Our fast outside backs were causing them massive trouble running in behind the ruck. More of that please.
Too many overenthusiastic attempts to offload the ball. This will always happen but too often in that game.
Other than that, that game is reason for massive optimism. I thought we were the better team for most of the game. They made very few mistakes and got some lucky calls with penalties and six again calls. And we were missing 3 of our best players.
Our girls didn't win but they absolutely, emphatically, well and truly put to bed the idea the Broncos are unbeatable.
Brisbane Broncos beat St George Illawarra to stay unbeaten in NRLW
Brisbane Broncos have gone outright top of the NRLW ladder with a tense 22-18 win over St George Illawarra Dreagons.
Both teams entered Sunday's contest unbeaten, but premiers Brisbane made it three straight wins to start their 2022 campaign as Hagiga Mosby's try with four minutes remaining proved the difference.
The 21-year-old crossed after St George levelled the scores with 10 minutes remaining through a deft reverse pass from Quincy Dodd, which allowed Elsie Albert to score her maiden NRLW try from close range. The Papua New Guinean was impressive through the middle all afternoon as the Dragons dominated the second half only to be undone by Brisbane's lethal left edge.
With a 12-6 lead at the main break through tries by Tallisha Harden and Tarryn Aiken, the Broncos were pinned inside their own half to start the second as the Dragons' middle forwards made inroads.
And when Page McGregor found Shaylee Bent with a cut-out pass on their 30m line, the second rower showed a clean pair of heels to fend off and streak away to level the scores at 12-12.
Brisbane fired back shortly after with their first real opportunity of the second stanza through their right edge, going through the hands as Shenae Ciesiolka found Emily Bass who dotted down in the corner.
Albert's try and Rachael Pearson's conversion levelled the scores at 18-18, but Mosby was too strong in the corner late as Brisbane held on. Bent and Emma Tonegato were both strong with their carries for St George Illawarra as the pair both finished with more than 150 run metres for the game.
For the Broncos, last years NRLW Dally M player of the year Ali Brigginshaw combined well with halves partner Aiken to capitalise on the width their forwards provided. But it was Amber Hall (19 runs, five tackle busts) and Millie Boyle who laid the platform for the Broncos' offence, finding numerous offloads to stretch their opponents and power Brisbane to their third win of the season.
Brisbane Broncos score late to edge St George Illawarra Dragons in thriller
Brisbane have overcome a huge scare to maintain their winning streak in the NRLW to beat St George Illawarra 22-18.
In a fiery and very tense contest, a late try to Hagiga Mosby broke the hearts of the Dragons, who pushed the defending champions to the limit in perfect conditions in Sydney's west.
With scores level at 18-18 late in the contest, it was a play on the left edge which secured the points for the Broncos, who extend their winning streak to 10 since 2019. Earlier, the Broncos took a 12-6 lead into the break but were dealt a blow early in the second half with star fullback Tamika Upton failing to return from a HIA assessment
St George Illawarra levelled the scores shortly after with a runaway try to back-rower Shaylee Bent setting up a grandstand finish in a fiery clash between two sides sitting at the top of the table. Brisbane returned serve with a 55th minute try on the right edge through Emily Bass but the Dragons weren't done with yet when Elsie Albert crashed over next to the posts from short ball.
Snapshot of match
St George Illawarra's 18 points was the most points ever scored against Brisbane during a game NRLW history.
Broncos fullback Tamika Upton and Dragons winger Keele Browne left the field in the 38th minute after clashing heads.
The Dragons lost Kezie Apps (hand) and Talei Holmes (wrist) pre-game for a consecutive week.
Broncos utility Jada Ferguson was placed on report in the 45th minute for an alleged hair pull.
The Dragons lost Tegan Dymock to a suspected broken hand.
The Broncos completed at 84 percent and enjoyed 54 percent possession.
St George Illawarra led the game in line breaks 5-3.
Play of the Game
It may not have won them the game but Shaylee Bent's long-range effort to get the Dragons back to even was one for the highlight reels. Bent isn't known for her speed but the Dragons back-rower delivered a second half try to remember when she gathered a Page McGregor pass and ran 60 metres, beating fill-in fullback Hayley Maddick to the line.
What they said
"I think we learned a few tough lessons today on what it takes to be a championship side and they showed us. The way we started the game, you make your own luck. I felt like the tries we conceded weren't within our defensive plans and we tried to solve it ourselves. We're happy we pushed them the whole way but do we want more in this competition? Of course we do." - Dragons coach Jamie Soward.
Brisbane Broncos survive huge scare against the St George Illawarra Dragons
A Hagiga Mosby try with five minutes to play kept the Broncos’ undefeated start to the season against a valiant Dragons side, who fell 22-18. Missing star forward Kezie Apps, the Dragons became the first team in NRLW history to score three tries against Brisbane when Elsie Albert joined Keele Brown and Shaylee Bent on the scoreboard.
Albert’s try and subsequent Rachael Pearson conversion levelled the score at 18-all, but Brisbane kept their composure, marched their way into the Dragons’ half and put their noses in front. No team has emerged from a clash with Brisbane with premiership points this season but the Dragons showed they’re beatable. “I’m always proud of the girls’ efforts,” coach Jamie Soward said.
“It’s really tough to play rugby league, and the sacrifices the girls make by working, turning up, doing weights till 8:30 at night. I’m always proud of them. “I think we learnt some really tough lessons today about what it takes to beat a championship side -they showed us.” Soward has had enough of Apps sitting alongside him in the coaches box, and is set to inject his captain back into the fold against Newcastle on Sunday.
The NRL has apologised to St George Illawarra officials for a refereeing blunder that cost the Dragons’ NRLW side an upset win over three-time premiers the Broncos last week. The Broncos won 22-18 but were awarded a try from a blatant off-side. If it had happened in a men’s game, we’d have been reading about it for days. The NRL has been serially raping St George Illawarra for years!!! I'm so sick of it. Right up to the Su'A sin-binning last night.