Well, we wanted a close, hard-fought game and both teams delivered in spades. It was a brilliant showcase of women’s rugby league – incredibly skilful with minimal errors, plenty of passion and fire and thrilling momentum swings. This competition has matured and has continued to improve with the four new teams entering this year. The Knights are looking to create a dynasty and if they keep this side together, they will be in with a good chance of doing so. However there is still a lot of player movement in this competition as it settles – so you never know what will happen next year!
The buildup to the men’s NRL decider has begun; join Jonathan Howcroft for that one here:
Thanks so much for joining me today, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Jump on over to our minute-by-minute report for the men’s game – let’s hope it’s as good as game as the women’s was! Goodbye and happy rugby league Christmas to you all!
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Nick Tedeschi’s match report is up now if you want to re-live all the drama and excitement of the game!
Knights captain Hannah Southwell is presented with her medal and she thanks the Titans for a great game.
“Congratulations to the Titans, you guys are a really tough side. I said that in round four, I knew you guys were going to be in the finals. Congratulations on a great season – Murph and Georgie, you should be very proud.”
She revs up the Newcastle fans, who have been brilliant this season.
“I’d like to thank all the Newcastle supporters for coming out today – how bloody good! To my girls, what a tough season this was, we knew we were going to be hunted this year. We wanted to flip that and be the hunters. I bloody love it and we’ll see you back in Newcastle!”
Titans captain Georgia Hale speaks now about the importance of people backing the women’s game.
“I’d just like to take the time to thank the NRL and everyone who has committed and contributed to the women’s game this season through the expansion and that have backed the success.”
Karyn Murphy Medal - Tamika Upton
Upton goes back to back with the Karyn Murphy Medal to go with her Dally M!
“To the Newcastle fans back home, we love you, thank you for your support. And lastly to the staff at Newcastle and the girls over there. A lot of the work goes unnoticed, but not within those walls. You girls are incredible, I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”
The Titans were in the contest the whole time – it will be fascinating to see what they can do next year if they can keep the team together.
So proud. pic.twitter.com/PGVwprvvTp
— Gold Coast Titans (@GCTitans) October 1, 2023
This was the Knights’ ninth straight victory, which is an NRLW record.
BACK-TO-BACK 🏆#NRLWGF pic.twitter.com/pZw7opEPS1
— NRLW (@NRLWomens) October 1, 2023
Full time! Newcastle 24-18 Gold Coast
What a grand final we have been treated to today – so many lead changes and swings in momentum. A deserving win for the Knights, but the Titans were sensational to take it to the defending premiers and should be proud of their efforts.
69 mins: Short kick off and the Titans regather it and will get one last shot at the line and the game. The crowd are finding their voice and the Titans push up to the line, but Canfield knocks it on just as they look like they might lock things up.
GOAL! Newcastle 24-18 Gold Coast
Jesse Southwell kicks the conversion and the Knights go six points ahead with just over two minutes remaining.
TRY! Newcastle 22-18 Gold Coast (Tamika Upton, 65 mins)
Huge moment here – Chantay Kiria-Ratu from the Titans drops the ball, it goes backwards, but is pounced on by Yasmin Clydsdale and the Knights are on the attack and heading for the line. Upton times her run perfectly, puts in a grubber and chases it to slam it down just before the dead ball line. Is this the game?
64 mins: This is going to be a big finish – the Knights have the momentum, but the Titans look determined. Pelite looks like she’s in trouble in her own in goal, but she makes it out and powers a few more metres down the field.
The Panthers are en route to the ground for the NRLM game and the Broncos fans don’t love it.
Penrith’s bus is shown on the big screen, prompting boos from thousands of Broncos fans already in the stadium. pic.twitter.com/23whZCgwDN
— Jack Snape (@jacksongs) October 1, 2023
GOAL! Newcastle 18-18 Gold Coast
Jesse Southwell converts the try and we’re all locked up with seven and a half minutes to go!
TRY! Newcastle 16-18 Gold Coast (Tamika Upton, 60 mins)
62 mins: Gallagher steals the ball from Chapman and it has energised the Knights as they swarm on the Titans’ line. Clydsdale makes a big play for the line, but the defence holds. But Upton finds the line after dummying and going herself.
60 mins: The Titans continue to kick towards Upton on the last tackle of their sets, which seems unwise considering how strong she is. It allows the Knights to start their set on their own terms. Destiny Mino-Sinapati has failed her HIA and will not return for the Titans.
58 mins: We’re getting close to the finish now and that flurry of scoring has dried up. The Titans are not looking as intense as they were and the Knights are starting to find a bit of space. Higgins runs through a gap and makes good metres before the Titans are able to pull her down. Pelite makes a great kick return to get the metres back.
56 mins: Elliston has been immense and another strong hit up for her sets the stage for the Titans to get right up to the line on the fifth tackle. Lofipo pushes for the line, but it doesn’t look like the best option – there have not been a lot of kicks put in close to the line to try to get repeat sets. Jesse Southwell goes for a 40-30 off the next set, but is just outside the 40 when she kicks.
54 mins: The Titans definitely have the momentum at the moment and after a strong set in attack, they look determined to pin the Knights down in their own end and set something up. They do a good job, but an awkward bounce on the kick looks like an error, but they get away with it and then pick up a penalty to boot.
52 mins: Mato loses the ball in a strong hit up and Hannah Southwell cleans it up. But unfortunately she appears to pick up an injury in the tackle by Mato. She plays on and I don’t think anyone is too upset about having another little break in this heat. Once they restart, the Knights swing it wide and Shanice Park dives over the line, but the Titans force her on to her back and hold her up over the line. Destiny Mino-Sinapati cops a knock to the head in the tackle and has to go off for an HIA. The Knights can’t do much after the held up call and are lucky to get a kick away.
50 mins: Another little break with Rima Butler from the Knights staying down after a tackle from Elliston. The Knights get a penalty and Elliston is on report for the tackle after leading with her forearm to Butler’s head. Upton gets the ball and the Titans swarm on her – they do not want to give her any space with the ball in hand. The Knights progress towards the tryline, but they’re not looking as free and easy as they did late in the first half. Upton puts in a grubber, but it’s way too big and doesn’t build pressure on the Titans.
48 mins: After a bit of time to rest and consider their options, the Knights get their field position, but the Titans throw everything at them in defence – rushing up on them, suffocating them and eventually forcing an error on Albert-Jones. They take that same energy into powering down the field into the Knights’ half and there’s a bit of biff happening after the kick chase. Referee Belinda Sharpe comes in to sort them out and calm things down. We’ve got an on field HIA for Nita Maynard from the Knights and she has come off for the mandatory 15 minute assessment.
46 mins: The Knights get their opportunity for some field position, but early in the set there’s an injury to Albert-Jones and she stays down, holding the area around her jaw and neck – so there will be some caution shown around this. She sits up and is looking OK. Elliston and Mato are about to come back on for the Titans to try to take this game away from the Knights.
Updated
45 mins: Plenty of confidence in this Titans team now, but they give away the ball with an error from Hancock, dropping the ball in the tackle.
GOAL! Newcastle 12-18 Gold Coast
Lauren Brown adds the two points and the Titans are flying!
TRY! Newcastle 12-16 Gold Coast (Jaime Chapman, 42 mins)
A powerful start to this half from the Titans’ forwards has really set the game up for them – big hit ups early in the sets are pulling them down the field and giving them space to run later in the set. An error in the kick return from the Knights gives the Titans another set play opportunity from a scrum and Chapman dives over for her third!
Updated
41 mins: Jorgensen’s shot at goal misses and the scores stay locked at 12 all.
TRY! Newcastle 12-12 Gold Coast (Jaime Chapman, 39 mins)
Off the back of that penalty, the Titans pull out a great set play and Chapman has a double in a grand final!
39 mins: Upton looks like she might make a break, but the Titans bring her down with a little ankle tap. In return Karina Brown makes a great kick return and powers her team up the field. They’re looking much less shell shocked after a break to consider what happened in that last period of the first half. They get a penalty from Albert-Jones holding on to the ball and bring the ball right up to Newcastle’s line.
37 mins: We’re away in the second half, with the Titans kicking off and the Knights picking up where they left off with a good first set. For the Titans, Steph Hancock is on the field – at 41 years old, she’s the oldest professional rugby league player in Australia.
The Knights fans in the crowd are happy – their team is in front, the shade is coming over and they’re staying cool!
Fans from Newcastle have found their voice as the Knights end the first half of the NRLW grand final on top. “It was a slow start but the girls have come through at the end,” says Dominique (second from left). “Happy with the scoreboard, but need more points in the second half.” pic.twitter.com/GeimXv3FRI
— Jack Snape (@jacksongs) October 1, 2023
Half time: Newcastle 12-8 Gold Coast
It looked like the Knights might score again in the last minute, but they got a bit overexcited and overran the ball a few metres out. It was a wildly swinging half – starting with both teams taking it up to each other and looking evenly matched. Then the Titans started to pull ahead, they attacked the line hard time after time and took advantage of the penalties the Knights gave away to put eight points on the board. But once the Knights found their way into the Titans’ half, they were unstoppable. Upton has looked dangerous every time she has touched the ball and their whole back line is humming.
Despite the pressure of the game, the teams have been incredibly tidy – the Titans have completed 15 of their 16 sets and the Knights have completed 13 of their 15. There have only been three errors in total in the game so far.
It certainly looks like the Knights are on top, but with the Titans getting a break to regroup and take a breath, can they force their way back into this match?
Updated
34 mins: Gallager has a shot at goal this time, but again it goes across the face as the clock begins to wind down. The Knights are looking supremely confident and Johnston comes out with a huge hit up to start the set.
TRY! Newcastle 12-8 Gold Coast (Shanice Parker, 31 mins)
Jesse Southwell couldn’t convert again – this time from the other sideline – so we’re all tied up with three minutes until half time. The Knights are looking very much up and about now and I suspect half time can’t come quickly enough for the Titans. The Knights get yet another penalty a couple of tackles into the first set after their try and they’re getting piggy backs up the field. The Titans are desperately trying to slow them down, but they can’t manage it and Upton sets up another beautiful try – Chapman rushes in on her and she just floats it out to Shanice Parker who runs straight through a gap untouched to score.
Updated
TRY! Newcastle 8-8 Gold Coast (Sheridan Gallagher 28 mins)
A knock on ruled against Shaylee Bent and she calls for a captain’s challenge, but Kasey Badger in the bunker rules that she has dropped it and the challenge is unsuccessful. The momentum has swung towards the Knights after the Titans dominated early and Sheridan Gallagher takes advantage of it to run straight through a gap and score.
Updated
28 mins: Jesse Southwell couldn’t convert the try from the sideline, but the Knights will be pleased to be on the board. The Titans put up a great kick from the kick off, but the Knights are all over it and Upton again looks dangerous with a run as they progress up the field. Jesse Southwell puts up a brilliant kick from the last tackle and it looks like trouble for the Titans, but Shanice Parker gives away a penalty with some high contact.
Updated
TRY! Newcastle 4-8 Gold Coast (Jasmin Strange 24 mins)
It’s the first time we’ve seen the Knights down in the Titans half for quite a while and they’re clearly determined to come away with points. Roche put in a lovely ball to Upton, who holds it for a second and hits her timing perfectly to get the ball to Jasmin Strange to score in the corner.
Updated
24 mins: The Titans are still favouring the left side and it seems to be working for them so far. I’d expect the Knights to be talking about how to cut that off during the half time break. The Knights get their first penalty and they’re celebrating it like it was a try! Elliston is the player penalised for holding the player down too long.
Updated
22 mins: That was a handy penalty for the Titans, it gives them a little bit of breathing room. Mato starts the next set with another huge hit up – she’s been so strong so far today.
PENALTY GOAL! Newcastle 0-8 Gold Coast
Canfield takes the kick 22m out and right in front and she takes the Titans more than a converted try ahead.
20 mins: Jesse Southwell is looking tired in back play, but once she gets the ball, she puts up a much better kick than the set before, so she’s clearly coping OK for now. Evania Pelite is chatting to a trainer as well – just a reminder that it is VERY hot out there today. The Knights give away yet another penalty, with a hair pull. They’re taking the two – going for the penalty goal right in front.
18 mins: A bit of a dodgy kick from Jesse Southwell to end their set – are the Knights a bit rattled after going behind early? They are not accustomed to playing from behind. A huge run from Elliston gets the Titans back down to the tryline, but Upton saves the day for the Knights by pouncing on a loose ball.
16 mins: A huge try from the Titans and they look energised now. They play another strong set to pin the Knights down in the back corner.
Updated
GOAL! Newcastle 0-6 Gold Coast
Zara Canfield knocks the conversion over and the Titans go six ahead.
TRY! Newcastle 0-4 Gold Coast (Jaime Chapman, 13 mins)
Another penalty against the Knights puts the Titans back on the front foot and they immediately centre the ball with some strong hit ups, before swinging it out wide to the left side we noted before and Chapman dives over to score the opener.
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12 mins: Huge tackle from Caitlan Johnston – the Knights are looking confident with their defence at the moment, despite the intent shown by the Titans. Their game plan looks to be a defensive focus to start the game and holding their attacking flair back until they have let the Titans tire themselves out. It’s not a bad shout if so, let’s see how it goes. Hannah Southwell, the Knights captain, is on the ground clutching at her thigh, let’s hope it’s nothing too serious. Southwell missed the grand final last year with a knee injury and is an important part of the team this season. She looks to be OK for now and will play on.
10 mins: A good offload from Mato gets things moving and the Titans are looking the team with more intent in attack right now. They make a play at the try line with a deft little grubber kick, but Upton picks it up and threads the needle to make it back into the field of play – brilliant work from the Dally M winner.
8 mins: The Titans are playing a fair bit down the left side – we’ll keep an eye on some runs down that side as the game progresses. They got very close to the try line in that set, but the Knights are so strong in their try line defence. In return the Titans grind out a great defensive set to hold the Knights down in their own half.
6 mins: Clydsdale busts through one tackler, but the Titans keep their line strong and have back ups to take her down. The Knights put up a decent kick and the Titans start the set deep in their own half. The Knights have got a slushie maker on their bench in an important update!
4 mins: The Titans are awarded the first penalty of the game and they start their set just inside Newcastle’s half. Mato makes a strong hit up in the middle of the field – you can see those post-contact run metres going up as she pushes through. The ball goes to ground, but it’s ruled backwards and they finish the set just 5m out from Newcastle’s line.
2 mins: Evania Pelite takes the first hit up from fullback and the Titans showed plenty of intent in the first set of the game. Not the most challenging kick to finish the set, but they’ll feel like they’ve shaken the nerves out just completing that first set. The Knights complete their first set too and no one has blinked yet.
Kick off!
Here we go! The Knights have kicked off and we’re underway in the 2023 NRLW grand final.
Kick off is just minutes away and fans are assembling in the stadium. Newcastle had a huge crowd at the semi final last week and some of those fans have made the trip down the highway for the grand final.
Newcastle fans are arriving to watch their side attempt to win back-to-back NRLW premierships. Ifthcah (left) says the NRLW product is “quality” and his family has been to the standalone games, but the grand final double header is “good to celebrate the game rather the gender”. pic.twitter.com/mGQ1wDVKjn
— Jack Snape (@jacksongs) October 1, 2023
For the Titans, the player to watch is Shannon Mato. Mato won prop of the year at the Dally Ms this week and she is a hugely powerful and smart player. She leads the competition in post-contact run metres, with a huge 745m – over 100m more than the closest competitor. In defence, she’s made 245 tackles this season at an impressive 92.5% efficiency rate. The Titans look best when she plays plenty of minutes, so hopefully for them she is ready to withstand the heat and stay on the field as long as possible.
Another update from Accor Stadium:
The NRLW grand final will go ahead in Sydney this afternoon without drinks breaks after the NRL’s readings of heat stress declined shortly after 3pm.
Drinks breaks during each half were taken during the State Championships game that concluded moments ago.
Although the temperature remains at 35 degrees at Olympic Park, the NRL has confirmed the halves of the women’s showpiece will not be interrupted.
The NRL’s heat stress measurements take in factors in addition to temperature. There are strong winds at Sydney Olympic Park, with recent gusts above 50km/h.
The NRLW decider between is due to kick-off at 3.55pm.
Updated
Most of the talk around this game has focused on Tamika Upton and for good reason. The Knights’ fullback picked up the Dally M during the week and has been having a sensational season. She averages the most metres of any player in the competition, with 2218m to her name to date and finished third in try assists. She will be the player that the Titans will be trying to nullify to give them a chance of winning this game. If the Knights come out on top, she could pick up the Dally M / Karyn Murphy Medal double, which would cap off an incredible year.
Our reporter Jack Snape is out at Accor Stadium and has some important weather updates for us:
Rugby league fans are preparing for a sweltering afternoon at the grand final double header, as the temperature at Sydney Olympic Park climbs past 35C.
Drinks breaks were introduced for the State Championships, won by South Sydney over the Brisbane Tigers 42-22 moments ago.
A decision on additional heat protocols for the NRLW grand final between Newcastle and the Gold Coast will be taken approximately half an hour before the match’s 3.55pm kick-off.
The teams have already been provided with additional eskies, bags of ice, misting fans and slushie machines in the dressing rooms to help handle the heat.
The NRL grand final between Penrith and the Brisbane Broncos kicks off at 7.30pm.
Team: Gold Coast Titans
1. Evania Pelite
2. Karina Brown
3. Jaime Chapman
4. Niall Williams-Guthrie
5. Destiny Mino-Sinapati
6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu
7. Lauren Brown
8. Shannon Mato
9. Brittany Breayley-Nati
10. Jessika Elliston
11. Zara Canfield
12. Shaylee Bent
13. Georgia Hale
Bench
14. Sienna Lofipo
15. Stephanie Hancock
16. Rilee Jorgensen
17. Danii Perese
Team: Newcastle Knights
1. Tamika Upton
2. Sheridan Gallagher
3. Shanice Parker
4. Abigail Roache
5. Jasmin Strange
6. Georgia Roche
7. Jesse Southwell
8. Tayla Predebon
9. Olivia Higgins
10. Caitlan Johnston
11. Laishon Albert-Jones
12. Yasmin Clydsdale
13. Hannah Southwell
Bench
14. Nita Maynard
15. Tiana Davison
16. Kayla Romanuik
17. Rima Butler
If you’re coming into this having not paid as much attention to the NRLW as you would have liked and are looking for a quick read to get you up to speed, I’ve got you covered!
Preamble
Here we are – grand final day in this longest season of the NRLW to date. It is a hot one – the temperature is currently a tick over 35 degrees at Sydney Olympic Park and the heat is going to be a real obstacle for the players in today’s game. With both teams being based in coastal cities, where the sea breeze cools these hot days down, it will be interesting to see how they cope with the oppressive western Sydney heat.
I think we’re in for a great game today – the Knights have gone about their business quite clinically all season and will be the favourites for today’s game, but the Titans are scrappy and opportunistic – they will pounce on any mistake and make their opposition pay, which was how they beat the Roosters to make it to the grand final.
I’m looking forward to a great contest – and I’m hoping a high scoring one! We’re about 40 minutes away from kick off, so let’s get into the nitty gritty and figure out how this game might play out.
