Latest news with #ChelseaLenarduzzi
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Broncos' Chelsea Lenarduzzi: ‘It's burnt me every year that we haven't won'
Women's rugby league is on the up, but for one of its proudest proponents, the downs are still impossible to avoid. Chelsea Lenarduzzi, the Brisbane and Queensland forward, has felt disappointment for her state and club in the past 12 months. However, the longtime Bronco knows there's nothing to do but get back on the horse. 'If you don't make a team, the sun rises the next day and you should still go to work,' she says ahead of Brisbane's season opener against the Tigers on Saturday. 'Our work is that sometimes you go to training, and sometimes you go to a recovery centre the next day after bad news.' Left out for the first match of the State of Origin series, the 29-year-old was recalled for the second, but unable to prevent the Blues from winning the shield. It followed the pain of last season, and ignominious exit of Brisbane – three-time premiers but without a title since 2020 – in the first week of the NRLW finals. 'I think we obviously had a lot of early success as a team but that feeling of wanting to win has never really gone away, no matter where we finish in the competition,' Lenarduzzi says. 'Winning is the number one goal every year, it's burnt me every year that we haven't won.' The minor premiers entered the semi-final against Cronulla – a club in just their second NRLW season – on a seven-match winning streak. But in the NRLW's old two-week finals series there were no second chances, and the highly fancied Broncos outfit led by captain Ali Brigginshaw lost 14-0 to the Sharks. Lenarduzzi says it continues to leave a bitter taste before the 2025 NRLW season, which began on Thursday night. 'We've got pretty high goals and high expectations for ourselves after the disappointing finish to last season,' she says. The off-season has only increased the pressure. The club has brought back fullback Tamika Upton – a player Lenarduzzi considers the best in the world – after three seasons in Newcastle. 'Now we have literally no excuse,' she says. 'The only thing that's going to stop us not performing well enough is us.' But in the dynamic world of women's rugby league, improvement is everywhere. The premiership-winning Roosters welcome back five-eighth Corban Baxter after she missed last season due to a knee injury. Beaten grand finalists Cronulla have recruited former New Zealand sevens player Tyla King and forward Caitlan Johnston-Green, although both will miss the start of the season. Even the expansion sides are expected to be competitive. Canterbury recorded a win in pre-season against Parramatta, and the other new team, New Zealand Warriors – taking the competition to 12 sides – were a foundation side but withdrew during the pandemic. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion But Lenarduzzi's Broncos – coached by former NRL premiership winner Scott Prince – enter the season heavily backed, and had eight players in the Maroons' latest State of Origin side. Despite the pain of last year, Lenarduzzi says she tries not to let disappointment dwell. 'Whenever there's a setback or anything, while it's frustrating for me, because I am a bit experienced and I have gone through ups and downs in my career, I just keep doing the process.' After winning her place back in the Maroons side she helped turn the tide against a powerful Blues pack, and scored the winning try in the third match to prevent a whitewash. Last week she re-signed with the Broncos for two more years, which will make it 10 seasons as a Bronco. The prop forward is also a director for the Rugby League Players Association, and is already preparing to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement which will come into force in 2028. She says the priorities in NRLW are to increase the squad sizes from 24 to at least 30 to cover injuries and provide a platform for future expansion, increasing resources for club staff to improve the professional environment, and pushing Origin back in the calendar so that it falls during or after the NRLW season. 'This year, the quality of the [State of Origin] games were really good, but imagine how good they'd be if everyone was in top condition,' she says. Lenarduzzi – who describes the NRLW as 'the best or one of the best' women's sporting competitions in the world – also wants a revolution in the rhetoric that surrounds women's rugby league. 'What's always been a frustration as a female athlete, is that there's this perception that you need to be nice, 'everyone's your friend', 'we're just here to grow the game.' In reality the elite players want to win the comp,' she says. The prop wants more debate from commentators and fans about the skills of the players, their agility, and their kicking games, and less about their personality and life off the field. And she wants respect for female athletes who prioritise athletic success. 'When fans of sport talk about like Michael Jordan, they talk about how ruthless and aggressive and competitive he is, which is great, right?' she says. 'But another personal idol of mine is Serena Williams, and she's copped so much shit throughout her career for being ruthless and aggressive and competitive. The difference is that she's not expected to be like that, because she's female.'
ABC News
29-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
How the Maroons salvaged Origin pride, as Southwell proves she's the next great halfback
All it took was a look from Maroons veteran Ali Brigginshaw, and Chelsea Lenarduzzi knew it was on. With the Maroons trailing by two in the final minutes of a State of Origin series they'd already lost, Brigginshaw eyeballed Lenarduzzi from dummy half, and popped it up for the bustling forward to barge over for one of her 'favourite plays', and the match winner. Lenarduzzi didn't play in Game I, in Game II she was added onto the bench and failed to fire, but as a late addition to the starting side in Game III, she thrived to prevent a series whitewash. The Broncos' prop effectively bulldozed the Blues in her opening stint, tiring their defenders to help lay the foundation for the Maroons' opener. And in a game littered with momentum swings – and handling errors – it was a defining 11 minutes, proving the Queensland pack wouldn't be outmuscled this time around. There was an impressive supporting cast who stepped into the spotlight throughout the game, including Tarryn Aiken who cast aside a sub-par kicking game in the first half, to orchestrate much of the Maroons' mayhem in the second. Julia Robinson was an immense defensive presence — and constant nuisance for her opposing winger Jamie Chapman, who gave as good as she got. And while Brigginshaw was well below her best this series, which seems likely to be her last, it was fitting that she set up the match-winner and took the final intercept to snuff out any hopes of a Blues comeback after the siren. But for all the positives the Maroons will take from securing the consolation prize in the dead rubber, it's a series that the Blues undoubtedly deserved to win, and where new superstars were forged. Reigning Dally M medallist Olivia Kernick won the Nellie Doherty medal for the player of the series, largely off the back of a brilliant Game II, but this series was Jesse Southwell's coming of age. Once again, her kicking was on point, her passing perfection, and her vision unparalleled. Her hand in the Blues' second try was especially magnetic. At first receiver approaching the Maroons' tryline she held the ball for barely a second, which felt like so much longer, such was the way she feigned the slightest dummy, carefully surveyed her options out wide, then delivered a pinpoint two-player cutout for Jayme Fressard to score. Time is something the great players have a command of, and with each game, Southwell is mastering it. And while it's unfair, and premature, to compare the 20-year-old Novocastrian to Newcastle's most famous number 7, Andrew Johns himself has heaped praise on her and predicted a bright future. After debuting for the Blues in 2023, Southwell wasn't selected last year. The time away has likely fuelled this year's resurrection, and not only has she set herself up as a player for the Blues to build a team around for years to come, a first Jillaroos jersey can't be far off. Blues fullback Abbi Church was another who had a breakout series, and strong performance in Game III. Every time the Blues went to Church, they were rewarded. There was her heroic effort to hold Emily Bass up over the line, incisive line breaks, a clever grubber to earn a repeat set, and a perfectly weighted pass to set up what should have been a try to Isabelle Kelly, who inexplicably failed to ground the ball in the in-goal. The Eels number one debuted in Game I, dethroning Emma Verran, and now looks to be a mainstay. Overall this series won't go down as an Origin classic, and once again questions have been raised over the timing of it. The Queensland competition doesn't kick off till June, with the NSW Premiership and NRLW getting underway in July. It means both sides effectively come into Origin with no real match fitness, and only a six-week training block to prepare for the series opener. And post-match, Maroons coach Tahnee Norris was blunt. "It's the hardest game of football that these girls play in, and they came off the back of nothing," she said. "We want the best footy that's played. These girls need to be playing NRLW so we can pick them off that. It needs to be in the middle of an NRLW season for sure."
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Late try helps Maroons save face in Game 3 of women's Origin series
Queensland salvaged pride in the Women's State of Origin series by claiming the third contest 18-14 thanks to a second-half comeback in Newcastle that prevented the Blues from securing a first clean sweep in the three-match series. Related: NSW Blues wrap up Origin series with rain-soaked win over Queensland Maroons Advertisement Powerful Maroons prop Chelsea Lenarduzzi crashed over from an Ali Brigginshaw pass with four minutes to go, taking three Blues defenders with her, to put Queensland into the lead and spoil the Blues' party. 'Ali actually gave me a bit of a look, and I knew what she meant,' Lenarduzzi said. 'It's one of my favourite plays, and worked at the right time.' The pair combined for the deciding try, but their impact was also central from the start of Thursday's improved Queensland performance. Maroons coach Tahnee Norris sent shock waves through the sport before kick-off when she named Brigginshaw – captain and Jillaroos great – on the bench and promoted Lenarduzzi to the starting lineup. The burly prop played the first ten minutes and helped set the tone after the Maroons suffered 32-12 and 26-6 defeats earlier in the series. Aided by the physicality of Lenarduzzi – who was not selected for the first game and played off the bench in the second – Queensland offered early punch, and were rewarded with a seventh minute try to Makenzie Weale. 'An Origin is still an Origin,' Lenarduzzi said afterwards. 'You represent yourself, your state, and this group is really cool, we've had a really good time in camp, and we've obviously been really disappointed the last couple of games, so we needed a show we were capable of.' Advertisement Although NSW had already secured the shield, another strong crowd of 21,912 turned out in Newcastle, consolidating the city's status as the home of women's rugby league. They came despite a forecast of rain that turned into a downpour at the final whistle. And they were treated to a mix of the brilliant and the bizarre in a tight contest. Related: Maroons seek to avoid historic State of Origin sweep as Hayley Maddick makes up for lost time | Jack Snape The game's strangest moment came midway through the first half, when Blues captain Isabelle Kelly crossed untouched for what seemed to be a try to put her side on the board. Kelly slid into the in-goal, but skidded across the turf on her ball-carrying arm without completing the grounding. The mistake was an embarrassment for one of the game's most accomplished players, who shook her head as she watched the replay and the bunker disallowed the try. It was the standout in a series of wild sequences in the first half, which also included two more disallowed tries – both would-be try-scorers adjudged out of play by millimetres – a fiery tussle between Queensland winger Julia Robinson and her opposite number Jaime Chapman, and one of the season's best try-saving tackles. Advertisement Maroons centre Emily Bass grabbed a bouncing ball a metre out from the Blues try line with no one in front of her, but NSW fullback Abbi Church managed to race in and twist her opponent to prevent the grounding. It was a piece of skill befitting the Origin stage, as was the 20m cut-out pass by Jesse Southwell to set up the Blues' second try. The Blues had all the momentum in the second half when they raced to a 14-6 lead with 20 minutes to go. Interchange hooker Jocelyn Kelleher leaped out from dummy half and away from the clutches of Brigginshaw to score what appeared to be the decisive four-pointer. But 35-year-old Brigginshaw would have the last laugh. Five minutes later five-eighth Tarryn Aiken grubbered for Romy Teitzel to score, and then the captain sent Lenarduzzi over to curb celebrations in the Hunter. 'A bit of a disappointing end to the game three, but we've still got to keep our spirits high,' Church said. 'We're still going to get to lift the shield, we would have liked to get that clean sweep, but it wasn't meant to be today.' Advertisement Maroons forward Jess Elliston ran for 143m was named player of the match, and Blues' lock Olivia Kernick claimed the award for player of the series. Related: NSW Blues wrap up Origin series with rain-soaked win over Queensland Maroons
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Late try helps Maroons save face in Game 3 of women's Origin series
Queensland salvaged pride in the Women's State of Origin series by claiming the third contest 18-14 thanks to a second-half comeback in Newcastle that prevented the Blues from securing a first clean sweep in the three-match series. Powerful Maroons prop Chelsea Lenarduzzi crashed over from an Ali Brigginshaw pass with four minutes to go, taking three Blues defenders with her, to put Queensland into the lead and spoil the Blues' party. 'Ali actually gave me a bit of a look, and I knew what she meant,' Lenarduzzi said. 'It's one of my favourite plays, and worked at the right time.' The pair combined for the deciding try, but their impact was also central from the start of Thursday's improved Queensland performance. Maroons coach Tahnee Norris sent shock waves through the sport before kick-off when she named Brigginshaw – captain and Jillaroos great – on the bench and promoted Lenarduzzi to the starting lineup. The burly prop played the first ten minutes and helped set the tone after the Maroons suffered 32-12 and 26-6 defeats earlier in the series. Aided by the physicality of Lenarduzzi – who was not selected for the first game and played off the bench in the second – Queensland offered early punch, and were rewarded with a seventh minute try to Makenzie Weale. 'An Origin is still an Origin,' Lenarduzzi said afterwards. 'You represent yourself, your state, and this group is really cool, we've had a really good time in camp, and we've obviously been really disappointed the last couple of games, so we needed a show we were capable of.' Although NSW had already secured the shield, another strong crowd of 21,912 turned out in Newcastle, consolidating the city's status as the home of women's rugby league. They came despite a forecast of rain that turned into a downpour at the final whistle. And they were treated to a mix of the brilliant and the bizarre in a tight contest. The game's strangest moment came midway through the first half, when Blues captain Isabelle Kelly crossed untouched for what seemed to be a try to put her side on the board. Kelly slid into the in-goal, but skidded across the turf on her ball-carrying arm without completing the grounding. The mistake was an embarrassment for one of the game's most accomplished players, who shook her head as she watched the replay and the bunker disallowed the try. It was the standout in a series of wild sequences in the first half, which also included two more disallowed tries – both would-be try-scorers adjudged out of play by millimetres – a fiery tussle between Queensland winger Julia Robinson and her opposite number Jaime Chapman, and one of the season's best try-saving tackles. Maroons centre Emily Bass grabbed a bouncing ball a metre out from the Blues try line with no one in front of her, but NSW fullback Abbi Church managed to race in and twist her opponent to prevent the grounding. It was a piece of skill befitting the Origin stage, as was the 20m cut-out pass by Jesse Southwell to set up the Blues' second try. The Blues had all the momentum in the second half when they raced to a 14-6 lead with 20 minutes to go. Interchange hooker Jocelyn Kelleher leaped out from dummy half and away from the clutches of Brigginshaw to score what appeared to be the decisive four-pointer. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion But 35-year-old Brigginshaw would have the last laugh. Five minutes later five-eighth Tarryn Aiken grubbered for Romy Teitzel to score, and then the captain sent Lenarduzzi over to curb celebrations in the Hunter. 'A bit of a disappointing end to the game three, but we've still got to keep our spirits high,' Church said. 'We're still going to get to lift the shield, we would have liked to get that clean sweep, but it wasn't meant to be today.' Maroons forward Jess Elliston ran for 143m was named player of the match, and Blues' lock Olivia Kernick claimed the award for player of the series.
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Chelsea match-winner! QLD avoid sweep
State of Origin: Chelsea Lenarduzzi has scored the match-winning try to give Queensland an important game three victory, avoiding a first ever sweep in a three-game Women’s State of Origin series.
