Mind games take off as Broncos chase underdog status

Jamie Feeney offered a wry smile when Ali Brigginshaw labelled the Roosters the NRLW's form team leading into Sunday's decider, just six days after claiming an eight-point win over their rivals.

The mind games from both coaches and captains were on full display at the Telstra Women's Premiership grand final pre-game media conference at Moore Park on Friday morning leading into ANZ Stadium's rematch of the 2018 combatants.

Having won two premierships and 10 of 11 games in the NRLW's short history, the Broncos were doing their best to turn the attention back on the Tricolours, who are yet to beat them in their four clashes.  

"We're going to have to be better than last week, I truly believe they're the in-form side," Brigginshaw said.

"Their defence was very strong last week and I give them full credit to Jamie Feeney, he's done a great job with them."

Brigginshaw and Broncos coach Kelvin Wright shared a laugh as Feeney returned serve shortly after over the Dally M Medallist's claims the Roosters were the favourites.

"It's interesting for Ali to tell us that we're the form team when we got beat," Feeney said.

"I don't think many of us read what's in the papers or read too much into it. We're just preparing to make history and beat the Broncos for the first time in three years.

"As a club, we haven't had a lot of success over the past couple of years in the NRLW. I guess we are slight underdogs.

"We don't really talk about it, we know Brisbane are a quality side and they deserve all the success they get.

"We just know if we can get our job done we'll push Brisbane and hopefully it will be enough for us. They've probably got the make-up of what will be the Queensland Origin team.

"We have to work hard and the girls work hard away from training. We'll have to be at our best."

The Broncos will welcome back key forward Amber Hall from a one-week suspension to add to an already mouth-watering match-up in the middle.

"Amber's got great impact in the game and is a handful to tackle," Wright said.

"She's not someone most people want to run into either. She's laidback, Amber, so her training is probably not reflective of the way she plays but she's a great boost for the team.

"We reviewed the game and there are some areas of the game we need to improve on.

"They put us under pressure in a few areas and we're going to have be strong especially through the middle."

The make-up of the side's final 17s are still yet to be determined.

Injured Roosters fullback Botille Vette-Welsh (hamstring) will look to prove her fitness for the decider in the side's training session on Friday afternoon.

"The fact she hasn't got to 100% running yet, it's going to be difficult for her to find space to take the field on Sunday," Feeney said.

"[But] we'll put her through another training session tonight and see how she goes."

Broncos rake Lavinia Gould (leg) is also racing the clock to be available for Wright's outfit with Chante Temara included on the interchange bench.

For Roosters playmaker Zahara Temara, she was playing down the opportunity of playing her little sister on the big stage on Sunday.

"She hasn't really given me much this season and I haven't really asked but I'm happy she made her debut last week and hopefully she does get a game this weekend," Temara said.

"But I'm not really thinking about that, I'm just thinking about what I can do better from last week to hopefully be on top at the end of Sunday."