Source : ABC NEWS
Retiring Brisbane legend Ali Brigginshaw has one more NRLW match to play, but her competitive drive is just as strong as the day she took up playing rugby league at the age of 10.
The 38-year-old five-eighth will play against old foes the Sydney Roosters in the grand final with a team-first mentality, but also with the determination to get one over opposite number Jocelyn Kelleher the same way she did in the 20-8 preliminary final victory against Gold Coast.
Rugby sevens superstar Teagan Levi was wearing the number six and Brigginshaw had her measure.
“All the talk has been about her and I took it really personal[ly,” she said.
“I said to the girls, ‘I will do whatever I can to make sure I can shut her down.’
“I am just really proud. We trained extremely hard to get to this moment, but I am also proud of myself … 38 years old and I put myself in this position to be the best teammate and work my bum off whenever I play.”
Teagan Levi and the Titans threatened the Broncos’ premiership defence. (Getty Images: Mackenzie Sweetnam)
When Brigginshaw won her fourth NRLW title last year, there were a couple of conversations about retiring with a premiership.
“People were saying it was a good ending, but I had all the belief in this team that we were going to get [to another grand final],” she said
“The hardest thing is getting there. You get there and you put yourself in the best position to compete and win it.
“It is a huge week and I am just excited to do it again because you never know when it is going to be your last … and this will be my last.”
Brigginshaw calls herself, winger Julia Robinson and prop Chelsea Lenarduzzi “the OGs”, being the three original Broncos from 2018 who are aiming for a fifth premiership with the club, while fullback Tamika Upton hopes to add a third Broncos crown to two won with Newcastle in 2022 and 2023.
Only Michael Hancock and Kevin Walters have achieved the feat in Broncos history.
“We are the OGs. We are also good mates and they are part of the reason I love the Broncos,” Brigginshaw said.
“Duzzi is passionate about everything she does and Robbo is the heart. The love they both have for the team and the jersey is what I love.
“We all just bleed for this jersey, and the best thing is that I see other people who want to do it and love the place as much as I do.”
The Broncos lost eight players from last year’s grand final side, but the new-look outfit, featuring superstar halfback Jesse Southwell, has bought in to the club’s systems and culture.
“It is kind of frustrating how people forget how many we lost,” Brigginshaw said.
“To win a premiership with them, then rebuild and get back here again … proves we have the right people here to give ourselves the best opportunity.”
As a result of Brigginshaw’s impending departure, everything at Red Hill has a “last” associated with it this year, whether it be her last game at home in a club match or her last preliminary final.
“It is just a bit of a joke around ‘the last last’,” she said.
“I have got there now, so let’s have a crack.”
AAP
