The Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos meeting in the Grand Final struck as an inevitability in the preseason and even though the Broncos have had the odd misstep the two teams are set to square off in the decider for the fourth time in nine seasons.
We are nearing the end of the first decade of the NRLW and the two powerhouses have unquestionably been the Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos. These teams meet in their fourth Grand Final. Between them they have won six of the eight premierships and filled 11 of the 18 Grand Final slots. The Roosters have finished the last two regular seasons unbeaten while the Broncos have not lost any of their four deciders. This is a clash of the giants, a battle for the ages.
There is no doubt that the Roosters have been the better team this year and have a superior head to head record recently over the Broncos. The Chooks have won six of the last seven meetings with four of the last six being Roosters wins of at least 14 points.
It is the ability to show up in big games though that makes the Broncos look the value play. Brisbane, as noted, have never lost a Grand Final and did end an unbeaten Roosters season in last year’s decider. The Roosters have never won a finals game by more than 12 and have not won by more than 10 over the last four seasons.
This will be close but the value is certainly with the Broncos.
If Brisbane win, there is only one player to be on for the Karyn Murphy Medal and that is the iconic Tamika Upton. Upton has twice won the award and astonishingly has been part of the premiers in five of the last seven seasons. She is the greatest and the ultimate big game player and if the Broncos are to pull off the upset it will be on her shoulders.
Lauren Dam is always an excellent value tryscoring play with seven tries in 13 games this season. She has 20 tries in 43 games yet regularly starts north of $4.
Tamika Upton and Jess Sergis are the two greatest tryscorers in NRLW history. Upton has an extraordinary 61 tries in her 63-game NRLW career including five in deciders. Sergis has 45 tries in 58 games and has six tries in her last five games against the Broncos.
Tips
Best: Brisbane +7.5 ($1.90)
Next: Brisbane Win ($2.75)
Karyn Murphy Medal: Tamika Upton ($7.00)
Tryscorer: Lauren Dam ($26 First, $4.80 Anytime)
SGM: Lauren Dam Try/Tamika Upton Try/Jess Sergis Try ($19.20)
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