The Brisbane Broncos have stunned Cronulla in Robina to throw top spot wide open with a dramatic win over their NRLW premiership rivals.
In a match-up of first versus third, the Sharks looked to have held on in a physical encounter, before Brisbane scored with the last play of the match to win 20-16.
The ladder-leading Sharks went into the match with a point to prove after last week’s 40-0 thrashing by the Sydney Roosters.
In contrast, the Broncos had travelled to Newcastle and defeated the Knights 32-24.
The first half in Robina began with the Broncos getting the early score, with winger Stacey Waaka going over in the fourth minute to give her side the lead.
Powerful forward Ellie Johnston answered for Cronulla 10 minutes later. She crashed over, with the try awrded despite Brisbane’s appeals for having held her up.
The Sharks then took control of the match, but they could not find a way to convert their pressure on the scoreboard.Â
Gayle Broughton gave Brisbane the last say before the break, scoring her side’s second try with a minute on the clock. The Broncos led 10-6 at half-time.
Brisbane had a problem however, with Waaka picking up a leg injury, and although she tried to play on, she was on the bench for the second half.Â
Waaka ended the match in a moon boot, having sustained a suspected fracture.
Cronulla had a perfect start to the second half, forcing a penalty and then shifting the ball wide to the left, where skipper Tiana Penitani sent Cassie Staples over in the corner.Â
The try was converted to level things up at 10-10.
The Broncos had a chance to hit straight back, but Julia Robinson fumbled the ball as she dived to score in the corner.
The Sharks made them pay, with a break leading to Georgia Ravics closing to score their third try.
Tayla Preston then nailed the conversion from the sideline to make it 16-10.
The Broncos hit back with 15 minutes left, gaining substantial ground after a tap penalty before Robinson finally got on the scoreboard, diving over in the left corner.Â
The missed conversion left the score 16-14.
The Sharks defence then shut the Broncos down, however, repeatedly stopping them at the wrong end of the ground.
But a last-gasp attack in the final minute put the pressure back on Cronulla, and amid desperate defence, Chelsea Lenarduzzi reached out to plant the ball next to the posts.
The win puts the Broncos in front of Cronulla on points differential, but the Roosters can grab top spot with a win by more than two points against the Cowboys on Sunday.
