'Empty feeling': Semi-final loss lingers for Broncos in rematch

The pain of losing last season’s semi-final clash to the Roosters still lingers for Broncos players Chelsea Lenarduzzi and Julia Robinson but insist it won’t be a huge motivator on Saturday.

The Broncos will return home to Suncorp Stadium for just the third time in NRLW history looking to bounce back after a first-up defeat to Newcastle to start the season.

It’s unfamiliar territory for the club, who had never dropped a game to start their campaign with defending premiers the Roosters looking to make it back-to-back losses.

The Tricolours created history last season, beating the Broncos 22-16 in a semi-final clash that knocked the three-time premiers out of grand final contention for the first time.

They went on to win the title, leaving Lenarduzzi to watch the game from home in another first for her NRLW career.

“It was awful, it sucked, I’m not going to lie, it was the first grand final I wasn’t in,” Lenarduzzi said.

“It was an empty feeling, like an out-of-body experience watching. I was like wow, we should’ve been there.

“It was an extra kick in the teeth because it was in Queensland and we would’ve got a really good crowd. But life happens and you lose sometimes.”

Lenarduzzi and Robinson are two of 11 players left in the Broncos side that lost to the Roosters in April with the Broncos winger indicating they’d put it all behind them.

“It obviously really hurt losing to them but we’ve gone in with a fresh outlook this season,” Robinson said.

“For some of the girls who are here it might mean something more but we can’t look too much into it.

“Watching the Roosters play against the Eels they looked like they have a strong team again so it will be another challenge.”

The Broncos showed solid signs in their first showing last week but will need to correct a few areas of their game after conceding 32 points and missing 46 tackles against the Knights.

“We can build from it, we’ve got a few new girls with Nita [Maynard] at hooker and Jaime [Chapman] at the back. We’re still working out how people play.

“Being five rounds we’ve got some time to turn it around and I’m very confident with our side.”

And after a week of being in the headlines for hitting out at social media comments made against her, Robinson was grateful for the support she has received.

She responded on the field beautifully with two tries – one of which showed her strength to carry three defenders over the line.

“It was such a big week and a bit crazy how much support I got which was amazing in itself,” she said.

“I just wanted to focus on the game and be myself and play for the team.”