Broncos go back to back in emphatic style to retain NRLW crown

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Brisbane Broncos v St George Illawarra Dragons

The Brisbane Broncos have earned back to back NRLW premierships in emphatic style with a 30-6 thrashing of the St George Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium.

The difference in the performances of the team was on show for the Broncos as their defence powered up early and despite their early defence conceding a penalty, the message was loud and clear for the Dragons.

The Broncos first points of the afternoon came after just four minutes when Lavinia Gould saw gaps in the defensive line of the Red ‘V' on the last tackle and dived over from dummy half to score. The pressure didn't relent on the Dragons at all in the opening half and the Broncos were able to get over once again around 15 minutes later when former Dragon Raecene McGregor read that the Dragons defence was tiring when she took off in the direction of the defenders to score. The conversion was good from Meg Ward and the Broncos lead 10-0.

The pressure never left the Dragons who themselves could only manage one set on the Broncos line and it almost came up trumps when Kezie Apps fell just short of getting to a Maddie Studdon grubber kick. The Broncos kept the pressure up but they couldn't add any further points with one effort deemed to be an obstruction by the bunker and then some strong defence from the Dragons.

The second 40 minutes was yet again another onslaught by Brisbane on the Dragons defence as the Dragons struggled with a growing injury crisis. The first points of the second half came off the boot of Meg Ward who had an easy shot at penalty goal from virtually in front to send the score to 12-0.

The Dragons couldn't hold onto the ball yet again to start the second half and it was off the bake of an error by Keeley Davis that let the Broncos upfield and a beautiful cut-out ball from Ali Brigginshaw to an unmarked Julia Robinson saw the Broncos cross again for another try. The sideline conversion was nailed perfectly by Meg Ward and the Broncos lead 18-0.

The floodgates were well and truly opened as Chelsea Lenarduzzi was able to spin her way out of a 4-on-1 tackle to plant the ball down next to the posts before Meg Ward pushed it out to 24-0. The extreme defensive efforts of the Dragons was coming back to cost them and Amber Pilley got her way onto the scoreboard when the Broncos chose yet again to run the ball on the last and caught out the compressed defensive line.

The Dragons finally got on the board inside the final 10 minutes when Kezie Apps went through off a good short ball from Maddie Studdon but it was too little too late by then. The Broncos had one late chance to add another but a Raecene McGregor effort was knocked back by the bunker for an error.

The victory for the Broncos means that they have taken out back to back titles and for the second year in a row the Broncos scored more than 30 points in the decider.