Reds end Waratahs hoodoo to sneak into Super Rugby Women's finals as Brumbies exit

Queensland Reds ended a long-standing hoodoo against the NSW Waratahs to qualify for the Super Rugby Women’s finals, while the Western Force booked a maiden home semi-final — eliminating the ACT Brumbies for a second consecutive season.

The Reds, who had never previously beaten NSW, needed a win at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday to secure a top-four finish, and they delivered it emphatically, running out 26-19 winners in hammering rain. The result dropped the defending premiers to third and ended the Brumbies’ season after their earlier 36-20 defeat to the Force at Viking Park.

Queensland scored three tries and were awarded a penalty try in a dominant first half, but NSW stayed in the contest, trimming the deficit to seven points early in the second period. A flurry of late Waratahs errors ultimately ended their hopes of a bonus-point win that would have secured a fourth consecutive minor premiership.

Fijian Drua claimed that honour instead, setting up a semi-final against the Reds at Churchill Park in Lautoka on 18 July. NSW will travel to Perth to face the Force in the other semi-final on the same date.

“I’ve kept myself up the last two nights, and this is going to sound real cheesy, but … I literally dreamt about this moment,” Queensland flyhalf Lori Cramer said after the win. “It’s huge for us … and for all of the fans that have stuck by us this year, because we haven’t had the performance that we’ve really wanted to show.”

In Perth, the Force made a blistering start against the Brumbies, with hooker Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke and winger Vani Buleki both crossing within the opening seven minutes. A red card to Force outside centre Cecilia Smith in the 12th minute gave ACT a lifeline, and prop Linda Emelio capitalised to score. The Brumbies continued to press, but the Force led 24-12 at halftime and never relinquished control.

Although Paua-lee Going crossed for the Brumbies in the 66th minute, substitute Taylor Waterson crashed over in the dying seconds to seal the bonus point and confirm the Force’s historic home semi-final.

Super Rugby Women’s Semi-Finals — 18 July:

Fijian Drua (1) v Queensland Reds (4), Churchill Park, Lautoka

Western Force (2) v NSW Waratahs (3), Perth (venue TBC)