Sydney Roosters defeat St George-Illawarra to win maiden premiership

Sydney Roosters have won the 2022 NRLW premiership, vanquishing the demons of NRLW grand final losses in 2018 and 2020, to come from behind and defeat St George Illawarra 16-4 at Moreton Daily Stadium in Redcliffe.

The Dragons opened the scoring the first time they took possession in the second minute. Emma Tonegato’s fast catch-and-pass found winger Madison Bartlett on the fly. The Kiwi national, who was suspended in March on a biting charge, crossed in the corner to give the Red V an early 4-0 lead. Bartlett’s eighth four-pointer of the season extended her lead as the record try-scorer in NRLW history.

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The Jamie Soward-coached St George-Illawarra side had gone into the decider as firm favourites, their fine form all season capped off on Thursday when Dragons No 1, fullback Emma Tonegato, was awarded the Dally M Medal, a prize she shared with Broncos prop Millie Boyle.

Things got worse for the Roosters in the 20th minute when winger Brydie Parker went down with a knee injury. To salt the wound, Parker copped a shoulder to the head as she fell, resulting in Dragons five-eighth Taliah Fuimaono being sent to the sin bin.

In the shadows of half time, Dragons hooker Keeley Davis looked to have scored a freak try from a deflection from a kick, but the bunker ruled a knock-on in the lead-up to deny the four-pointer. The Dragons’ scramble defence came to the fore again six minutes later when Page McGregor denied Leianne Tufuga in the right hand corner.

It left the Dragons with a slender 4-0 lead at the break.

The underdog Roosters had only scraped into the semi-finals in fourth on points difference. But their huge upset victory in the semi, storming back from