NSW Waratahs have defended their Super W crown and clinched back-to-back titles with a hard-fought 43-21 victory over Queensland Reds at North Sydney Oval. The victory gives the Tahs their sixth women’s title in eight grand final appearances, and consigns their old rivals to a fifth grand final defeat and the sobering reality that they have never beaten their opponents in 13 attempts.
Having already claimed the title in five of the seven Super Rugby Women’s seasons, the Waratahs dominated the early exchanges and almost scored in the sixth minute when Arabella McKenzie kicked over the top into space, catching Reds fullback Charlotte Caslick by surprise. Desiree Miller fumbled that pickup on the line but made amends minutes later when she burst down the left, finding fullback Caitlyn Halse who flicked it inside to Georgina Friedrichs to charge 25m to the line and make it 7-0.
Halse and Miller continued to combine to lethal effect on the left and the Reds levee broke when Kaitlin Leaney peeled off as rolling maul and crossed in the corner for 12-0. Dizzy from the Waratahs onslaught and sapped from strong Sydney sun, the Reds kicked their way out of trouble, setting up camp and rolling through the phases only for Shalom Sauaso to twice cough up the ball in contact. The visitors finally found the stripe in the 28th minute when Eva Karpani drove a low road to the line.
A lovely Caslick cut-out pass almost had the Reds over again five minutes later but the turnover allowed the Tahs to unleash Maya Stewart. Twice the winger barrelled through multiple defenders to put her side on the attack. After raids on the right side, the Tahs spat the ball left where Friedrichs split the line and put Miller over. That try was disallowed when Friedrichs was adjudged to have put a foot into touch but the Tahs cashed in on the next play when Faliki Pohiva dotted down for 19-7.
Down two tries, and having lost all 12 of their previous games against the Waratahs, Queensland needed something special after the break. Centre Faythe Manera looked to have provided it when she broke free. But she was dragged down a metre short and the Reds raid fizzled out when the visitors fumbled again in the next phase. The spark came from No 15 Charlotte Caslick, the first-season Red who had switched to the 15-a-side game in the quest for Wallaroos selection at the Rugby World Cup in August.
Having won Olympic gold and World Cup glory with Australia’s sevens squad, the 30-year-old flattened Maya Stewart in a tackle, leaving the Tahs flyer down and out. The Reds huddle hunkered down and the plan they hatched bore fruit soon afterward when halfback Layen Morgan caught her old side napping with a quick tap to score. Suddenly, at 19-14, the Reds’ hopes of a maiden title after five grand final defeats was alive.
Miller finds space! 🏃♀️💨
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A 55th minute penalty from Arabella McKenzie made it a two-score margin again but the Reds refused to yield. With NSW down to 14 players after replacement prop Seneti Kilisimasi was sent to the bin for hitting Zoe Hanna high, the Queenslanders launched wave after wave of attack. But the blue wall held firm and when Miller pounced on another mistake and swerved and sprinted 50m to make it 29-14 the defending champions looked to have the game in safe keeping.
But again the Reds rallied. Desperate to overturn a 36-14 loss to the Tahs in the regular season fixture, they shrugged off their errors and started to show the sparkle that had seen them renounce 2024’s wooden spoon and win three straight to make the decider. Buoyed by fresh legs from an emptied bench, Queensland’s powerful pack rumbled into the danger zone with a rolling maul to put Cristo Taufua over and reduce the margin to eight at 29-21 with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Just as the comeback took stride, the defending champions snapped it at the ankles. NSW No 10 Caitlyn Haise darted infield as the opposition fanned across field and, after spinning through two tackles, she freed her arms and found Emily Robinson, the most capped player in Waratahs history, looming on her left shoulder. The veteran crossed under the posts to make it 36-21 and give the trophy engravers their final cue as Georgina Friedrichs, fresh from a hat-trick against the Western Force last week, iced the win with another surge to the stripe to make it 43-21 at the siren.
Miller was named player of the match and the triumph books the Waratahs’ place in the Super Rugby championship game against the winner of the Super Rugby Aupiki game between the Blues and Matatū. Despite a third grand final loss to their old foes, the Reds’ resurgence this year and the continued domination of the Waratahs at Super W level, is a boon for the women’s game in Australia. The Wallaroos will head into the Pacific Four Series in May, and the two Tests against Wales, with their tail up before heading to the World Cup in August where they can test their claims against the best in the game.
