Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have collected their second Lisa Fiaola Cup after a decisive 40-4 win over a gallant Central Coast Roosters in the Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval today.
The Bulldogs led the match at 12-0 at half-time before powering away after the break with their forwards proving too strong, with sisters Caszius and Jaesynn-Ree Fatialofa leading the charge.
Replacement hooker Jada Breeze Gray was named a deserved Player of the Match after being injected into the match early in the first half when No.9 Jadia Taoai was forced from the field with an ankle injury and having a hand in several tries.
“We worked so hard this year, and we spoke about being in the moment off the back of being disappointed last year,” Bulldogs coach Vanessa Foliaki said.
“For us we spoke about the things that made us so good this year and that was going through the middle.
“Credit to the Roosters, they were outstanding last week, and we knew we had to turn up today and that’s what we did.”
Both teams had a point to prove in the decider. The Roosters were looking to go one better after missing out to Parramatta Eels in last year’s Grand Final, while the Bulldogs were looking to add another piece of silverware to their collection after winning the inaugural competition in 2024.
The Bulldogs suffered an early blow when hooker Jadia Taoai injured her ankle in a tackle. She tried to play on but eventually had to leave the field and was replaced by Breeze Gray.
“We spoke about next man up mentality and that’s what it is,” Foliaki said.
“We spoke about going through challenges and adversity, but we’ve got to stay in and keep our head up and keep moving for each other.”
Despite the setback, the Bulldogs forwards were proving a handful for the Roosters to contain. Fullback Emacyn-Eden Ieremia capitalised on the momentum when she threw a long ball for winger Meleane Hala to score in the corner for a 4-0 lead.
The Fatialofa sisters combined for the next try with Jaesynn-Ree falling just short of the line on the back of a powerful run, before Caszius crashed over from the very next play to extend the lead to 8-0.
“They’re cheeky, but they’ve been outstanding for us all season and are a big part of why we’re here today,” Foliaki said.
The Bulldogs also had a player sin binned, Jaesynn-Ree for a late tackle on kicker Lara Murray, but it hardly stopped their momentum.
The turning point came towards the end of the first half when the Roosters looked like they were going score through prop Keha Kahuroa, but some desperate goal line defence forced the ball free before she could plant it down.
The Bulldogs quickly turned defence into attack with five-eighth Lillyarna Sutupe putting a deft kick across field for Hala to grab a saloon bounce and race away to score for a 12-0 half-time lead.
The Bulldogs kept the momentum going after the break, Caszius grabbing her second for a rare double and Hala bagging one more for her hat-trick, to extend the lead to a commanding 40-0.
The Roosters never gave up and grabbed a consolation try through winger Silia Tuitufu at the end, after replacement Alissa McNair had intercepted a pass and gone a long run only to be pulled down just short of scoring one herself.
