Charging towards a third successive NRLW title, the Brisbane Broncos have opened the 2020 season with a 28-14 victory over a courageous New Zealand Warriors side.
The New Zealand Warriors started the first half the more dominant of the two sides with the Broncos struggling to hold the Warriors attack early and it was through the halfback Simone Smith who spun her way out of a tackle to score.
The impact of the Australian Rugby 7s stars were on show again in this one when Ellia Green charged onto the ball with a big run out wide to score. Both conversions attempts were off-target from Kirra Dibb and the Warriors lead 8-0.
A string of penalties for the Broncos put them into good field position and momentum strong begun to swing their way when Tamika Upton crossed for the first of her three first-half tries. Upton was at the end of a left shift from the Broncos and through a show and go Upton beat the defence to score. The second of the Upton's three tries came when the Broncos made big metres off the kick-off and Millie Boyle offloaded to Upton who scored.
The third try for the Broncos came off a scrum play where they looked to shift the play back to the left and the Warriors defence was left in two minds on what was going to happen and Upton ran through to score. Meg Ward's missed conversion meant that the Broncos had a 16-8 at the break.
Momentum stuck with the Broncos to start the second half when they added a fourth try when again the Warriors right hand defence couldn't hold the Broncos out when Julia Robinson crossed.
The Warriors were denied a try when a knock-on was ruled in the lead up to a potential Hilda Peters effort by the bunker. Despite that momentary chance for the Warriors, the Broncos were able to hit the board again when Chelsea Lenarduzzi charged to the line and spun her way to the line and slammed the ball down.
Despite being down by 20, there was no drop in effort from the Warriors and off the back of three penalties, Evania Pelite got her first NRLW try when the dangerous left side for the Warriors got into attacking position and scored. The bunker again spoilt the Warriors celebrations on another try when Shaniah Power had her try rejected by the bunker who ruled that there was a knock-on at dummy half by Kanyon Paul.
The Broncos though will be waiting nervously with five-eighth Raecene McGregor taken from the field in a neck brace on the medicab.