Moleka's after-the-siren penalty seals Brumbies' first Super Rugby Women's win in a year

Faitala Moleka slotted a 22-metre penalty seconds after the final siren on Sunday to hand the ACT Brumbies a 15-12 Super Rugby Women’s victory over the Queensland Reds at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane, ending a winless run of seven matches that had stretched back to March 2024.

With the scores locked at 12-12 in the 80th minute, the Reds conceded a penalty for not rolling away. Moleka, deputising at fullback after star custodian Lori Cramer was ruled out late with a quad niggle, stepped up from straight in front and made no mistake. The kick was the Brumbies’ first win since they defeated the same opposition 31-14 on 30 March 2024, a run that had included six losses and a draw.

The visitors dominated territory in the opening exchanges — holding 89 per cent in the first 11 minutes — but it was the Reds who drew first blood in the 19th minute through a pick-and-go from prop Eva Karpani. Queensland’s lead was short-lived. With Reds captain Jemma Bemrose serving a yellow card, the Brumbies drove a rolling maul over the line for hooker Tania Naden to score, then extended their advantage when former Reds winger Ivania Wong sprinted down the flank to cross against her old side.

Wong, making her Brumbies debut, had spent eight years in Queensland before switching allegiances, and the significance of the moment was not lost on her. “It’s super special to get the opportunity the Brumbies gave me and make my debut in front of family,” she said after the match. “This was home for me for eight years, so it was a pretty special moment.”

The Reds pulled level through outside centre Harmony Vatau in the second half, setting up a tense finale that ultimately swung on the decisive penalty. In the other round-one fixture, the NSW Waratahs opened their title defence with a 42-29 win over Fijian Drua on Saturday.