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Women's NRL Grand Final: Brisbane Broncos End Roosters’ Unbeaten Streak in 22-18 Thriller The Brisbane Broncos have secured the NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW) title, defeating the previously undefeated Sydney Roosters 22-18 in a dramatic and high-quality Grand Final at Accor Stadium. The result marks the Broncos’ fourth NRLW premiership since the competition’s inception in 2018, reasserting their dominance and halting the Roosters' pursuit of a perfect season. The decider, played in front of a record crowd for the women’s competition, was defined by sharp momentum swings, controversial review decisions, and an exceptional individual performance from Broncos centre Mele Hufanga. Her match-winning try late in the second half proved the deciding factor in a contest widely described as the most compelling in the competition’s history. A Battle of Halves The match unfolded as a battle of contrasting halves, illustrating the tactical depth now integral to the women’s game. The Brisbane Broncos dominated the opening 35 minutes, establishing a comprehensive 12-0 lead at the break through tries from fullback Tamika Upton and halfback Jada Ferguson. The Broncos' tactical kicking game, led by captain Ali Brigginshaw, successfully pinned the Roosters in their own territory, starving the minor premiers of attacking opportunities. The Roosters, however, returned to the field with renewed intensity. In a stunning display of attacking prowess, the Sydney side overturned the deficit within minutes. Fullback Brydie Parker initiated the comeback immediately after half-time, cutting through the line to score a long-range try.
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This was swiftly followed by tries to Eliza Lopamaua and Mia Wood, capitalising on quick ruck speed and superior field position. With Jocelyn Kelleher maintaining a perfect conversion rate, the Roosters found themselves ahead 18-12 midway through the second half, threatening to blow the game open. Hufanga’s Defining Moment The final quarter of the match became a tense, end-to-end contest. Brisbane forward Shalom Sauaso reduced the margin to two points with a powerful surge from close range. The pressure then mounted, leading to the decisive moment in the 65th minute. Broncos centre Mele Hufanga, who had been relentless in attack throughout the afternoon, received the ball close to the line, powering through two desperate tackles from the Roosters' defence. The on-field decision of a try was referred to the Video Referee Bunker due to doubts over the grounding. Following an extensive review, the try was confirmed, and the subsequent conversion from Brianna Clark gave Brisbane the 22-18 lead they would ultimately hold onto. Hufanga’s performance, which included a game-high 199 running metres, was later acknowledged with the Karyn Murphy Medal for Player of the Match. Her impact highlighted the increasing importance of power and athleticism in the modern women's rugby league game.
Post-match, Tamika Upton, a Grand Final veteran, commented on the intensity of the occasion. “We got a bit comfortable at half-time there. The Roosters came back like the champion team they are, but I’m so proud of the girls, particularly our young ones stepping up,” she stated, reflecting on the crucial need for resilience in elite finals football. Context of Growth and Professionalisation Beyond the scoreboard, the 2025 NRL Women's Grand Final serves as a major milestone for the competition's ongoing professionalisation. The season saw the NRLW expand to 12 teams with the addition of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the return of the New Zealand Warriors, solidifying its place as a robust national competition. The season now runs for 11 weeks plus finals, a significant increase from the initial four-team, month-long tournament launched in 2018. The decision to host the women’s and men’s Grand Finals as a combined showcase at Accor Stadium drew a record aggregate attendance, underlining the rising commercial and public appetite for the women’s game. Commenting on the rapidly increasing quality, Grand Final match official Belinda Sharpe noted the change in dynamics over recent years. “This year the NRLW has gone from strength to strength, like we have seen every year,” Sharpe said ahead of the final. “The quality of football the girls are producing now has gone to another level.
We saw that in the Origin series, and I’m sure the Grand Final is going to be no different. I’m sure it’s going to be a great spectacle for the fan. ” The competition’s success is also driving growth at the grassroots level, with the NRL reporting that female participation in rugby league is on track to surpass 50,000 players, underscoring a clear pathway from junior leagues to the elite level. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has publicly stated the long-term vision is to see every NRL club eventually field a women’s team, reinforcing the league’s commitment to gender parity and expanding player contracts. An Outlook of Momentum The 2025 NRLW Grand Final delivered a contest fitting of the title, demonstrating not just the skill of the athletes, but the competitive parity across the expanded league. The Brisbane Broncos’ victory, achieved through determination and an influential individual effort, provides a crucial endpoint to a season that showcased the league’s greatest breadth of talent yet. As the competition enters its post-season, the focus will now shift to player movement and the continued development of the 12 club rosters. With pathways established and the quality of football demonstrably higher, the momentum generated by this closely fought Grand Final suggests the NRLW is set for further growth, both in audience size and in athletic performance, in the coming years.
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