Sport
21 July, 2025
Roosters Women off to semi-finals
AFTER a dominating end to the regular season, the Atherton Roosters Women’s team will play the first round of semi-finals this weekend and will go straight through to the grand final if they can secure a victory.
The Roosters Women finished off their season with a strong 44-6 win against the Edmonton Storm in Atherton on Saturday.
The visitors struck first with a try in the seventh minute of the game, but that would be the only points the home side let slip.
Soon after, Atherton hooker Kimberley Bryant went over to secure her team’s first points of the game, and an Atherton try frenzy soon ensued.
Roosters halfback Mayleen Oppermann went over minutes later. She was followed by fullback Rayleigh Oppermann and winger Nataliyah Barlow to round out the first half with a 22-6 lead.
Coming out in the second half, the Roosters continued to show their skill and put another 22 points on the board.
Lock Lexeen Mathieson was the first to go over for a four-pointer, scoring in the 40th minute, and she was followed by five-eighth Nicola Bradford about 10 minutes later.
Mathieson went over again just minutes later, and she was soon followed by interchange player Briannah Cater.
The Roosters Women closed out the game 44-6 and finished their season at second place on the FNQRL ladder with eight wins and seven losses.
This weekend, they will face up against the top-of-the-table Yarrabah Seahawks, who rounded out an extremely dominant season with 13 wins and two losses. The game’s location and time have not yet been determined.
“It was good to finish off with a win,” Roosters Women’s coach Paul Stevens said. “It cemented second spot for us, so it gives us two chances at the semis.
“Overall, it’s been a good year considering we had a lot of changes from last year, with girls coming and going. But to finish second, there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Stevens said he was confident in his team, but it would be a tough assignment against Yarrabah.
“If we play how we know we can, we can do it. We’ve got to hold their big forwards because they have a big forward pack.
“So, if we can dominate those forwards, and control them, we’ll have a good chance.”
