Brisbane has one hand on a record fifth NRLW minor premiership after coming from behind to thump St George Illawarra 44-14 in Townsville.
The final-round win sent the Broncos the the top of the championship ladder and importantly gave them a superior points differential over the second-placed Sydney Roosters, who must now beat Parramatta by more than 20 points on Sunday to overtake them.
Meanwhile, the Knights trounced North Queensland 38-6 to all but set the top four in stone with two matches of the home-and-away season left to play.
Brisbane found their minor premiership hopes slipping away after falling 10 points behind in the first 12 minutes after the Dragons came out firing on Saturday afternoon, with tries to Kimberley Hunt and Ella Koster.
But the Broncos’ outside backs ran rampant as they scored 20 unanswered points to take the game away from the ninth-placed Dragons.
Centres Mele Hufanga and Shenae Ciesiolka and wing pair Julia Robinson and Lauren Dam each ran for 100 metres or more with the ball in hand.
Robinson and Ciesiolka scored two tries apiece, along with hooker Jada Ferguson, who showed why she was on Friday named Queensland Rugby League’s dummy-half of the year.
St George winger Maatuleio Fotu-Moala showed impeccable control to hang on to a high Teagan Berry cut-out pass and score in the corner after a juggle to narrow the margin to a converted try.
But Hufanga bulldozed her way over as the Broncos scored four tries in 12 minutes.
The New Zealand international had a late chance to set a team record for most points scored in a game, but she dropped the ball uncontested while attempting to ground it.
If Brisbane hold on to the top spot, it will be their fifth minor premiership in seven seasons.
Regardless, the Broncos will be confident they can go all the way after their seventh consecutive victory, although they will be sweating on the fitness of second-rower Romy Teitzel, who failed to return after limping off with a back injury at half-time.
Newcastle also asserted their title credentials in the afternoon’s second game at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, with back-rower Yasmin Clydsdale powering the Knights momentarily into second place.
Clydsdale scored the opening try and ran for a game-high 198m as the dominant Knights forward pack laid the foundations for a commanding win.
Wingers Sheridan Gallagher and Tenika Willison both scored a brace, while Abigail Roache and Tayla Predebon also got their names on the scoreboard.
The two-time reigning premiers will host a home semifinal, but only if the high-flying Roosters fail to beat the Eels.
Parramatta have a mountain to climb to steal fourth spot off Cronulla, needing to defeat the Tricolours by 34 points or more.
AAP
