Prelim final blockbuster: Titans v Broncos
If premiers Brisbane are to defend their title, they will need to first get past the upstart Titans, who boast two of the game's most lethal attacking weapons in Teagan Levi and Jaime Chapman.
Levi has been a revelation in her first season in the NRLW after a glittering rugby sevens career, and she looks made for the big stage of a preliminary final against the four-time premiers.
With 18 tries between them, Levi and Chapman have been a constant threat to defences, and they combined for three tries and 248 run metres when the sides clashed in Round 8 as the Titans prevailed 28-20.
That was the third loss on the trot for the Broncos but the return of Ali Brigginshaw from suspension in Round 9 put the champs back on track and they have racked up 160 points to 60 across a four-game winning streak since then.
Follow the NRLW Preliminary Final action on NRL.com's live blog.
Titans v Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium
Match: Titans v Broncos
Finals Week 2 -
home Team
Titans
2nd Position
away Team
Broncos
3rd Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
13th min: What a way to get on the board! A fantastic high take from Destiny Mino-Sinapati who leaps on the left wing to reel in a great pump pass from Evania Isa'ako who was falling to the ground at the time. Lauren Brown can't convert from the left sideline and it's 12-4 to the Broncos.
9th min: Another try to the Broncos after being gifted more possession with back-to-back penalties. A great run at the line onto a pass from Southwell saw Romy Teitzel go over untouched with the Titans goal line defence found lacking in this instance. Southwell converts from in front and it's 12-0.
6th min: First points to the Broncos thanks to - who else - Tamika Upton. The Titans give up penalty late in the count inside their danger zone and the visitors make them pay. After being held up to the right of the sticks, the Broncos then go left to their fullback who steps back inside through multiple defenders to score. Jesse Southwell converts and it's 6-0.
Tamika Upton Try
Kick off: The Titans kick off and the Broncos have first use of the ball.
Match preview
Titans v Broncos: Finals Week 2
Late Mail
Titans: No game day changes after Jasmine Solia was added to the bench on Saturday with Sarina Masaga dropping out of the squad. Jess Elliston also dropped out of the reserves after falling short in her bid to return from a knee injury suffered in Round 1. Winger Indie Bostock had "a bit of a sniffle" earlier in the week but is back at training and ready to go. Phoenix-Raine Hippi is out with a collarbone injury, bringing Destiny Mino-Sinapati in on the wing. Georgia Grey has moved to the centres. In the forwards, Fanua Rimoni has overcome the flu to start at prop, shifting Eta Sikahele to the bench.
Broncos: The premiers are 1-17 with no late changes. With forward Bree Spreadborough out with a lower leg fracture suffered in last week's win over Newcastle, Reegan Hicks comes on to the bench. Caitlin Urwin is the 18th player. Captain Tamika Upton praised the work of five-eighth Ali Brigginshaw as she draws closer to her final game. “She's playing incredible footy, she definitely is playing each game like it is her last, but I've been most impressed with probably all her off the ball efforts ... she's probably doing all the things that you can't see on the stat sheets, so she's leaving it all out there and that only inspires the players around her."
Numbers Game
- The Titans defeated the Broncos 28-20 at Cbus Super Stadium in Round 8 this year.
- Broncos fullback Tamika Upton has scored eight tries in six games against the Titans.
- The Titans are chasing their 11th consecutive victory.
- Broncos halfback Jesse Southwell needs seven points to break the NRLW season points record.
- Titans winger Jaime Chapman has scored nine tries in her last nine games.
