NRLW: Knights' reign ends at hands of Roosters

Veteran fullback Sam Bremner starred to lead the Sydney Roosters to an upset 25-10 win over Newcastle and lock in a long-awaited NRLW grand final appearance against Cronulla.

After the Sharks stunned minor premiers Brisbane 14-0 in the first semi-final, the Roosters put on a first-half clinic as they blitzed the Knights at Allianz Stadium on Sunday 29 September.

The Tricolours have been dogged by injury this season but finally copped a dose of good fortune, with in-doubt trio Tarryn Aiken, Jess Sergis and captain Isabelle Kelly declared fit to play.

It spelled a good omen for the side, who were third time lucky after falling at the same stage in the past two seasons.

Bremner, who was coaxed out of retirement when regular No.1 Corban Baxter ruptured her ACL days before the season kicked off, is set to join St George Illawarra in an off-field role next season but ran rings around her younger opponents.

The 32-year-old’s angling runs off the inside of Aiken tormented Newcastle’s left edge, making eight tackle busts and three line-breaks and scoring two tries.

Easts were already in the lead through tries to tries to dummy-half Keeley Davis and Muswellbrook product Brydie Parker before Bremner’s late first-half brace blew the double-reigning premiers out of the contest.

Aiken’s inclusion was a boon for the Roosters, setting up twotries and three line-breaks as well as a late field-goal.

She immediately made her presence known at five-eighth, launching a cut-out pass over the stranded Abigail Roache and Tenika Willison to set up Parker – who she had displaced onto the wing – for the opener.

The bakc-to-back defending premiers struck back through five-eighth Georgia Roche but otherwise struggled to make an impact in their attacking 20. 

Their forward pack came out second-best, with the formidable Olivia Kernick winning the battle of the second-rowers against Newcastle’s Yasmin Clydsdale.

Late tries to teenage second-rower Evah McEwen and hooker Olivia Higginsraised Newcastle’s spirits but were too little, too late for Ben Jeffries’ side.

Before they can celebrate their second title, the Roosters will have to find a way to crack a resolute Cronulla defence fresh off keeping the rampaging Broncos scoreless for the first time in the Queensland club’s seven-year NRLW history.

Far and away the competition’s top-scoring side, the Broncos’ intimidating attack was nullified by a sensational Sharks defensive display at Brisbane’s Langlands Park.

The Broncos suffered a blow before kick-off with second-rower Romy Teitzel – the league’s top-scorer in the home-and-away season – ruled out after picking up a hip injury in the final-round win over the Dragons.

The Sharks weren’t showered in attacking opportunities but took the ones they got, while Brisbane, despite their embarrassment of firepower, looked uncharacteristically flat.

Tiana Penitani was unstoppable bringing the ball out from the back for Cronulla.

The powerful centre ran for 160 metres and opened the scoring after an offload from Talei Holmes to give the Sharks a six-point advantage at halftime.

Her centre partner on the opposite flank, Annessa Biddle, powered her way over shortly after the interval before a cut-out pass from impressive five-eighth Georgia Hannaway sent winger Cassie Staples in for a try to wrap up the result.

The Sharks withstood a desperate late Brisbane salvo, sparking scenes of elated celebrations.

The win snapped a three-match losing streak for Cronulla, who appear to have re-captured their sparkling form from the beginning of the season at the most opportune time.

The Broncos, by contrast, were coming off a seven-game winning run but have been left to rue their third straight semi-final defeat, having crashed out at the same stage in 2021 and 2023.

For more sports stories: NEWRL: Maitland Pickers earn a place in Newcastle Rugby League historyNRL: Knights star Ponga changes tack in Kangaroos selection furoreALW: Jets swoop on talented quartet

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