Broncos stay winless, Sharks squeak home in NRLW

Brisbane have slumped to a second straight loss to start the NRLW season, beaten 28-12 by the Sydney Roosters and left anchored to near the bottom of the ladder.

A genuine premiership contender, Brisbane found themselves four points behind the leading pack of Gold Coast, Cronulla and Newcastle.

The start marks the third year in a row the Broncos have gone 0-2, missing the finals in 2022 before recovering to reach them last year.

After being beaten by Parramatta last week, Brisbane appeared a better side for the first 25 minutes at Allianz Stadium on Sunday before the wheels fell off.

They led 6-4 for the majority of the first half, on the back of a Keilee Joseph linebreak before a Romy Teitzel try.

But the Broncos conceded two tries to the Roosters before the break as Taryn Aiken took charge and led the Tricolors to a 16-6 lead.

Brisbane were then their own worst enemies the second half, completing at just 60 per cent and both the Roosters’ tries coming directly off errors.

In contrast, the hosts’ attack looked much improved on last week’s loss to Newcastle.

Aiken was superb, spinning and dummying his way over to score in the first half before scooping up an error and running 45 meters to score in the second.

Jess Sergis also finished with a double, benefiting when Aiken sent the ball right, before intercepting a Destiny Brill offload and going 90 meters to score.

Sam Bremner impressed on his first game back from a 20-month retirement, doubling up on a play in the lead up to the Roosters’ first try and pulling off a try-saving chase in the second half.

Earlier, Cronulla defended a pre-match injury to five-eighth Emma Tonegato (calf) and the loss of fullback Jada Taylor (knee) in the second half to keep their undefeated start in tact with an 18-16 win over Parramatta.

Sharks halfback Tayla Preston set up the winning try and kicked the decisive conversion as the final five minutes approached.

At close range, Preston’s kick ricocheted from the legs of Eels center Rory Owen and into the grasp of Annessa Biddle, who crashed over after clumsy handling had cost her a certain try earlier.

Lining up for a moderately difficult shot on the right side, Preston piloted the ball between the posts to move the Sharks into second place on the ladder.

The thrilling win came after Cronulla weathered a torrent of Parramatta possession in the first half, with the Eels ruing their inability to build a lead bigger than four points at the break.

The Sharks took their first lead of the day five minutes after halftime as hooker Quincy Dodd threaded a kick through the line for fullback Taylor to touch down.

Wooden spooners last season, Parramatta threatened to defy their doubters and snatch victory when Owen scooped the ball up after Georgia Ravics spilt Cassey Tohi-Hiku’s kick in the in-goal.

But ultimately they were left with a 1-1 record after Preston’s late heroics.