'Original giants of NRLW' cruise into grand final as Broncos produce dominant display
Updated . First published at
Brisbane have advanced to the NRLW grand final in style with a dominant win over the Knights on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts were never in doubt at Suncorp Stadium and moved through to next week's season decider against the Sydney Roosters after claiming a 30-6 victory.
"The original giants of NRLW are back in the big dance," Peter Psaltis said on Nine.
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There was a nervous moment less than two minutes into the contest when forward Romy Teitzel was forced from the field with a head knock.
Teitzel copped a stray elbow to the face and play was stopped for a brief period for the Broncos back-rower to walk off for a head injury assessment.
She was soon cleared to return to the field after passing her HIA in a huge boost.
Jada Ferguson opened the scoring in the fourth minute for the Broncos, darting over from dummy-half and catching the Newcastle defenders napping.
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Brisbane kept their foot on the gas and crossed for another three tries before the half-hour mark as star fullback Tamika Upton continued her stellar campaign.
Upton scored a brilliant solo try in the 22nd minute, pushing through in support and taking an offload from Gayle Broughton before racing past multiple defenders.
Jules Kirkpatrick gave the Knights a glimmer of hope before half time and made it an 18-point deficit for the visitors to overcome.
Tamika Upton celebrates a try with her teammates Getty
The game was almost turned on its head in the 47th minute when Tenika Willison streaked away down the sideline and put Newcastle in an attacking position.
Unfortunately, a few plays later Kirkpatrick came up with a mistake and the Broncos took the opportunity as Kerri Johnson raced away to score a long-range try.
"They go coast-to-coast the Broncos, turning defence into attack better than any other team," lead commentator Psaltis said.
Tayla Predebon looked to have barged over with 12 minutes to go, but it was sent up as a no try to the Bunker and replays showed Lauren Dam got her hand under the ball and dislodged it from the Knights prop's grasp before the planted it down.
"What a huge play at this stage of the game - that's exceptional," Allana Ferguson said.
Brisbane cruised through the final period with their class and experience in big games proving too much for the Knights.
It sets up a tantalising grand final next weekend between the two best sides in the competition all season long after the Roosters outlasted the Sharks on Saturday.
