Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final nib Blues v NSW Waratahs 36 - 5 Win

nib Blues make history with trans-Tasman win 
 
The nib Blues have made history once again, this time becoming the inaugural Super Rugby Women’s Champions Final winners!  

In torrential conditions at North Harbour Stadium, our wāhine turned in a dominant performance to beat the Waratahs 36-5 and secure their second trophy of 2025. 
The opening stages were a fierce arm-wrestle as both sides tested the waters, but it was the nib Blues who struck first.  
 
The Waratahs set a midfield lineout where Maama Vaipulu managed to come through the middle and steal the ball. The nib Blues set a few hard carries through the middle then went wide.  
 
A slick out-the-back play saw Sylvia Brunt link with Ruahei Demant, who shifted wide to Braxton Sorenson-McGee. The fullback showed her pace and power, slicing through two defenders to score the opener 
 
The next try was pure power from the forwards. Off a Waratahs scrum just 20 metres out, the nib Blues pack monstered their way over to claim possession. They went direct, testing the Waratahs' physicality and coming out on top. Tara Turner nearly snuck through, and then Elizabith Moimoi charged over to extend the lead to 12–0. 
 
Then came the play of the game. Another stolen lineout launched the nib Blues from deep. Taufa Bason carried hard and offloaded to Brunt, who found Portia Woodman-Wickliffe. She linked with Sorenson-McGee, who scorched down the right edge, sold a dummy, and dotted down for her second try, giving the Blues a 19–0 halftime lead. 
 
The Waratahs came out with fight after the break, but the nib Blues eventually broke through again in the 53rd minute. Strong carries from the forwards opened space out wide, and Woodman-Wickliffe made the most of it cutting back inside and powering through to score. 
 
The nib Blues almost added to their lead shortly after, but the try to Bason was scrubbed due to an obstruction. From there the Waratahs showed plenty of fight, defending valiantly as the nib Blues continued to attack the line, with the slippery conditions not helping either. 
 
In the final 10 minutes the game opened up, a crunching tackle in midfield forced and turnover and Katelyn Vahaakolo burst down the left edge surging into the 22 where she found Patricia Maliepo on the inside. The nib Blues kept the ball alive, juggling it around where it ended in the hands of Cheyenne Tuli. She spotted a gap and accelerated through to score.  
 
The Waratahs managed a late consolation, but the nib Blues had the final say. The forward pack powered over a Waratahs scrum in the 22 and Turner sent it left. Kerri Johnson accelerated towards the line and, just before being bundled into touch, popped the ball back infield. The Waratahs dived on it, but Krysten Cottrell was quick to react ripping it away and diving over to score, putting the final stamp on the nib Blues dominant performance. 
 
Sorenson-McGee’s double set the tone, Demant steered the ship, and Brunt and Woodman-Wickliffe were constant threats. But the forward pack laid the platform disrupting the Waratahs at set piece and dominating the collision zone. 
 
Two trophies. One special team. The nib Blues are officially the best and they’re bringing more silverware home to Auckland.