Easts Slay Dragons in Historic Grand Final Rematch

In the first-ever sporting event at Allianz Stadium, the Tricolours overcame an early deficit to streak away with pinpoint kicking from Zahara Temara and Raecene McGregor a highlight. 

Utility Jocelyn Kelleher scored a double, while pathways graduate Otesa Pule touched down for her first try in the NRLW as the Roosters ran in six tries to one in a monumental effort. 

The Roosters found themselves under early pressure, with Sam Bremner taking down a charging Holli Wheeler just metres from the line and Leianne Tufuga shutting down a two-on-one overlap to deny their opponents. 

Jessica Sergis' cover tackle took down a runaway Tahlia Fuimaono before Isabelle Kelly crunched Emma Tonegato, but the mountain of possession saw the deadlock finally broken as the Dragons crossed in the corner.

The successful conversion saw the Roosters trail 6-nil after a physical seventeen minutes. 

A kick out on the full saw the Bondi Wall under further pressure, but desperation from Sergis and Tufuga held up Page McGregor to save a certain try, however handling continued to cruel the Red, White and Blue.

That was until a pinpoint kick from McGregor found Tufuga out wide, who outleapt her opponent to slam the ball down and score the first try for the Roosters on their new home ground.

With just under ten minutes remaining in the first half, Zahara Temara levelled the scores with a booming sideline conversion.

Desperation from both sides in defence throughout the latter stages of the half saw no change to the scoreline, reading 6-all after a closely fought battle. 

The Roosters trundled downfield following a short kickoff, and while the next kick saw Sam Bremner pinned behind the try line, the diminutive fullback escaped with a miraculous charge.

Handling proved to be troublesome in the slippery conditions, but the Bondi Wall's defensive fortitude stood up, with Temara and Mya Hill-Moana doing enough the force an error over the line. 

A mammoth effort then denied Elsie Albert as McGregor's cunning saw her scoop up a deft grubber before Jocelyn Kelleher split the defence to slam the ball down and give her side the lead for the very first time.

The five-eighth's boot produced further points after a towering bomb forced an error, and although Destiny Brill was unable to force the ball on the ground before Temara scored herself after chasing down a McGregor kick to perfection.

Converting her own try, Temara took Easts' advantage to two twelve points with just over fifteen minutes remaining. 

The desperation continued from the Tricolours as they absorbed wave after wave of attack, and although a narrow 40/30 attempt from Temara fell agonisingly short, a brilliant individual effort from Bremner saw the custodian streak away to seal the match.

Easts weren't done there, however, as young backrower Otesa Pule touched down for her first four-pointer in the NRLW after running off a McGregor pass, while Kelleher added a second after finishing off a left-side maneuver as the Roosters ran in a famous 34-6 victory. 

The Sydney Roosters will face the Newcastle Knights in a highly-anticipated top four clash, with a venue and date to be confirmed next week. 

Sydney Roosters 34 (Jocelyn Kelleher 2, Leianne Tufuga, Zahara Temara, Sam Bremner, Otesa Pule tries; Zahara Temara 5 goals) def St George Illawarra Dragons 6 (Monalisa Soliola try; Rachael Pearson goals)