2020 vision: Broncos 'bonded for life' and chasing more glory

Chelsea Lenarduzzi allowed herself a moment of relief when the Broncos won the preliminary final against the Knights, after many years of falling just short, her side were finally back into a grand final.

One of three “OGs” from their triumph in the inaugural NRLW season in 2018 alongside Ali Brigginshaw and Julia Robinson, Lenarduzzi said after failing to take their chances in the finals, it was a special feeling to be back in the decider after last winning in 2020.

“I think we've had a team that we felt should have done better the last few years, so I guess for this group, it's good to finally get the opportunity,” the three-time premiership winning prop said.

“We've got lots of girls that have been here for the last three seasons where we haven’t reached our potential, so there's kind of a feel amongst the team that 'we're finally there' kind of thing.

“And I think it's extra special obviously, because the men are in as well, so the club's buzzing.”

However, the satisfaction of making the grand final was quickly replaced by a determination to make sure they were ready for the challenge against the minor premiers the Roosters, the only side to have beaten them this year.

“I guess the relief is that we felt that we should have been there the last couple of years … I think we're ready to rumble,” Lenarduzzi said.

“I don't think it'll be an issue getting up for another game.

“We've actually done nothing (this year yet), no one remembers the runners up, you don't get a ring; you don't get put on the walls of your club for coming second.

“We want to be bonded for life, this group.

“It's one of the tightest teams I've ever been involved in … we've just been through a lot the last few years.

“Lots of people have had a lot of personal things that have gone on that the team’s got them through.”

As well as Lenarduzzi, Brigginshaw and Robinson, the Broncos have two more players who were part of the 2020 premiership triumph, with this year’s Dally M Medal winner Tamika Upton and utility back Shenae Ciesiolka also part of the team.

For Ciesiolka, who missed the opening stages of the season after rupturing her MCL in Game Three of this year's State of Origin series, the build up to this year’s grand final has been a much different experience, given the protocols in place back then in the COVID-affected season.

“It's a bit surreal because when we were back there in 2020, it was a COVID year, so we didn't really get the chance to experience the grand final week and what it involved,” Ciesiolka said.

“We haven't been back there since then … so it'll be very busy and full on, but our task is just to focus on the game and the rest will handle itself.

“It's been a long time coming and it's been disappointing the last few years to get knocked out, so everyone's really looking forward to it, just to know that we've done the work throughout the season to get to where we are now.

“It was great to get the win on the weekend, but the job's not done yet.

“We've got a great team at this club, we've got a great culture, coaching staff as well are all amazing, so it's going to continue to build.

“We've done that throughout the season and just gone upwards from there.

“It all comes down to this weekend, but the energy is definitely there and everyone's really excited.

“Some of us have played in the grand final before, but most of the team haven't; they're all very new, very young, and it'll be an awesome experience for them.

“Even for myself, last time was the COVID year and back then it wasn't really a massive, massive thing, so to be able to get to play in another grand final this weekend is something really special and exciting.

“In 2020, it was a chartered flight down there and we played and then had to leave; and then we had the celebrations as a team afterwards, where we had to come back to the club here.

“We weren't allowed to go and do anything, but it was very it was good in a sense that it was just our team together.

“Even on the chartered flight home, it's just us. It wasn't really the full experience, I guess, with the fans and the crowd and everything like that, all the media and things like that.

“It'll definitely be new to some people and definitely a different experience that the girls experiencing the craziness and the vibes and everything.”