Roosters outclass Titans to claim top spot
- Author
- Timestamp
The Roosters have finished the 2022 NRLW regular season as undefeated minor premiers after powering past the Titans 38-12 on Sunday afternoon at Central Coast Stadium.
Five first-half tries from the Roosters meant the game was all but over by half-time, with hooker Destiny Brill and wing Jayme Fressard both scoring doubles.
To their credit the Titans were much improved in the second period and momentarily threatened to fight their way back into the match thanks in large to a double from the NRLW's all-time leading try-scorer, Madison Bartlett.
The result means the Roosters will face the fourth-placed Eels in the opening week of the finals, while the Titans' season is over, after they'd gone into the match knowing a win would have lifted them into the playoffs.
Sergis has the speed
Despite being without two of their top-performing players this year, Raecene McGregor and Samantha Bremner, the Roosters didn't miss a beat, with stand-in halfback Jocelyn Kelleher impressing with a pair of try assists and line-break assists.
The Roosters did a good job of closing down Titans fullback Evania Pelite, who after setting a new NRLW record for metres gained in a match last week with a 300-metre haul, carried for just 62 metres on Sunday.
Match: Titans v Roosters
Round 5 -
home Team
Titans
6th Position
away Team
Roosters
1st Position
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Match snapshot
- The victory confirmed the Roosters as 2022 NRLW minor premiers and continued their unbeaten run this season.
- The Gold Coast made 14 errors and completed just 56 percent of their sets in the loss.
- The Titans appeared to have scored the first try through Kimiora Breayley-Nati, but a further look from the Bunker found she was offside in the lead up.
- On the very next set Destiny Brill burrowed over for a try which Zahara Temara converted for a 6-0 lead for the Roosters.
- Georgia Hale was put on report for a Dangerous Tackle in the 11th minute, and on the ensuing set after the penalty a nice offload from Olivia Kernick saw Jada Taylor score her first NRLW try.
- The Gold Coast then hit back through Madison Bartlett down the left wing, but minutes later Shaniah Power steamed through a gap for the Tricolours' third four-pointer.
- Isabelle Kelly sent Jayme Fressard over five minutes later before Jess Sergis bolted through directly off a scrum for a try in the shadows of half time.
- Shortly after Bartlett scored her second to make it 28-8, Kelly was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.
- Jetaya Faifua scored the Titans' third just before the hour mark, but any thought of a comeback was quickly thwarted by Brill's second try minutes later.
- Fressard put the icing on the cake with her second six minutes from time.
Play of the game
A lovely late ball from Olivia Kernick to set Jada Taylor up for a try on debut. One of the most exciting young prospects in the NRLW, Taylor showed good game awareness to claim the ball and dot down, capping off a strong first outing for the Roosters.
Debut delight for Jada
What they said
"Really happy with the performance of the girls. There were obviously some periods of the second half that weren't great with penalties and giving away possession made it hard but the fact the girls wrestled it back and finished on top is good. They set it up in the first half. The way the girls started was brilliant." - Roosters coach John Strange.
NRLW Roosters: Round 5
"It's really disappointing, to state the obvious. We came here really confident and had a good couple of weeks after playing well against the Eels. They came together well but it's been one bad game then one good game [this campaign]. I can't knock the girls' efforts from the start. It's a great group who train and work hard to fix things going wrong." - Titans coach Karyn Murphy.
NRLW Titans: Round 5
What's next
The season is over for the Titans after they fell short of claiming the final playoff spot, but their playing group will have little time to rest with several expected to take part in the World Cup which starts in October.
The Roosters will now prepare to face the Eels in the opening round of the finals next week, looking to continue what has been a brilliant title defence thus far.
