Dragons into NRLW grand final after beating Roosters
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St George Illawarra have booked their spot in the 2019 Holden Women's Premiership grand final with a 24-16 victory over the Roosters in the first NRLW standalone fixture at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
A double to Dragons centre Jess Sergis, who was the difference between the two sides with a player-of-the-match performance, set up the win in front of 2293 people at the suburban venue.
The Dragons will meet defending champions Brisbane in next week's decider at ANZ Stadium, to be played before the men's NRL grand final, with Sunday's victory seeing them leapfrog the Warriors on points differential.
Sergis said St George Illawarra were confident of toppling the Broncos on grand final day.
"The girls know what we did wrong in that round one game with silly little errors that we have fixed up," Sergis said after the game.
"I believe in all of the girls, I feel good and can't wait. The group we've got this year and the coaching staff I think we've repaid the favour."
Tries to Sergis, Shakiah Tungai and Tiana Penitani in the first half enabled the Dragons to lead 16-10 at the break.
Sergis, who was marking opposite number Isabelle Kelly in a cracking match-up, got the upper hand with a one-on-one strip on the golden boot winner to race 40 metres to the line.
Sergis intercepts her way to a double
"We were six down and I knew we had to even the score, it all happened quickly," Sergis said.
"I knew I had to jam and get in her face. The ball was there and I took it instead."
Penitani and Tungai crossed each within three minutes to follow but the Roosters struck back after half-time through retiring veteran Ruan Sims to level the scores.
Match: Dragons v Roosters
Round 3 -
home Team
Dragons
2nd Position
away Team
Roosters
4th Position
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Sims, who announced her retirement earlier in the week, was lifted from the field to a standing ovation after playing the final game of her career.
"Hopefully the way I played today is the way people will remember how I played my career - tough, strong and ran hard," Sims said.
"I feel like I executed that today and I'm proud of everyone around me who gave me that opportunity."
The Tricolours looked like threatening further on their way to causing an upset until an individual piece of brilliance from Sergis, who latched onto a Mel Howard pass to race 80 metres against the run of play, swung momentum back into the Dragons' favour.
A penalty goal from in front with four minutes remaining clinched the result late for the Dragons.
Making matters worse for the Roosters, they lost Isabelle Kelly to a concerning leg injury, while Hannah Southwell was placed on report ahead of the international Nines and Test match next month.
The Roosters' disappointing campaign may have continued on the scoreboard but they came out of the blocks firing to score first and deliver arguably their best performance of the season.
The side crossed first through Howard after some strong lead up work from Roosters fullback Corban McGregor who weaved her way through the line.
Roosters rookie Shanice Parker was called into the side for Kiana Takairangi and was strong on debut with an intercept and line break that led to the side's second through fellow debutante Bobbi Law.
