The Broncos are on cloud nine with their high-flying convert Stacey Waaka and fellow winger Julia Robinson stealing the show as the hosts made it back-to-back wins with a 28-22 victory over the Raiders.
It’s been a whirlwind month for Waaka, who won the sevens gold medal for New Zealand in Paris before making her NRL debut on the wing last week, and she appears to have already found her way into rugby league with a standout performance on Saturday.
It took her just a minute to show how dangerous she is in the air as she flew high to reel in a kick from Ali Brigginshaw, using some quick hands to set up Shenae Ciesiolka for the first of her two tries.
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Manly comes home to Wahs in the rain | 01:55
After setting up the opener, Waaka was in action for her first NRLW try with an almost identical move that saw her fly high and crash across the ground, giving Brisbane a 12-6 lead at the break.
The scriptwriters got the moment with Waaka and then won it with five minutes to go when she latched onto a Ciesiolka pass to break the deadlock after a poor goal kick kept Canberra in the match.
SUPERWOMAN
Waaka may have dominated the first half but it was all Robinson after that, with the representative breaking Canberra hearts with two incredible plays in the space of five minutes to give Brisbane a ten-point lead.
Robinson was one of the most consistent performers in the NRLW and few could match her athleticism.
That freakish ability was on display with a spectacular finish in the corner as she flew to the line and held her feet in the air to get the ball down, before Robinson plucked an interception and raced 85 meters as the Raiders looked certain to score .
WALKING INJURED
They may have dropped their third game in a row, but the Raiders lost no admirers after pushing Brisbane all the way forward despite being out of possession and losing two players to injury.
Monalisa Soliola came off after 25 minutes with what appeared to be an elbow injury before Shakiah Tungai – playing fullback while Apii Nicholls was away due to a HIA – had a sickening head clash with Brigginshaw, forcing both players off the pitch.
Brigginshaw was able to return but Canberra scored twice while she was away, with Emma Barnes firing over from dummy half to level matters with twelve minutes remaining.
