NRLW finals updates: Ugly head knock ends Titans star’s grand final dream

Round of applause of the left edge defence of the Gold Coast Titans, that was incredible.

The Broncos have really lifted in attack but the Titans are rising with them. Tamika Upton had her eyes on diving over in the corner but she was taken down beautifully by Jaime Chapman.

Upton was pleading for a penalty but she wasn’t getting one. Chapman was loving it and was so fired up. The Titans replicated her efforts and have denied the Broncos a chance from snatching another try.

Ruan Sims has been left stumped as the Gold Coast Titans warn a penalty after Indie Bostock was tackled in the air ... only, I don’t think she was.

Bostock went up to collect a Jesse Southwell high ball and beat out Julia Robinson to catch it, but she lost control and it fumbled out in front of Ali Brigginshaw.

The whistle was blown, however, and a tackle in the air call was made. The players all look slightly confused but the Broncos cannot challenge it.

It was a lucky call for the Titans as the Broncos looked ready to pounce.

We are back underway with the second half of the NRLW preliminary final.

Will the Broncos be able to hold on and secure a spot to defend their premiership title against the Sydney Roosters? Or will the Titans produce an epic comeback?

It has not been an easy journey via Sydney trains for Newcastle fans this afternoon, but I do have an update on the transport situation for you all.

Transport NSW are recommending all fans travelling from Newcastle to Olympic Park do allow for extra travel time due to the freight train issue at Warnervale.

Trains are back in operation between Newcastle and Wyong, but they are moving at slower speeds. Additional buses are still in operation also.

Replacement buses are running as express services or as required to Hornsby, where fans can join a T1 North Shore or T9 Northern Line train.  

Sydney Trains Head of Rail Operations, Jas Tumber, says the disruptions on the train line is adding at least one hour of addition travel to passenger journeys.

“We apologise for this inconvenience and thank passengers for their patience. Pacific National have mobilised their repair crews to temporarily repair the failed freight train as soon as possible,” he said in a statement.

“We are encouraging passengers to allow extra time for their journeys and to follow the directions of station staff.”

With the grand final just over a week away, here is what the nine.com.au team this afternoon predicts will take place.

Nic Negrepontis has not lost hope in the Gold Coast Titans as of yet and believes the girls can bounce back to defeat the Titans by four in the second half.

While I’d love to see the Titans make the grand final, I just think the Broncos are too classy on the field and will get the job done. Sophie Wisely agrees.

As for the NRL, you can see our predictions below.

Alyssa Bone: Panthers by 10

Sophie Wisely: Panthers by 4

Nic Negrepontis: Knights by 10

That is a wrap of the first half of this preliminary final.

A number of Titans fans have shown up to the stadium in hopes of seeing their dream of making a grand final coming true – it is not looking promising.

The Broncos have shown their experience and class over the past 35 minutes, with Jesse Southwell and Tamika Upton taking complete control of this game.

A number of rugby league greats predicted ahead of this match that the grand final will be a Brisbane Broncos-Sydney Roosters duel.

At the end of the first half, it looks like that could be the exact outcome.

The Broncos have stamped another four points on the board via Julia Robinson in the corner. It was just too easy.

“They are looking dangerous,” Ruan Sims said of the Broncos on Nine.

Jesse Southwell is well and truly fired up for this game and she has helped lift the Broncos to another gear on the field.

The Titans are working overtime in defence and are still adapting to the hole left by Sienna Lofipo. But the hosts are struggling to stop the Broncos from scoring.

While a knock-on call was missed in the build-up to Lauren Dam’s try, a quick play of the ball and slick pass out to Upton eventually set up the next four points.

Dam was the player to get the job done, crashing over three defenders to score.

There is two minutes left in the first half. The Broncos lead 16-4.

Sienna Lofipo has failed her head injury assessment and will now have to adhere to an 11-day stand down as per the NRL’s concussion protocols.

The ruling means the 21-year-old will miss the grand final if the Titans qualify.

There is some more injury concern for the Titans now, with Destiny Mino-Sinapati going down with an apparent ankle concern.

While trainers attend to the young winger’s needs, the Broncos have called for a captain’s challenge following a messy run of the ball.

It looked to have been knocked on by a Broncos player and then palmed towards the middle of the field, where the play was eventually stopped.

It did not take long for the bunker to determine that the ball was played in an offside position after the ball came loose in a tackle.

In the next set, there was some concern for Jesse Southwell after she hobbled out of a brutal tackle on the edge. She has managed to play on.

Mino-Sinapati also has stayed out on the field.