MONDAY'S EXPERT: 2024 NRLW Round 2

A wrap of Round 2 NRLW with our team of writers 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 pip Raiders in controversial capital clash

with Josh Robertson

Down in the Nation's captial, drama filled the air as a 70th minute penalty try to Tamika Upton sealed a 26-20 victory for the Newcastle Knights at GIO Stadium.

Just like last week, the Raiders started fast with two tries inside six minutes to Mackenzie Wiki and Zahara Temara and opened a 10-0 lead early on. The Knights then were able to hit back in the 15th and 25th minutes to Hannah Southwell and debutant Lilly-Ann White to level the scores.

The Raiders kicked a penalty goal just shy of the half time break and took a 12-10 lead.

Newcastle were able to take the lead not long after the Raiders had extended their lead to 4 when Caitlan Johnston-Green was able to score and put the Novocastrians into the lead for the first time. 

Canberra re-took the lead just after the hour mark when Shakiah Tungai scored but it didn't last long when with six minutes to play, the Knights were able to level the scores when a kick return from Lilly-Ann White put her downfield and eventually Sheridan Gallagher scored.

The missed conversion from close range from Jesse Southwell set the game up for a grandstand finish and it was via a Raiders error that Newcastle got into position to set up the game. The drama came when Apii Nicholls' only option was to grab Tamika Upton who established the lead on a chase but was brought down before she could get to the ball. It was an easy decision for the bunker who awarded the penalty try and it gave the Knights a 26-20 win.

Canberra Raiders (W) 20 Newcastle Knights (W) 26
Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra, Bruce / Ngunnawal

Date: Sat, 3rd August.   Kickoff: 11:00 AM.   Halftime: Canberra (W) 12-10.   Penalties: Canberra (W) 6-4.   Referee: Daniel Luttringer.   Crowd: 1,791.

Canberra (W): Nicholls-Pualau, Bartlett, Robins-Reti, Wiki, Tungai; Temara (C), Quinlan; Kelly-Sines, Temara, Holyman, Soliola, Dodd, Taufa. Int: Barnes, Kemp, Matua, Naitokatoka.
Newcastle (W): Upton, Gallagher, Parker, Roache, White; Roche, Southwell; Predebon, Higgins, Johnston, Albert-Jones, Clydsdale, Southwell (C). Int: Maynard, Romaniuk, Butler, Waterman.

Canberra Raiders (20)
Tries: Zahara Temara, Shakiah Tungai, Mackenzie Wiki
Goals: Zahara Temara 4/5

Newcastle Knights (26)
Tries: Caitlan Johnston-Green, Hannah Southwell, Tamika Upton, Lilly-Ann White, Sheridan Gallagher
Goals: Jesse Southwell 3/5

Titans pile on the pain for the Tigers

with Tim Costello

A slow start for the Titans gave way to a dominant performance as the Gold Coast stormed home to win 28-12 over the winless Wests Tigers at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.

A Jaime Chapman treble was the highlight of the day for the hosts, who are 2-0 from their two matches so far.

It was the Tigers who started fastest, a Salma Nour try putting the visitors on the right foot early. The hosts hit back through Chapman's first try not long after, but the Tigers were stern in the face of their opponents and hit back with Losana Latu crossing with a spectacular four-pointer.

Gold Coast flicked the switch not long after, with back-to-back tries turning a six point deficit into a four-point halftime lead at 16-12, with Chapman's second paired up with a try to Hailey-Jay Ormond-Maunsell.

Chapman's hat-trick was complete early in the second half before Evania Pelite iced the result 18 minutes before fulltime, a point after which the scoreboard was not troubled further.

Gold Coast Titans (W) 28 Wests Tigers (W) 12
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh

Date: Sat, 3rd August.   Kickoff: 12:45 PM.   Halftime: Gold Coast (W) 16-12.   Penalties: Wests Tigers (W) 6-3.   Referee: Nick Pelgrave.   Crowd: 11,105.

Gold Coast (W): Pelite, Grey, Chapman, Williams-Guthrie, Bass; Fuimaono, Brown; Mato, Breayley-Nati, Elliston, Jorgensen, Bent, Hale (C). Int: Kolc, Maunsell, Perese, Clarke.
Wests Tigers (W): Vette-Welsh (C), Crichton, Tufuga, Horne, Staines; Piliae-Rasabale, Lutu; Togatuki, Nour, Pio, Apps, McGlone, George. Int: Curtain, Reinke, Penitani, Talataina.

Gold Coast Titans (28)
Tries: Jaime Chapman 3, Evania Pelite, Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell
Goals: Lauren Brown 4/5

Wests Tigers (12)
Tries: Salma Nour, Losana Lutu
Goals: Pauline Piliae-Rasabale 2/2

Sharks down Eels in thriller

with AJ Lucantonio

Cronulla have gone 2-2 to start the NRLW season after a hard-fought win over Parramatta. The win has come at a cost with Jada Taylor coming from the field injured during the second half. 

The Eels started the way they finished in Brisbane last week, strong and with intent. After a week of headlines for defending her injured sister this week, Kennedy Cherrington responded by crossing the line first. A strong carry from Elsie Albert saw her get an arm free to Cherrington who crossed next to the posts and an early 6-0 buffer. 

The Sharks hit back swiftly, and it was Ellie Johnston who charged across the line four minutes later. It was a simple crash ball and Johnston outmuscled her way to the line to level the scores back at 6 apiece. Parramatta would later dominate possession and added a try in the 17th minute. Monique Donovan crossed after some strong lead-up work from Cherrington, Chloe Jackson and Abbi Church to find her winger in the corner. Paramatta would earn their 10-6 lead the break thanks to some strong defence late in the half. They also had chances to extend, but thanks to a great try-saver from Taylor, the lead remained 4 points.

Quincy Dodd's grubber was well weighted after the break, and it was the flying Taylor who won the race to ground the ball first and the Sharks took the lead by just two points. Taylor's game would end with 25 to go as she left with injury. Parramatta later capitalised on some poor defusal work from Cassie Staples to score with 12 to play. A great cross-field kick from Cassey Tohi-Hiku was put down and Rory Owen pounced on the ball to retake the lead.  

Cronulla thought they led with nine minutes to go as Johnston claimed her second try. However, the bunker ruled that she had promoted the ball illegally in a second movement. They didn't need to wait too long as the Sharks soon retook the lead as last year's Rookie of the Year pounced to take the lead. A kick ricochet off a Parramatta leg went to Annessa Biddle who scored the match winner.

Parramatta will be buoyed by another strong performance, but devastated they couldn't get the victory. Cronulla will be thrilled to go 2-0 but facing an interesting dilemma involving Emma Tonegato if Jada Taylor's injury is severe. Questions about a return to fullback will be raging high. 

Parramatta Eels (W) 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (W) 18
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal

Date: Sun, 4th August.   Kickoff: 12:00 PM.   Halftime: Parramatta (W) 10-6.   Penalties: Parramatta (W) 7-4.   Referee: Luke Saldern.   Crowd: 1,166.

Parramatta (W): Church, Fay, Owen, Kelly, Donovan; Tohi-Hiku, Pearson; Albert, Todhunter, Jones, Jackson, Murphy (C), Cherrington. Int: Beckett, Amiatu, Fonua, Kennard.
Cronulla (W): Taylor, Staples, Penitani (C), Biddle, Ravics; Hannaway, Preston; Johnston, Dodd, Wheeler, Holmes, Byers, Anderson. Int: Saunders, Foliaki, Dymock, Takapautolo.

Parramatta Eels (16)
Tries: Monique Donovan, Kennedy Cherrington, Rory Owen
Goals: Rachael Pearson 2/3

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (18)
Tries: Ellie Johnston, Jada Taylor, Annessa Biddle
Goals: Tayla Preston 3/3

Roosters crow as Broncos stumble

with Beth Nicholls

The Roosters seal their first win of the season, whilst the Broncos start their 2024 campaign 0-2. 

Both teams were looking to find their first win of the season after both suffering Round 1 losses, and the Roosters ended up on top. 

The first 30 minutes saw only two tries, one to both the Roosters and Broncos through Fressard and Teitzel respectfully, with both sides going back-and-forth with many attempts to get the ball over the line but just coming short. 

Former Bronco, Tarryn Aiken, then went over for the Roosters second in the final five minutes of the first half, twisting and turning with the defender to get the ball over the line, but this wasn't all the trouble the Roosters were going to cause. With 30 seconds to go and a whole set on the Broncos line, the Roosters capitalised on their opportunity which saw Jess Sergis go over to make it a 16-6 score line at halftime. 

What was once a close game which could have been anyone's to grasp in the second half was now looking like a steep hill from the Broncos to bounce back from after conceding 12 points within the final three minutes of the first half. 

The second half saw a slow start, and the Broncos were looking to be in a good position to make up for the ten-point deficit, but then an intercept pass thrown right into the hands of Sergis undid all their work. Sergis went on the run the length of the field and score her second try of the match, which marks her fourth career double. 

Another Broncos mistake saw the Roosters capitalise and score more points, after the ball was lost by Brisbane on the halfway line and easily retrieved by Aiken, for her to score a double and just continue to terrorise her former club. 

After a line break from Julia Robinson the Broncos slowly made their way down the length of the field and managed to get their second try of the game through Jada Ferguson, but it was too little too late. 

Yet again the Broncos error making tendencies and ill-discipline let them down, whilst the Roosters capitalised on their chances and had a plethora of good plays and efforts from across the field. 

After losing to the 2023 premiers last week, the Roosters now slide into fourth position and look towards playing bottom of the table West Tigers next week. 

For the away side, they have much work to do, now sitting in 9th position with back-to-back losses and so much work to do, and next week will be a hard mountain to climb, playing the top of the table Titans. 

Sydney Roosters (W) 28 Brisbane Broncos (W) 12
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal

Date: Sun, 4th August.   Kickoff: 1:45 PM.   Halftime: Sydney (W) 16-6.   Penalties: Sydney (W) 7-3.   Referee: Belinda Sharpe.   Crowd: 2,899.

Sydney (W): Bremner, Fressard, Sergis, Strange, Wood; Kelly (C), Aiken; Elliott, Davis, Hopoate, Pule, Kernick, Nasio. Int: Kelleher, Economos, Hill-Moana, Hall.
Brisbane (W): Maddick, Robinson, Hufanga, Dam, Spreadborough; Adams, Brigginshaw (C); Joseph, Ferguson, Clark, Gray, Teitzel, Fogavini. Int: Denman, Brill, Lenarduzzi, Hoy.

Sydney Roosters (28)
Tries: Jessica Sergis 2, Tarryn Aiken 2, Jayme Fressard
Goals: Jocelyn Kelleher 4/4

Brisbane Broncos (12)
Tries: Romy Teitzel, Jada Ferguson
Goals: Brianna Clark 2/2

Cowboys keep their noses in front

with Beth Nicholls

The Cowboys claim redemption whilst the Dragons go 0-2. 

A high-scoring match saw a total of 72 points scored between the two teams, which comes after the Cowboys were held scoreless by the Sharks in Round 1. 

The Cowboys opened the scoring in the 7th minute with Lily Peacock crashing over the line for their first try of the season. The home side were then close to going back-to-back tries in the space of minutes, but five-eighth Tahlulah Tillett lost the ball over the line. 

Former Tiger, Jakiya Whitfeld, then successfully gets the Cowboys their second try after the Dragons let a Kirra Dibb bomb kick bounce.

Trailing 12-0, the Dragons fought back to score two consecutive tries through Kasey Reh (scoring her first try) and Margot Vella, to even up the score and make it 12 all. Although this comeback didn't mean much, with the Cowboys scoring another two consecutive tries within a 3-minute period to put them back in the lead by 10 points. 

The Red-V scored the first try in the second half, after the Cowboys let a short-range kick bounce, and the visitors capitalised, with Margot Vella scoring a double for the night. 

Neither of these teams were giving up, with them both then going back-and-forth for tries. With Jasmine Peters crossing over for her first try of the season, before the Dragons then reverse served again to see Teagan Berry add another try to her tally, as well as Kimberley Hunt crossing over for a four pointer to tie up the game at 28 all. 

Tiana Raftstrand-Smith goes over for a double in the 58th minute to give the Cowboys back the lead, before Jakiya Whitfeld scores her second in the navy and yellow in the 62nd minute to seal the win. Though, Dragons had the last say, with a chip over the top kick and put down by Alexis Tauaneai saw them score a try in the dying 25 seconds of the match. 

This tight but high scoring match sees the Cowboys get their first win since Round 4 of the 2023 season, whilst the Dragons have now lost both matches to start their season. Although with the poor differential of the Cowboys, they sit only one place above the Dragons who are currently camped in eighth position. 

Looking ahead the Cowboys now face the Eels who suffered a close loss against the Sharks this week, whilst the Dragons face the 2023 premiers, Newcastle Knights, in enemy territory. 

North Queensland Cowboys (W) 38 St George Illawarra Dragons (W) 34
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville / Wulgurukaba

Date: Sun, 4th August.   Kickoff: 6:10 PM.   Halftime: North QLD (W) 22-12.   Penalties: St Geo Illa (W) 8-2.   Referee: Karra-Lee Nolan.   

North Qld (W): Goldthorp, Blackwell, Whitfeld, Peters, Raftstrand-Smith; Tillett, Dibb (C); Peacock, Manzelmann, Banu, Polata, Raftstrand-Smith, Chester. Int: Harden, Foord, Mooka, Power.
St Geo Illa (W): Berry, Hunt, Browne, Law, Vella; Hopkins, McGregor (C); Teakaraanga-Katoa, Clancy, Bright, Lendill, Basham, Tauaneai. Int: Reh, Sautia, Wilson, Hancock.

North Queensland Cowboys (38)
Tries: Tiana Raftstrand-Smith 2, Jakiya Whitfeld 2, Jasmine Peters, Francesca Goldthorp, Lily Peacock
Goals: Kirra Dibb 5/7

St George-Illawarra Dragons (34)
Tries: Margot Vella 2, Teagan Berry, Kimberley Hunt, Alexis Tauaneai, Kasey Reh
Goals: Raecene Mcgregor 5/6

Round 2 ladder

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

RLP stats leaders

TOP TRYSCORERS

TOP GOALKICKERS

TOP POINTSCORERS

LU NRLW Player of the Year Standings

after Round 2
Chosen by our match report writers from each game:

5 points - Kennedy Cherrington (Eels)

4 points - Evania Pelite (Titans)

3 points - Zahara Temara (Raiders), Lauren Brown (Titans), Lilly-Ann White (Knights), Georgia Hale (Titans), Kirra Dibb (Cowboys), Tarryn Aiken (Roosters), Quincy Dodd (Sharks), Simaima Taufa (Raiders), Tamika Upton (Knights), Tiana Penitani (Sharks), Hannah Southwell (Knights)

2 points - Jessica Sergis (Roosters), Jakiya Whitfeld (Cowboys), Brooke Anderson (Sharks), Madison Bartlett (Raiders), Rachael Pearson (Eels)

1 point - Teagan Berry (Dragons), Isabelle Kelly (Roosters), Tazmin Rapana (Broncos), Millie Elliott (Roosters), Emily Bass (Titans), Elsie Albert (Eels), Lily Peacock (Cowboys), Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers)