Only one club has achieved the same season NRL/NRLW Grand Final double up until this point. Given the unparalleled success of the Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW you could be forgiven for thinking instinctively of them. Rather it is Parramatta’s opponents this week in the Sydney Roosters that achieved that singularly unique feat way back in 2018 – in the inception year of the NRLW. Now the Eels find themselves knocking on the very same door.

With Brad Arthur’s men outlasting the North Queensland Cowboys, the challenge now falls to Dean Widders, Simaima Taufa and the women of our NRLW squad to emulate their NRL cohorts and unseat their higher seeded opposition. There is no doubt that the Eels are underdogs coming into this clash. Rank outsiders even. The Sydney Roosters have been the form team of the competition and accounted comfortably for the Blue & Gold 38-16 when they met back in Round 1.

Yet as impressive as the Roosters were on that day and have been since, that was the Eels at their worst. Only just now have we have finally seen them at their best after toppling the Broncos in an emotionally charged final round victory so there is plenty left unknown between the two teams ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster. And while the Roosters enter this game deservedly as strong favourites, sudden death footy is often the great equaliser.

We saw it in Townsville on Friday night, it is absolutely within the bounds of possibility that we can see it on Sunday. 1 game. 2 halves of driven, urgent, possessed footy. 70 quality minutes to leave it all out there. That is the equation for our girls this week.

Game Info

Date: Sunday September 25, 2022

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Kick Off: 3:50 PM, AEST

Referee: Belinda Sharpe

Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Broadcast: Nine, Fox League

The Teams

The Parramatta Eels

It feels like we all knew it was coming but Parramatta have been dealt a heavy blow with co-captain Tiana Penitani ruled out due to what I believe is a quadriceps injury. Abbi Church comes into the centres as her replacement and while I fully expect Abbi to epitomise the driven, focused spirit I wrote of above Penitani has proven herself to be a lethal presence down Parramatta’s left edge.

Still, opportunity can be the making of a player. Ironically, both Tom Opacic and Bailey Simonsson have delivered critical performances at the expense of the other in 2022. Never underestimate how important it is for a replacement to simply do their job. Can Church do the same now on the biggest stage our NRLW has taken?

That is the solitary change forced upon the hands of Dean Widders ahead of this do-or-die clash. Otherwise the Parramatta Eels will field the same team that upset the Broncos 28-16, which could very well include similar late changes. That means Brooke Anderson would start over Seli Mailangi while Filomina Hanisi slides back to the bench for Kennedy Cherrington.

Consistency and stability of the roster allowed the Eels to slowly build through the regulation season despite bad luck, missed opportunities and some rather awful video review officiating. Every ounce of knowledge, of understanding and of familiarity with each of their teammates now needs to be extracted with maximum efficiency. Individuals need to play well but the team needs to be greater than the sum of its parts. Leverage the frustrations of a string of close losses, lean on your underdog tag, channel the emotional volcano of an incredible win over the Broncos. Use each and every resource, tangible or intangible, in your possession this week ladies.

The Sydney Roosters

They are the benchmark this season and for good reason. Samantha Bremner has been simply brilliant for the Roosters in her return to the NRLW and alongside Jessica Sergis and captain Isabelle Kelly gives the Tri-Colours absolutely electric pace on both sides of the ruck. The trio proved to be hugely problematic for the Eels back in Round 1 and both our left and right edge defenders will need to be aggressive, decisive and physical in order to limit their impact.

If only it stopped there but the Roosters also field an almighty forward pack headed by powerhouse props Sarah Togatuki and Mya Hill-Moana. Lock forward Keilee Joseph has elevated her game to imperious heights this season to form a legitimate triumvirate of middle forwards. Joseph average over 160m a game alongside a tick under 24 tackles. Oh and she has missed 5 tackles. Not on average. 5 total tackles.

The professional pairing of Zahara Temara and Racene McGregor are the perfect foils for the blend of brutal power and slick speed around them and indeed the rest of the roster fills out beautifully with a high quality supporting cast. This team is the complete package. They are fast, fit and extraordinarily competitive. They can and will beat you conventionally but if you give them the chance, they will go for your throat. We bore witness to that in Round 1. Limiting mistakes and controlling the football are but two key steps to beating them. The Eels will also need to take their shots in what could be limited opportunities. It is a huge ask when put down in black and white like that but that is what it takes to beat the best.

Key Players

Brooke Anderson

Brooke will find the ball in her hands plenty throughout Sunday’s game, such is the nature of a dummy half after all. She seemingly has a more expansive licence to play heads up footy from her coach and that means she can attack our opposition from unconventional angles. That can be a double-edged sword at times with cheap turnovers early in red zone sets potentially swinging momentum.

Yet, she represents something of a wild card to the Roosters. Someone they need to possibly assign more defensive resources to than they would like. Her ability to dart from the ruck and grubber through the front line make her incredibly frustrating to defend if she finds range and the second of hesitation that could cause for Samantha Bremner around the posts could be the difference to a centre or winger touching down out wide.

Ashleigh Quinlan

Ashleigh Quinlan arrived in a big way in Round 5. While Tayla Preston has been the steadying hand at halfback for a number of weeks, Quinlan finally paid out on the flashes of talent seen throughout this season with a standout 3 line break assist, 3 try assist performance that featured some of the best long passing you will find in the NRLW. Her blossoming connection with Zali Fay has the potential to yield a critical try (or hopefully 2!) against the Roosters while the threat of her own running game can hopefully produce points.

Rikeya Horne

Parramatta’s pound-for-pound beast has carved out a home in the centres this season after starting the campaign on the wing. I believe she matches up against Isabelle Kelly on Sunday and she will need to be razor sharp on both sides of the ball up against one of the games premier centres. Defensively she will need to communicate clearly and be assertive in her decision making with Cassey Tohi-Hiku. Conversely I hope the Eels feed her some quality ball in attack and let her spot up against Kelly. Horne has shown a quality right foot step and the ability to fight through contact near the goal line.

The Usuals

Yep, all of them. Simaima Taufa. Kennedy Cherrington. Gayle Broughton.

All three were some degree of excellent, outstanding or transcendental against the Broncos and that is the bar that must reach again this week. In big time games you look to your big time players and the stage is set for all three to usher the Eels into their first ever NRLW grand final.

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