Sunday's Expert - 2022 NRLW Round 4

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Time for a full wrap-up of the weekend's NRLW action. Sunday's Expert brings you the full results wrap from the weekend, plus Match Review charges, injury news, our POTY standings, and a look ahead to next round.

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

RELATED: See the full list of 2022 NRL Telstra Women's Premiership Draw and Results.

NRLW Round 4 results

Gold Coast Titans 18 Parramatta Eels 16

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Crowd: 505
Date: Saturday 10 September 2022 at 1:05pm

GOLD COAST TITANS (18)
Tries: Stephanie Hancock, Shannon Mato, Jessika Elliston
Conversions: Lauren Brown (3/3)

PARRAMATTA EELS (16)
Tries: Zali Fay, Simaima Taufa, Rima Butler
Conversions: Tayla Preston (2/3)

Titans break their duck with nail-biting victory

AJ Lucantonio | September 10 2022 2:40PM

The Gold Coast Titans have broken their duck by downing the Parramatta Eels 18-16 in a nail-biting clash to kick-off Round 4 of the NRLW season from AAMI Park.

It was a must-win clash for both sides as they were trying to keep their NRLW finals chances alive.

Gold Coast had all of the early possession and they were rewarded after seven minutes. The clever second-phase play saw Steph Hancock crash over to score her eighth try in the NRLW's history. This made her the leading try scorer in the competition's history, an extraordinary achievement for the oldest player in the competition, once again showing age isn't a barrier.

The Titans had another try just six minutes later and once again it was their forwards that were leading the way. Brittany Breayley-Nati found Shannon Mato who wrestled the ball to the ground. Referee Karra-Lee Nolan pointed to the spot and despite the Titans being the worst attacking side in the NRLW this season, the Titans led by 12.

Parramatta worked their way back into the game and off the back of some poor discipline by their opposition, they were able to hit back. It took a good pass from Ash Quinlan who found Tiana Penitani who in turn found Zali Fay. Fay hit and spun her way out of the tackle of Evania Pelite and the Eels reduced the margin to eight.

After hanging on for dear life, the Eels let their grip slip just on half-time. The Eels were scrambling well in defence, it took good work from Georgia Hale who found Kimiora Breayley-Nati who found the short ball to Jessika Elliston and she crosses right on half-time. The conversion gave the home side a 14 point half-time lead.

Parramatta started the second half strongly and their efforts were rewarded when Simaima Taufa caught the Titans napping with a dummy and go. She took on Evania Pelite and beats the fullback and crashed over for a vital try to reduce the margin to eight.

With their season on the line, the Eels hung in there and were able to keep the Titans at bay. Elliston was denied a try when she dropped the ball over the line. That knock-on proved decisive as the Eels were able to march down the field. Rima Butler was able to charge over the top of Brittany Breayley-Nati and two other defenders to score a vital try, but the margin was at two points.

Parramatta was unable to cross for the final blow and remain winless in the 2022 NRLW season effectively ending their chances of making the finals this season. For the Titans, they're in a win-and-in situation against the Roosters next weekend in Gosford.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Evania Pelite
2 points - Stephanie Hancock
1 points - Simaima Taufa

Brisbane Broncos 18 St George Illawarra Dragons 19

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Crowd: 1229
Date: Saturday 10 September 2022 at 2:50pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (18)
Tries: Julia Robinson, Shenae Ciesiolka, Jaime Chapman, Ali Brigginshaw
Field Goals: Ali Brigginshaw (0/1)
Conversions: Brianna Clark (0/2), Tarryn Aiken (1/2)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (19)
Tries: Kezie Apps, Quincy Dodd, Elsie Albert
Field Goals: Rachael Pearson (1/1)
Conversions: Rachael Pearson (3/3)

Dragons survive late scare to down Broncos in Golden Point thriller

Adam Huxtable | September 10 2022 5:11PM

The St George Illawarra Dragons have cemented their place in the top 4 of the NRLW, holding on to beat an inconsistent Broncos side 19-18 in golden point at AAMI Park on Saturday.

It wasn't a good start for the Broncos, who lost Lavinia Gould and Jaime Chapman early due to a leg injury and head knock respectively. 

Despite those setbacks, they were able to get on the scoreboard first in the 8th minute. They received a penalty and took full advantage, marching up the field and gaining momentum. Before long they were inside the Dragons' 20, and they executed a right-side shift to perfection to score their first through Julia Robinson. 

From there, a mistake-riddled arm wrestle would ensue, with both teams combining for 20 errors through the first half alone. Neither were able to capitalise on an opposition mistake until the 31st minute, when Broncos fullback Hayley Maddick's knock on gifted the Dragons good attacking field position. 

They would finally get over the line shortly after Kezie Apps was too strong for the defence. 

After doing all the hard work defensively, the Broncos would head into the break down by 8-points after the Dragons turned one try into two just before the break. Quincy Dodd threw a dummy that was fallen for by everyone and she then got herself over the line under the posts, making it 12-4 to St George Illawarra. 

The Broncos had success all game attacking the left side of the Dragons defence, and turned it into a try in the 46th minute, with Brigginshaw flicking it out to Ciesiolka, who grubbered past the Dragons fullback Pearson to regather and score a great try. 

Brisbane had all the momentum and an equalising try seemed imminent, but Chelsea Lenarduzzi collected Keeley Davis high and went to the sin bin, handing the Dragons an opportunity to ice the game. 

They did so immediately, with Elsie Albert running as hard as anyone to slam the ball down over the line. The successful conversion meant that the Dragons lead 18-8 with just 13 minutes remaining.

The Broncos were out of gas, and it took an extraordinary individual effort from Jaime Chapman to get them back into it. She broke a tackle and made a clean line break inside her own 30 metre line, before burning the Dragons fullback on her way to the line. The conversion was again unsuccessful, making it 18-12 to the Red V. 

It looked as though the Dragons would grind out the win after forcing consecutive dropout, but the third kick went dead and the Broncos were armed with 130 seconds, 7 tackles and a dream. The dream became reality as Ali Brigginshaw spotted a gap and pinned the ears back, scoring under the posts to send the game to extra time. 

On the first play, the Dragons knocked on, but a challenge revealed it was actually a strip by the Broncos, giving the Dragons a penalty and putting them in the box seat. Rachel Pearson was cool, calm and collected under pressure, nailing the field goal on her first attempt to make it a 19-18 win for the Dragons.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Ali Brigginshaw
2 points - Kezie Apps
1 points - Elsie Albert

Newcastle Knights 16 Sydney Roosters 18

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park
Crowd: 4063
Date: Sunday 11 September 2022 at 1:10pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (16)
Tries: Romy Teitzel, Yasmin Clydsdale, Caitlan Johnston
Conversions: Kirra Dibb (1/2), Jesse Southwell (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (18)
Tries: Jasmine Strange, Kalosipani Hopoate, Isabelle Kelly
Conversions: Zahara Temara (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Zahara Temara (1/1), Raecene McGregor (0/1)

Roosters seal Minor Premiership with final minutes victory

Josh Robertson | September 11 2022 3:27PM

The Sydney Roosters have sealed their first minor premiership with an 18-16 victory over the Newcastle Knights in a see-sawing affair that saw both sides having to come from behind.

It was a fast start for the Roosters who scored in the opening three minutes when Jasmine Strange scored on debut down the left after a break through the middle two plays prior. The Roosters put on their second try just four minutes later when Raecene McGregor split the Knights defence and put Kalosipani Hopoate through for her maiden try. Zahara Temara's conversion put the Roosters up 10-0.

A penalty goal on the stroke of half time extended the Roosters lead out to 12-0 at the break.

Errors came back to bite the Roosters in the second half when Romy Teitzel was able to pluck a Jesse Southwell kick out of the air and get her way to the line and putting the ball on the line. The conversion was missed and the Knights still trailed by 8.

Only a matter of minutes later, Yasmin Clydsdale was able to get one back on her old side after a good ball put her into space after the Roosters defence were caught in two minds on what to do. Jesse Southwell closed the gap to two points with the conversion.

Newcastle had all the momentum and then looked to have what was going to be a match winner when the Knights took advantage of the Roosters defence being unable to shut down Southwell who found Caitlan Johnston to stroll through to score. The conversion put the Knights into the lead by four points.

It was a lost ball from the Knights that ended their afternoon when looking to spread the ball, Romy Teitzel dropped the ball right in front of Isabelle Kelly who swooped and raced away 70m untouched to score the match winning try. The Roosters lead by 2 after Zahara Temara's conversion.

A missed penalty goal gave the Knights one play after the siren to try and go 100m but it wasn't to be and the Roosters held onto the 18-16 victory.

Next weekend, both sides head to Gosford as the Roosters have a match against the Titans whilst the Knights take on the Dragons.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Isabelle Kelly
2 points - Millie Boyle
1 points - Raecene McGregor

Ladder after Round 4

RELATED: Click here to view the current NRL Telstra Women's Premiership ladder.

Match Review Charges

No charges from Saturday matches. Sunday charges TBC

LeagueUnlimited Player of the Year standings

Our writers issue points every game for who they judge as the best player on the field.

7 points - Raecene McGregor (Roosters)

6 points - Sam Bremner (Roosters)

5 points - Isabelle Kelly (Roosters)

4 points - Stephanie Hancock (Titans)

3 points - Tayla Preston (Eels), Evania Pelite (Titans), Tiana Penitani (Eels), Tamika Upton (Knights), Jaime Chapman (Broncos), Emma Manzelmann (Knights), Jesse Southwell (Knights), Millie Boyle (Knights), Tarryn Aiken (Broncos), Ali Brigginshaw (Broncos), Emma Tonegato (Dragons)

2 points - Kezie Apps (Dragons), Amber Hall (Broncos), Gayle Broughton (Eels), Romy Teitzel (Knights), Simaima Taufa (Eels), Georgia Hale (Titans)

1 point - Holli Wheeler (Dragons), Elsie Albert (Dragons), Keeley Davis (Dragons), Keilee Joseph (Roosters), Rikeya Horne (Eels)

Upcoming NRL fixture: Round 5

Brisbane Broncos v Parramatta Eels
Sun 18 Sep 12:05PM at Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

Gold Coast Titans v Sydney Roosters
Sun 18 Sep 1:55PM at Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

St George Illawarra Dragons v Newcastle Knights
Sun 18 Sep 3:45PM at Central Coast Stadium, Gosford