Broncos facing nervous wait for final after bruising victory
Multiple Brisbane players will have a nervous wait on injuries and a match review committee ruling heading into the preliminary finals after a bruising 40-16 win over the Knights.
The Broncos had Lillian Yarrow placed on report for a dangerous throw during the second half while Romy Teitzel had two head clashes, the last one coming from a case of friendly fire with Chelsea Lenarduzzi.
Bree Spreadborough leaves the field with an injury. NRL Imagery
Along with those head clashes, the Broncos lost Bree Spreadborough to a possible syndesmosis injury in the first half.
“That is a really huge loss for them,” Ruan Sims said at full-time.
The Broncos dominated the early exchanges with Teitzel scoring in the first minute after Knights fullback Lucy Spain dropped a kick amid pressure from Julia Robinson.
Robinson would have her own four-pointer next followed by Shannon Mato to give the Broncos an 18-0 lead after 13 minutes.
Teitzel then had her second before she had to leave the field for an HIA after copping high contact and slamming her head into the turf when scoring.
The Broncos finished the first half leading 34-0 lead with more tries for Tamika Upton and Georgia Bartlett as Teitzel passed her test.
Brisbane’s second half started with more of the same when Brianna Clark was first to score.
The Knights eventually were on the board through Mercedez Taulelei-Siala but it was clear Brisbane was starting to take the foot off the accelerator as Tamika Upton was given an early rest.
Newcastle finished the last five minutes with tries for Shanice Parker and Sidney Taylor as the Broncos appear for a Queensland derby next week against the Titans.
The dangerous tackle from Yarrow will be looked at by the match review committee after Tiana Davison was lifted into a dangerous position.
“She down low, goes past that horizontal ... I think on report, that’s fair,” Sims said on Nine.
The head clash between Lenarduzzi and Teitzel then came five minutes later when both players were making a tackle. Both players were taped up, with no HIA necessary.
Chelsea Lenarduzzi cut after a head clash with Romy Teitzel. Nine
Teitzel was nonchalant about the whole ordeal post-match.
“Bit worse for wear, but I’m sure (Broncos CEO) Dave Donaghy will pay for the plastic surgery,” she laughed to Nine.
The win for the Broncos continues Ali Brigginshaw’s storied career ahead of her retirement at the end of the season.
The Broncos half couldn’t stop smiling when interviewed by Nine post-match.
“I just don’t want it to end,” she said.
“Coming to the ground today I just thought I don’t want this to end so I’m going to give it everything ... I’m so proud of how we were able to play today.”
