The Tuggeranong Viqueens have clinched their spot in the 2026 Premier 15's Grand Final, surviving a late charge by Wests in a thrilling preliminary final.
On paper, this clash had all the hallmarks of an instant classic: one side stinging from a Week One Finals hammering few saw coming, the other looking to carry its momentum all the way to a Grand Final.
If Tuggeranong were carrying any scars from last week's Qualifying Final loss, they certainly weren't showing it early. It took the Viqueens a tick over three minutes to open the scoring, with the first points coming via a regulation backline shift. Winger Milinah Mataupu went over untouched to deliver the dream start for the home side.
Whilst it was the backs doing the early damage for Tuggeranong, it was the Wests forward pack that conjured a response. Allie Booker's line break, capped with a brilliant offload, laid the foundations for the Lionesses' raid close to the line. Lock Grace Sullivan – never to be outdone – produced a nifty offload of her own to send Jane Morrison over in the 14th minute. The action remained largely in the middle of the park for the next 15 minutes as both forward packs traded blows, neither truly able to gain the ascendancy. The Viqueens came closest to breaking the deadlock when Annie Ott was held up over the line in the 30th minute.
They weren't to be denied for long, as a clever quick tap from scrumhalf Reese Vidler caught Wests napping and allowed Isabella Tripet to add her name to the scoresheet just two minutes later. Sienna Edwards knocked over a tricky conversion to extend the Tuggeranong lead 12-5.
As the first half drew to a conclusion, it was Tuggeranong's turn to absorb pressure close to their line. A cut-out ball from Wests skipper Becka Masters looked set to create a scoring opportunity, but a miscommunication in the backline saw the chance go begging. That ensured the home side went into the break with a seven-point advantage, on what was turning into a sublime late-winter's day at Viking Park.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half proved a genuine arm-wrestle, in a contest characterised by physicality. That physicality eventually came at a cost for the home side. The Viqueens were reduced to 14 players in the 51st minute when Jade Bunn saw yellow for a high tackle.
The numerical disadvantage did little to thwart the Viqueens' Grand Final bid, with a clever hold-up ball from Edwards in the 54th minute allowing her opposite winger to cross. Mataupu's second try of the match saw Tuggeranong extend their lead to 12, as Edwards' conversion attempt sailed wide.
It mattered little in the end, however, as yet another attacking shift by the Viqueens resulted in an outside back touching down. Already with two of her own, Mataupu provided the assist for fullback Paua-lee Going. Edwards slotted the conversion to just about seal her side's place in the decider, the scoreline 24-5 with just ten minutes to play.
Wests, however, refused to accept defeat. They found success through a familiar channel in the 64th minute, as Booker sliced through the defence once more with a trademark attacking run. Faaaloala Luafitu's conversion kept the Lionesses within touching distance at 24-12 with under five minutes remaining on the clock.
In a matter of minutes, a match that was seemingly done and dusted was set for a grandstand finish.
The Viqueens – whose outside backs had enjoyed a day out – tasted some of their own medicine, as slick hands saw Wests centre Emily Wright reduce the margin to five just two minutes later.
With a place in the grand final on the line, the Viqueens were forced to dig deep to defend their slender lead. For Wests, needing to travel the best part of 60 metres, it would ultimately prove a bridge too far, a costly knock-on ending a thrilling encounter.
The result brings Wests' title defence to an end, after a campaign in which inconsistency proved consistent.
For the Viqueens, the victory means a rematch with the Gungahlin Eagles as they strive to reclaim the premiership they last won in 2024.
