MONDAY'S EXPERT - 2024 NRLW Round 5

A full wrap-up of Round 5 of the NRLW with reports from our contributors and stats from Rugby League Project.

All listed times are AEST (NSW/QLD/VIC/ACT).

RELATED: See the full list of 2024 NRL Telstra Women's Premiership Draw and Results.

Knights find groove to bury Eels

Andy P

The Newcastle Knights have bounced back from last round's loss to mount a convincing victory over the Parramatta Eels. The Eels showed plenty of fight, but the Knights were able to make the most of territory to grind out the win. The game was put on a 40-minute delay as the officials scrambled to get paramedics in attendance.

Once the game finally got started, the  Knights made the most of an opportunity down the opposition red zone as  Evie Jones grubbered into the Eels in goal, and Tamika Upton sped onto it and got a try in the first two minutes of the game to take the Knights out early 4-0.

The Knights got into excellent field position early after the kick-off to end their set in the Eesl quarter. Knights five-eighth Gerogie Roche then put a pearl of a bomb up that confused the Eels Abbi Church and Monique Donavan at the back, who failed to get a touch. Roche chased the ball and then set up Olivia Higgins in support for the try, and the Knights were up 10-0 after the conversion.

A hair pull by Taneka Todhunter on Tamika Upton garnered a penalty for the Knights, which put them in the Eels 20-meter zone again. A quick move through the hands left for the Knights ended as Lilly-Ann White went over, catching the Eels too far inside, and it was 16-0 in the 13th minute after the conversion.

The Eels should have had some luck as they got the ball from the kick-off, but the Knights couldn't get a touch on it. In the 16th minute, The Eels mounted an attack from the scrum, and Rachael Pearson looked to go over through some slick footwork, but the Bunker got involved, and an obstruction was found.

Off the back of a penalty in the 19th minute for the Eels holding down in the tackle, the Knights could charge at their line again. Newcastle went left again, Tamika Uptons pass-slotted Abigail Roache into a gap, and she went over to put the Knights ahead 20-0.

The Eels finally got a reprieve as Shaince Parker gave a penalty away for the Eels to start a fresh attack from the Knights' 30-meter line. And it was Eels' five-eighth; Cassey Tohi-Hiku stormed through the Knights' defence and went 15 meters to get the Eels finally some points just before half time, 20-4.

The Knights had dominated field position during the game and found weaknesses in the Eels' defence, which got them ahead in the first half.

The Knights continued to make the most of their roll in the middle of the ruck a few minutes into the half as a raid down the Knight's right saw Tamika Upton get involved again as she set up second rower Laishon Albert-Jones to storm over on the edge to push the Knights out to a lead of 24-4.

The Eels again force the Knights to make an error on the kickoff and get the ball back. In their counter, they pushed the Knights back to their line, and Eels captain Mahalia Murphy hit the line, too. There was much speed for the Knights to stop her, and it was 24-10.

As the Eels charged down the field from the kick-off, they got back-to-back penalties and a sniff at the Knights line. In the 44th minute, the Eels made the most of the momentum, and it was back-to-back tries as Rosemarie Beckett went over with Knights players hanging off her to make the score 24-16 after the conversion.

But Abbi Church invited the Knights to take some easy points as she lifted Tamika Upton's leg in a tackle right in front of the goalposts, and Georgia Roches' boot made it 26-16.

In the 62nd minute, Georgia Roche put up a bomb that bounced awkwardly for Eels winger Zali Fay and Evie Jones seized on the opportunity to get a well-deserved try, pushing the Knights further in front 30-16.

In the final minute of the game and Newcastle put on one more attack with a special from Tamika Upton as she split the line of the Eels to run 60 meters to tighten the screws, and it was 36-16 after the conversion.

Tamika Upton was a standout, and the Knights showed that they could bounce back well from their loss last week. The Eels kept in the game, but they gave away too much territory, and the class of the Knights made them pay.

The Knights play against Wests Tigers in the next round at McDonald Jones, and they will go into that match as favourites.

The Eels showed plenty of fight and will get a chance to make amends at CommBank Stadium as they tackle the St. George Dragons in round 6.

Parramatta Eels (W) 16 Newcastle Knights (W) 36
Venue: Eric Tweedale Stadium, Merrylands / Dharug

Date: Sat, 24th August.   Kickoff: 11:40 AM.   Halftime: Newcastle (W) 20-4.   Penalties: Newcastle (W) 9-7.   Referee: Belinda Sharpe.   

Parramatta (W): Church, Fay, Owen, Kelly, Donovan; Tohi-Hiku, Pearson; Albert, Todhunter, Jones, Jackson, Murphy (C), Cherrington. Int: Beckett, Amiatu, Fonua, Asaua.
Newcastle (W): Upton, Willison, Parker, Roache, White; Roche, Jones; Karpani, Higgins, Butler, Albert-Jones, Clydsdale, Southwell (C). Int: Predebon, Romaniuk, Maynard, Tinao.

Parramatta Eels (16)
Tries: Mahalia Murphy, Cassey Tohi-Hiku, Rosemarie Beckett
Goals: Rachael Pearson 2/3

Newcastle Knights (36)
Tries: Tamika Upton 2, Olivia Higgins, Abigail Roache, Lilly-Ann White, Evie Jones, Laishon Albert-Jones
Goals: Georgia Roche 4/8

Cowboys corral rusty Raiders

AJ Lucantonio

The North Queensland Cowboys have continued their revival in 2024 thanks to a 28-18 verdict over the Canberra Raiders in windy conditions at GIO Stadium.

The visitors struck first inside the first minute of the game when Vitalina Naikore crossed for the first try. Following a commanding first set, a bomb from Kirra Dibb was well taken by Naikore who outlept the Canberra fullback to score the first try. North Queensland went back to back when Krystal Blackwell found open space and burnt the Raiders defence to score a scintillating individual try and it was 10-0 after 11 minutes of play.

After a sluggish start from Darrin Borthwick's Canberra side. The Raiders worked their way back into the contest and crossed next after 20 minutes. Sophie Holyman charged over on a crash play to make it 10-6. The Cowboys kicking game caused all sorts of problems in the first half, this allowed them to build field position at will. Jasmine Peters took advantage of this and crossed for the third of the opening 35. A late try before the break to Tiana Raftstrand-Smith had the Raiders on the ropes down 18-6 at oranges.

Canberra started with intent and got the game back to within one possession in the early stages of the second half. A break from Sereana Naitokatoka finished with a spectacular offload and debutant Felice Quinlan crossed to make it 18-12 after 44 minutes. Both teams were exchanging tries for fun in the second half, Naikore collected a double after a brilliant cut-out ball from Raftstrand-Smith.

That effort was quickly countered by Canberra and we had a grandstand finish for the final five minutes of play. Simaima Taufa charged across the middle defence of the Cowboys and the gap was reduced to just four points. A last ditch second try from Peters was enough to seal a big victory for the Cowboys as they keep touch with the top four.

Canberra Raiders (W) 18 North Queensland Cowboys (W) 28
Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal

Date: Sat, 24th August.   Kickoff: 12:45 PM.   Halftime: North QLD (W) 18-6.   Penalties: Canberra (W) 8-5.   Referee: Luke Saldern.   

Canberra (W): Nicholls-Pualau, Bartlett, Robins-Reti, Wiki, Dummett; Temara (C), Naitokatoka; Kelly-Sines, Temara, Holyman, Matua, Dodd, Taufa. Int: Barnes, Kemp, Wuruki-Hosea, Quinlan.
North Qld (W): Blackwell, Naikore, Whitfeld, Peters, Surha; Tillett, Dibb (C); Peacock, Manzelmann, Butler, Polata, Raftstrand-Smith, Chester. Int: Harden, Faifua, Weale, Long.

Canberra Raiders (18)
Tries: Simaima Taufa, Sophie Holyman, Felice Quinlan
Goals: Zahara Temara 3/3

North Queensland Cowboys (28)
Tries: Jasmine Peters 2, Vitalina Naikore 2, Krystal Blackwell, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith
Goals: Kirra Dibb 2/6

Gold Coast trounce Roosters at home

AJ Lucantonio

The Gold Coast Titans have made one big statement in this NRLW season with an emphatic 26-6 win over a disappointing Sydney Roosters side at CBUS Super Stadium.

It was a tough start in scorching conditions for late Winter. Taliah Fuimaono was sin-binned for foul play on Isabelle Kelly, but the Titans handled this well and scored while down a lady. Emily Bass capitalised on poor attack by the Roosters to score in the left corner and the Titans were up and about early.

The rest of the first 35 left a lot to be desired as both teams struggled to come to terms with the warm weather. Sydney especially coughed up possession repeatedly. Evania Pelite took full advantage of some disappointing defence on the right edge to score and it was 10-0 at oranges.

Gold Coast took full advantage coming out of half-time, crossing for a quick try after the break as Lauren Brown stepped her way to score. The Titans crossed through Pelite after some disappointing Roosters defence after yet another mistake out of their own end, a theme John Strange will need to address relatively quickly.

The girls got a bit rowdy in the second half after another Roosters mistake, Jayme Fressard and company got into a big melee. She was sin-binned along with Shaylee Bent. Brown added a second during the 12 v 12 period of the match and the Roosters facing an embarrassing defeat. Sam Bremner added some score-board credibility for the visitors as they lost 26-6. The Roosters need to get back to rugby league basics with another poor completion rate, the Titans have gotten their campaign back on track after some shaky performances to start the season.

Gold Coast Titans (W) 26 Sydney Roosters (W) 6
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh

Date: Sun, 25th August.   Kickoff: 12:00 PM.   Halftime: Gold Coast (W) 8-0.   Penalties: Sydney (W) 8-7.   Referee: Daniel Schwass.   

Gold Coast (W): Pelite, Grey, Chapman, Williams-Guthrie, Bass; Fuimaono, Brown; Mato, Breayley-Nati, Elliston, Canfield, Bent, Hale (C). Int: Jorgensen, Clarke, Gray, Lofipo.
Sydney (W): Bremner, Fressard, Strange, Kelly (C), Wood; Kelleher, Aiken; Elliott, Davis, Hill-Moana, Hall, Kernick, Naividi. Int: Davison, Papalii, Hopoate, Pule.

Gold Coast Titans (26)
Tries: Evania Pelite 2, Lauren Brown 2, Emily Bass
Goals: Lauren Brown 3/5

Sydney Roosters (6)
Tries: Samantha Bremner
Goals: Jocelyn Kelleher 1/1

Broncos bury timid Tigers

Beth Nicholls

Broncos soar into the top two, whilst the Tigers continue to dig themselves into their last place position, unable to secure a win yet in 2024. 

Everything was the way of the Tigers in the first half, where they went into the halftime break up by eight points, but the second half was the Broncos show, scoring seven unanswered tries. 

The Tigers started off the scoring in the match with Pauline Piliae-Rasabale getting a four-pointer in the sixth minute, which came after a strong run and perfectly timed pass from Sarah Togatuki. It looked as if the Broncos were set the even the scoreline with Mele Hufanga getting Brisbane's first, but she had lost the ball over the line. Salma Nour then found the Tigers' second try eight minutes later, pushing over the line from dummy half. 

The home side were up 12-0, but the Broncos finally got their first points on the board with Gayle Broughton crossing over in the 19th minute, where she threw a few dummies before taking on the line herself. 

A penalty for the Tigers right in front in the 26th minute saw the score become 14-6, which is what it remained going into the halftime break. 

The Tigers came out strong in the first half, but what was looking to become a possible Tigers' four-point, became a Broncos instead, with Julia Robinson catching an intercept pass and running all the way down the field, to score her fifth try of the season. 

Chelsea Lenarduzzi then scored just three minutes later, taking on the line herself after some fancy footwork and perfectly timed passes from halfback and captain, Ali Brigginshaw. This saw the Broncos take the lead for the first time in the match in the 42nd minute. The skipper then went over herself, to get her first try of the season, lifting the ball up and over her head to get it to ground. 

Brisbane just continued to widen the gap between them and the Tigers, with Tafito Lafaele powering over the line unable to be stopped by the four defenders and get her first ever NRLW try. 

With just ten minutes left the Broncos were quite comfortably infront with a 16-point lead, but they weren't quite done yet. Coming on from the bench in the 52nd minute, Lauren Dam scored her third career double, scoring both in the 61st minute and dying last minute of the match to seal the win. Craft fullback Hayley Maddick also crossed the line in the 66th minute for her second try of the season.

The Tigers are looking for a glimmer of hope, being the only team so far in 2024 to not get a win, where next week they take on reigning premiers, the Knights, who are currently camped in fourth position. For the winners, the Broncos now have won three on the trot and are set to take on their "little sister", the Cowboys, who are sitting in seventh place. 

Wests Tigers (W) 14 Brisbane Broncos (W) 44
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield / Wanngal

Date: Sun, 25th August.   Kickoff: 1:45 PM.   Halftime: Wests Tigers (W) 14-6.   Penalties: Brisbane (W) 6-5.   Referee: Daniel Luttringer.   

Wests Tigers (W): Vette-Welsh, Pollard, Horne, Tufuga, Lee-Thorne; Piliae-Rasabale, Lutu; Togatuki, Nour, Pio, Talataina, Clifford, George. Int: Curtain, Reinke, Penitani, Prior.
Brisbane (W): Maddick, Robinson, Hufanga, Ciesiolka, Waaka; Broughton, Brigginshaw (C); Clark, Ferguson, Lenarduzzi, Gray, Teitzel, Joseph. Int: Brill, Lafaele, Gould, Dam.

Wests Tigers (14)
Tries: Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, Salma Nour
Goals: Pauline Piliae-Rasabale 3/3

Brisbane Broncos (44)
Tries: Lauren Dam 2, Ali Brigginshaw, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Julia Robinson, Hayley Maddick, Gayle Broughton, Tafito Lafaele
Goals: Romy Teitzel 6/8

Sharks claim derby to remain undefeated

Josh Robertson

The Cronulla Sharks have stayed undefeated to start the NRLW season with a 28-4 victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium.

Opening the scoring inside the first minute, Sharks captain Tiana Penitani scored after an error gave the Sharks attacking position and off the scrum Penitani scored. The Sharks captain then put Nakia Davis-Welsh over in the eight minute on the outside with neither try converted from difficult positions.

The Dragons lacked the ball but once they got some attacking position they took advantage when Ella Koster went over but the try could not be converted.

Cronulla hit back in the final minute of the first half when Georgia Ravics was put into open space on the outside and the Sharks had a 12-4 lead at the break with another missed conversion from wide out.

The second half was the Emma Tonegato show as she combined with Tiana Penitani for her second try which again was unconverted. Tonegato had three try assists for the game when just a matter of minutes later when Rhiannon Byers was able to cross for the Sharks. This time it was converted and it the lead blew out to 22-4.

Rounding outside the scoring with ten minutes to go, Georgia Ravics picked up her second try of the night and Tayla Preston converted for a big 28-4 win over their local rivals.

St George Illawarra Dragons (W) 4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (W) 28
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong / Dharawal

Date: Sun, 25th August.   Kickoff: 6:10 PM.   Halftime: Cronulla (W) 12-4.   Penalties: 7-all.   Referee: Clayton Wills.   

St Geo Illa (W): Berry, Paseka, Browne, Lendill, Gregory; Hopkins, McGregor (C); Teakaraanga-Katoa, Reh, Mulhall, Koster, Basham, Tauaneai. Int: Bright, Hancock, Preston, Cowan.
Cronulla (W): Staples, Davis-Welsh, Penitani (C), Biddle, Ravics; Tonegato, Preston; Johnston, Dodd, Wheeler, Foliaki, Byers, Anderson. Int: Smale, Saunders, Takapautolo, Dymock.

St George-Illawarra Dragons (4)
Tries: Ella Koster

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (28)
Tries: Tiana Penitani 2, Georgia Ravics 2, Nakia Davis-Welsh, Rhiannon Byers
Goals: Tayla Preston 2/6

Round 5 ladder

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RLP stats leaders

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Player of the Year

Our writers choose the best three players from each game each week - here's the running tally for the season!

9 points - Kennedy Cherrington (Eels)

8 points - Tamika Upton (Knights), Tiana Penitani (Sharks)

7 points - Evania Pelite (Titans)

6 points - Kirra Dibb (Cowboys)

5 points - Teagan Berry (Dragons), Jessica Sergis (Roosters), Simaima Taufa (Raiders), Lauren Brown (Titans), Julia Robinson (Broncos)

4 points - Rachael Pearson (Eels), Elsie Albert (Eels), Jakiya Whitfeld (Cowboys), Isabelle Kelly (Roosters)

3 points - Talei Holmes (Sharks), Mele Hufanga (Broncos), Tarryn Aiken (Roosters), Quincy Dodd (Sharks), Stacey Waaka (Broncos), Georgia Hale (Titans), Tiana Raftstrand-Smith (Cowboys), Emma Tonegato (Sharks), Ali Brigginshaw (Broncos), Hannah Southwell (Knights), Zahara Temara (Raiders), Lilly-Ann White (Knights)

2 points - Abbi Church (Eels), Alexis Tauaneai (Dragons), Chelsea Lenarduzzi (Broncos), Abigail Roache (Knights), Amber Hall (Roosters), Christian Pio (Wests Tigers), Olivia Kernick (Roosters), Ellie Johnston (Sharks), Madison Bartlett (Raiders), Brooke Anderson (Sharks)

1 point - Jasmine Peters (Cowboys), Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers), Emily Bass (Titans), Tazmin Rapana (Broncos), Annessa Biddle (Sharks), Lily Peacock (Cowboys), Tess Staines (Wests Tigers), Laishon Albert-Jones (Knights), Jesse Southwell (Knights), Rosemarie Beckett (Eels), Shenae Ciesiolka (Broncos), Mackenzie Wiki (Raiders), Keilee Joseph (Broncos), Shannon Mato (Titans), Millie Elliott (Roosters)