench.
However, even with Maroons halfback Tarryn Aiken having succumbed to an ACL injury, writing off the Roosters is fraught with danger. Gale’s one knock on the unbeaten minor premiers is occasional impatience and digression from the team game plan when points aren’t flowing, but in full flight, they are a sight to behold.
“The Roosters have scored the most tries in the competition down the right-hand side, but they’ve got great strike right across the park,” Gale said.
“My concern there is Amber Hall came off last week with a calf injury, Jess Sergis was having back spasms and came off, Jayme Fressard with an ankle. That’s a lot of really good footy players to have going in with niggles.
“Not to mention Tarryn Aiken. I’m so upset for her, it breaks my heart. She missed the first half of the season with a shoulder injury and now she’s really been written off.”
Gale will be watching warily to see if any fellow stars are in doubt for next weekend. But one thing she’s not worried about is the coaching box.
“I love John Strange and his coaching,” she said.
“He calls Jocelyn Kelleher his Swiss Army knife because she can play every single position. He said that at the start of the year and now, if you look at what he’s done, he’s got more and more of his players being able to play in several different positions.
“But not just being able to play it, they’re playing it with confidence. And I think that’s important.
“And Isabelle Kelly – I can’t speak enough about her, she never disappoints. She averages well over 200m per game, she’s racked up over 50 tackle busts, she came back from an operation on an oral fracture and just performed outstandingly last week.
“But I’m still going to pick Broncos for the upset.”