Two of the heavyweights of the NRLW go head-to-head in a sudden-death semi-final at Totally Workwear Stadium.
Read Full Previews
- Wests Tigers vs Raiders → wests-tigers-vs-raiders-nrlw-finals-week-1-preview-2026
- Broncos vs Knights → broncos-vs-knights-nrlw-finals-week-1-preview-2026
Matchday Details
Saturday, 19 September 2026 – 4:05pm AEST – Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Foxtel / Kayo
Referee: Kasey Badger | Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
Brisbane Broncos: 1. Tamika Upton (c), 2. Kerri Johnson, 3. Deleni Paitai, 4. Georgia Bartlett, 5. Julia Robinson, 6. Ali Brigginshaw, 7. Jesse Southwell, 8. Shannon Mato, 9. Jada Ferguson, 10. Brianna Clark, 11. Lauren Dam, 12. Romy Teitzel, 13. Lillian Yarrow, 14. Rhemy Hinckesman, 15. Chelsea Lenarduzzi, 16. Bree Spreadborough, 17. Harlem Walker, 18. Reegan Hicks, 19. Caitlin Urwin, 20. Tara McGrath-West, 21. Linneke Gevers, 22. Amanii Misa
Newcastle Knights: 1. Lucy Spain, 2. Shanice Parker, 3. Sidney Taylor, 4. Tenika Willison, 5. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala, 6. Kirra Dibb, 7. Georgia Roche, 8. Tayla Predebon, 9. Olivia Higgins, 10. Tiana Davison, 11. Sienna Yeo, 12. Fane Finau, 13. Kayla Romaniuk (c), 14. Charley Lahmert, 15. Emily McArthur, 16. Jules Kirkpatrick, 17. Stella Lewis, 18. Lilly-Ann White, 19. Simone Karpani, 20. Amelia Pasikala, 21. Cheyelle Robins-Reti, 22. Botille Vette-Welsh
Match Preview
Reigning premiers Brisbane are unchanged from the side that smashed the Warriors last weekend, with Ali Brigginshaw preparing for her final game in Brisbane at halfback. She forms part of an all-star spine that also includes Knights premiership winners Jesse Southwell and Tamika Upton.
There’s minimal changes to the Ben Jeffries’ coached Knights despite their last-round loss to the Titans, with Tiana Davison returning to the side at prop after being a late scratching last week. Emily McArthur drops back to the bench where she is joined by 18-year-old debutant Stella Lewis. Amelia Pasikala and Simone Karpani drop back to the reserves.
The two teams last met in Round 4 at Totally Workwear Stadium. On that occasion, a dominant second half saw the Broncos run away with a 30-12 win.
It’s been another dominant season from the Broncos, winning eight of their eleven matches. The three they lost came from rounds 6 to 8, coinciding with Brigginshaw’s absence. They enter the finals with a three-game winning streak, piling on 21 tries in that time. While the Broncos have been dominant in attack, their defence has been found wanting in recent times, conceding more points over the last six rounds than any other finals team (bar the Wests Tigers). Their defence will need to be as good as their attack if they wish to keep their premiership defence alive.
In some regards, the Knights have overachieved in 2026. After losing Jesse Southwell at the end of 2025, captain Yasmin Meakes’ season ended through injury in Round 3. The return of Kirra Dibb, along with the emergence of players like Sidney Taylor and Lucy Spain, has helped the team sneak into the top 6. Similarly to the Broncos, their attack has been strong but their defence has struggled recently. If they are to win, they will have to shut down the potent Broncos offence while their lesser lights take down the big guns.
The two teams have met eight times previously, with the Broncos winning five, including the last four straight. They’ve also met twice in finals, splitting results one-apiece. The Broncos won last year’s preliminary final 30-6, while the Knights last win was a 30-24 thriller in the 2023 semi-final.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Broncos by 8
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