The Parramatta Eels have advanced to their first NRLW grand final by downing a complacent Sydney Roosters side by 14 points in an entertaining NRLW semi final at Suncorp Stadium.
Both sides fought for the right to challenge Newcastle on Grand Final day next Sunday at Accor Stadium. Parramatta came in with a point to prove, to show that they were not making up the numbers by finishing in fourth position. The Eels persistence was rewarded when Ash Quinlan threw the dummy and it caught the Roosters napping and Parramatta hit the scoreboard first to have the early lead.
Four minutes later, Raecene McGregor put in a great kick which Gayle Broughton couldn't get to on the full. That allowed a flying Shaniah Power to pounce on the loose ball to cross for her 6th try in NRLW.
The Roosters were complacent in the first half, with many errors, (with Leianne Tufuga bombing two certain tries) and lapses in defence which gave Parramatta a massive amount of possession and eventually the pressure told. Abbi Church was able to get on the outside of Jess Sergis and slam the football down. Parramatta would hold the Roosters out for the remainder of the first half to have a 12-4 half-time lead.
Sydney left their worst performance of the season for this clash, they simply failed the fundamentals of rugby league, with poor completions and letting every kick bounce. This came back to bite them in spectacular fashion when Tayla Preston won the race to a grubber when Temara was caught ball-watching. The Roosters tried their best, but no matter what they did, nothing was working.
The game was sealed just on the hour mark when the Roosters failed to do the fundamentals of rugby league and take the kick on the full. A great kick from Tayla Preston was allowed to bounce by Leianne Tufuga and centre Rikeya Horne was there to pick it up and seal Parramatta's place in the grand final. Sydney managed to get a late try when Sarah Togatuki charged through the Eels middle to give the Roosters late hope, but it was all in vein. Parramatta advance to their first grand final, while the Roosters bow out at the final hurdle.