Sunday's Expert - 2022 NRLW Round 5

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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 5 results

Brisbane Broncos 16 Parramatta Eels 28

Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Crowd: 3066
Date: Sunday 18 September 2022 at 12:05pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS (16)
Tries: Shenae Ciesiolka, Ali Brigginshaw, Hayley Maddick
Conversions: Ali Brigginshaw (2/3)

PARRAMATTA EELS (28)
Tries: Tiana Penitani, Ellie Johnston, Zali Fay, Simaima Taufa, Kennedy Cherrington
Conversions: Tayla Preston (3/5)
Penalty Goals: Tayla Preston (1/1)

Eels put one-hand on finals spot ending the Broncos season.

Josh Robertson | September 18 2022 2:22PM

The Parramatta Eels have done what no other side in the NRLW has been able to and end the Brisbane Broncos season before the finals following their 28-16 victory at Gosford.

Starting fast, the Blue and Gold looked switched on as Tiana Penitani was able to get over in the corner after a strong run through the middle set up the Eels in attack. The Eels then pushed their way over again inside ten minutes when Ellie Johnston was able to get over the line with a charging run.

Off the back of errors and ill-discipline from the Eels, the Broncos were able to score through Shenae Ciesiolka after a good long pass from Ali Brigginshaw was able to put the centre through.

Just shy of half time, the Eels were able to get their lead to beyond the required six when not long after just being denied, Ash Quinlan threw a beautiful long pass out to Zali Fay who scored in the corner. Tayla Preston couldn't convert and the Eels held a 14-6 lead at the half-time break.

Despite dominating possession, the Eels couldn't take advantage but were able to extend their lead out to 10 when slotting a penalty goal after the Broncos were penalised for ruck interference.

The Broncos were able to hit back not long after the penalty goal when the Broncos took advantage of some loose Eels defence and Hayley Maddick put the speed on to score for Brisbane to keep the gap close.

A controversial non-call from Kasey Badger came back to hurt the Eels when a short dropout from Ali Brigginshaw was taken by Jaime Chapman despite it looking like it hadn't gone ten metres. The ensuing set saw Brigginshaw score after a deflected kick bounced nicely for her to pick it up and score. A shank from close range saw the scores stay locked up at 16-16.

It might've been the football gods smiling on the Eels as they were able to hit back when Simaima Taufa charged at the line and with a gap closing, she was able to score next to the uprights and after the conversion the Eels lead by six. The Eels then confirmed their top 4 spot with Kennedy Cherrington fighting her way to the line after an important offload from Vanessa Foliaki gave Parramatta some attacking space and a ball to score close to the posts.

The twelve point victory gives Parramatta one hand on the top 4 spot depending on results, meanwhile the Broncos will miss the finals for the first time and look to see what went wrong in 2022.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Simaima Taufa
2 points - Brooke Anderson
1 points - Ash Quinlan

Gold Coast Titans 12 Sydney Roosters 38

Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Crowd: 4776
Date: Sunday 18 September 2022 at 1:55pm

GOLD COAST TITANS (12)
Tries: Madison Bartlett (2), Jetaya Faifua
Conversions: Lauren Brown (0/2), Karina Brown (0/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (38)
Tries: Destiny Brill (2), Jada Taylor, Shaniah Power, Jayme Fressard (2), Jessica Sergis
Conversions: Zahara Temara (5/7)

Roosters close out the regular season with thumping win over sorry Titans

AJ Lucantonio | September 18 2022 3:30PM

The Sydney Roosters are minor premiers in the 2022 NRLW season with a commanding 38-12 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Central Coast Stadium.

It was a simple equation for the Titans today, win and the Titans were qualifying for the finals. They thought they were off to a good start when Kimiora Breayley-Nati crossed for the first try. But, the bunker was bizarrely unable to overturn the decision when the camera angles couldn't determine if she was on or offside.

The Roosters wasted no time getting up the other end and it was a former Titan who crossed for the first try. Destiny Brill ran out of the dummy half and scored the first try against her former club. Similar issues that plagued the Titans this season were their undoing early. Another cheap penalty for a high tackle on former teammate Brill gave the Roosters prime field position. A brilliant pass from Olivia Kernick saw Jada Taylor score on her debut.

Off the ensuing kickoff, the Roosters couldn't handle it and it allowed the Titans to hit back with immediate effect. It was a brilliant ball from Evania Pelite which allowed Madison Bartlett to cross in the left corner and reduce the margin to eight. Unfortunately, the Titans also failed to handle the kickoff and the Roosters restored their order when Jocelyn Kelleher provided a lovely pass to the backrower Shaniah Power who crashed over against her old club.  

Five minutes later, Power turned provider when she found Isabelle Kelly who unselfishly found Jayme Fressard who crossed in the right-hand corner and the Roosters had a 22-4 lead. After stemming the run of points for a short period, the Titans' poor completions saw the Roosters strike when Kelleher provided another wonder ball to Jess Sergis to race 50 meters to score and give the Roosters a 24-point lead at half-time.

The second half was filled with errors from both sides with either team failing to gain the ascendency after coming out of the dressing sheds. Gold Coast had their chances but once again, their poor completions were their undoing. Eventually, the weight of possession for the Titans saw them cross when Bartlett crossed for her second. Gold Coast grabbed their second of the second half when Lauren Brown created the overlap and youngster Jetaya Faifua crossed to reduce the gap to 16. Brill and Fressard crossed for their doubles respectively to increase the margin, which gave the Roosters a comprehensive 38-12 victory.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Destiny Brill
2 points - Jocelyn Kelleher
1 points - Evania Pelite

St George Illawarra Dragons 8 Newcastle Knights 30

Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Date: Sunday 18 September 2022 at 3:45pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (8)
Tries: Taliah Fuimaono, Teagan Berry
Conversions: Rachael Pearson (0/2)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (30)
Tries: Olivia Higgins, Kiana Takairangi, Jessica Gentle, Emmanita Paki, Emma Manzelmann, Makenzie Weale
Conversions: Jesse Southwell (3/6)

Knights warm-up for finals battle with big win over the Dragons

Josh Robertson | September 18 2022 5:31PM

Both sides made plenty of changes before the contest with both sides just feeling each other out and testing depth ahead of their finals clash next weekend against each other.

The Dragons were able to score in the right hand corner when some good work from the Red ‘V' saw Taliah Fuimaono score the opener. A tough conversion attempt from Rachael Pearson was waved away.

Some ill-discipline from Holli Wheeler helped Newcastle into good attacking position which the Novocastrians were able to take advantage of when Olivia Higgins got over from dummy half after the Dragons defence went in two directions.

An error at the back from the Knights gave the Dragons strong attacking position which they took advantage of straight from the scrum when Teagan Berry was able to get on the outside of the defence and scored in the corner. Another tough conversion was missed from Rachael Pearson.

The tit-for-tat nature of the game continued as Kiana Takairangi was able to show that she had plenty of strength as she was able to keep her arm off the ground from close range to the line and score. Southwell missed the conversion which kept the scores level at 8-8.

On the stroke of half-time it was an amazing pass from Jesse Southwell and then some strong footwork from debutant Jessica Gentle to combine for the Knights third try when a harbour bridge pass from Southwell found Gentle. Gentle's footwork then was able to beat the defence and score. Southwell converted to give the Knights a 14-8 lead on the break.

The momentum was all with Newcastle at the end of the first half and then they took advantage to start the second half when Emma Paki was able to score out wide when the Knights were able to create an overlap for the centre to get her first NRLW try. Southwell's conversion was waved away and the Knights held an 18-8 lead.

Mounting possession for the Knights became too much for the Dragons as their energy levels dropped and Emma Manzelmann was able to take advantage when she sprinted out of dummy half and got over. Jesse Southwell was able to convert to push the lead out to 24-8.

The Knights sealed the deal late in the contest when the Dragons defence were on different pages as Makenzie Weale took advantage and the tired defence couldn't stop her from getting over next to the posts. Jesse Southwell converted from close range to seal the 30-8 victory.

Next weekend, these two sides meet again in the first week of the finals and there will be no doubt that the teams won't look anything like they did today with key players rested from both sides.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Caitlan Johnston
2 points - Jesse Southwell
1 points - Elsie Albert

Final NRLW Ladder

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

Match Review Charges

Brooke Anderson - Eels (dangerous contact — warning)

Apii Nicholls - Titans (contrary conduct — warning)

Georgia Hale - Titans (careless high tackle — warning)

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 - Jesse Southwell (Knights), Simaima Taufa (Eels), Isabelle Kelly (Roosters)

4 points - Stephanie Hancock (Titans)

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

2 points - Elsie Albert (Dragons), Kezie Apps (Dragons), Brooke Anderson (Eels), Gayle Broughton (Eels), Romy Teitzel (Knights), Georgia Hale (Titans), Amber Hall (Broncos)

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

Upcoming NRLW fixture: Semi Finals

Newcastle Knights (2nd) v (3rd) St George Illawarra Dragons
Sun 25 Sep, 2:05pm
Suncorp Stadium, Milton

Sydney Roosters (1st) v (4th) Parramatta Eels
Sun 25 Sep, 3:50pm
Suncorp Stadium, Milton

The double header will be following by Australia v PNG in the annual women's and men's Prime Minister's XIII contests at the same venue.