MONDAY'S EXPERT - 2024 NRLW Round 6

A full wrap-up of Round 6 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.

Sharks flex premiership muscle with big win over Titans

with Josh Robertson

The Cronulla Sharks kept their unbeaten season in the NRLW going with an impressive 22-6 win over the Gold Coast Titans at Robina on Saturday.

Things started fast yet again for the visitors when captain Tiana Penitani continued her good form when she crossed inside the first five minutes when the Sharks shifted the ball deep in their own end to spread the ball right and Penitani went through.

The hosts then levelled the scores just under 15 minutes later when Emily Bass scored in the corner after being denied in the same spot just a few minutes earlier. The conversion from Lauren Brown near touch was successful and the Titans had levelled it at 6-6.

Cronulla took the lead back, ten minutes before the half-time break when Georgia Ravics kept her good season going scoring out wide after the Sharks pressured the Titans line and some poor defence let Ravics through.

The second half wasn't clinical from the Sharks but they were able to put two tries on the board to ensure a comfortable victory when Georgia Ravics after again the Titans defence was caught inside and Ravics got on the outside of Emily Bass to score in the corner. The crisp ball movement of the Sharks got them a fourth try as Annessa Biddle came back on the angle to score inside the final five minutes. Tayla Preston converted both to give the Sharks a 22-6 win.

Gold Coast Titans (W) 6 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (W) 22
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Robina / Yugambeh

Date: Sat, 31st August.   Kickoff: 11:00 AM.   Halftime: Cronulla (W) 10-6.   Penalties: Gold Coast (W) 4-2.   Referee: Zbignew Przeklasa-Adamski.   

Gold Coast (W): Pelite, Grey, Chapman, Williams-Guthrie, Bass; Montgomery, Brown; Mato, Breayley-Nati, Elliston, Canfield, Bent, Hale (C). Int: Kolc, Clarke, Gray, Maunsell.
Cronulla (W): Staples, Davis-Welsh, Penitani (C), Biddle, Ravics; Tonegato, Preston; Johnston, Dodd, Wheeler, Holmes, Byers, Anderson. Int: Foliaki, Smale, Saunders, Dymock.

Gold Coast Titans (6)
Tries: Emily Bass
Goals: Lauren Brown 1/1

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (22)
Tries: Georgia Ravics 2, Tiana Penitani, Annessa Biddle
Goals: Tayla Preston 3/4

Dragons bounce back to thump Eels

with Luke Jobson

It was a second half onslaught as the St George Illawarra Dragons thumped the Parramatta Eels 42-14 at Commbank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Dragons desperately needed to win in order to keep in touch with the top four, while a win for Parramatta would have temporarily put them into third with games to be played on Sunday. You would not have thought that the Dragons were second last coming into this contest, as they dragged the Eels from the kick off into touch to get the ball back immediately. 

Teagan Berry would set up the first try of the game, running right off a block play to send Bobbi Law through a massive gap in the Eels defense from the ensuring set. The Eels, to their credit, hit back just minutes later, sweeping from the left sideline to the right, with Monique Donovan bringing the Eels back on level terms after eight minutes. 

It would be a try-a-thon heading into half time, with three scored in a matter of nine minutes across both sides. Keele Browne would go over after 19 minutes, with a kick from Raecene McGregor taking a fortunate bounce over the head of Donovan in the in-goal, finding Browne to plant down on the left edge. Yet again, Parramatta would hit back almost immediately, this time through Rory Owen who capitalized off a Dragons error in their own in-goal - only for Ella Koster to run through the right side of the Eels defense.

If not for an incredible try-saving tackle from Teagan Berry, Rory Owen would have scored right on half-time. Berry's last-ditch effort allowed the Dragons to run into half-time 14-8. 

The Dragons would start the second half in near identical fashion to the first half, with Zali Hopkins darting over from dummy-half to open up a 12 point lead. 

A knee injury to Kennedy Cherrington would compound the Eels misery, who looked completely out of it in what was a must-win game. Hopkins then turned from try-scorer to try-creator as she ran through some tired Eels forwards, setting up Teagan Berry under the posts. Berry would then cap off her stunning day with a streaking effort down the left side to score her second in a matter of moments. 

Rachael Pearson would score to try and drag the Eels back into it with a try of her own, but a second try to Keele Browne as well as a first ever NRLW try to Sophie Clancy capped off a massive 42-14 win away from home for the Dragons. 

For the time being, it means that Parramatta are praying for results to go their way in order to stay on level pegging with the top four sides. The Dragons gain some much needed momentum off this game, with two very winnable match-ups over the next two rounds (Raiders, Tigers). 

Parramatta Eels (W) 14 St George Illawarra Dragons (W) 42
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal

Date: Sat, 31st August.   Kickoff: 12:45 PM.   Halftime: St Geo Illa (W) 14-8.   Penalties: St Geo Illa (W) 5-3.   Referee: Daniel Luttringer.   

Parramatta (W): Church, Fay, Owen, Kelly, Donovan; Tohi-Hiku, Pearson; Albert, Todhunter, Jones, Jackson, Murphy (C), Cherrington. Int: Beckett, Amiatu, Fonua, Tui.
St Geo Illa (W): Berry, Fotu-Moala, Browne, Law, Gregory; Reh, McGregor (C); Teakaraanga-Katoa, Clancy, Bright, Lendill, Koster, Tauaneai. Int: Hopkins, Mulhall, Hancock, Basham.

Parramatta Eels (14)
Tries: Monique Donovan, Rachael Pearson, Rory Owen
Goals: Rachael Pearson 1/3

St George-Illawarra Dragons (42)
Tries: Keele Browne 2, Teagan Berry 2, Zali Hopkins, Bobbi Law, Sophie Clancy, Ella Koster
Goals: Raecene Mcgregor 5/8

Knights consolidate top four spot by thrashing winless Tigers

with Tim Costello

An epic first half from Newcastle has seen them blow the Wests Tigers off the McDonald Jones Stadium surface with a 34-6 win on Sunday afternoon.

Leading 26-0 at the halftime break, the Knights were keeping pace with the game clock for much of the opening half and it was Sheridan Gallagher - not initially named in the top 17 this week - who starred with two tries of her own. It was a case of what was to be for Gallagher, who blew several other chances which may well have seen the home side with an even bigger lead.

The scoring had started with Hannah Southwell pouncing on a silly in-goal pass by Tigers centre Tess Staines, and it only kept coming from there. Georgia Roche and Lilly-Ann White rounded out the first-half tryscorers for a hungry Newcastle side.

Concerningly for coach Ben Jeffries, the home team didn't really go on with the job in the second stanza. The Tigers clawed their way onto the board through Ebony Prior while the Knights could only add two further tries to pad their comfortable win - Kayla Romaniuk and Tamika Upton the last pair to add their names to the scoresheet.

While the season is over for the Tigers, Newcastle are well and truly on track for a top four finish - but there may be a price to pay with both Hannah Southwell and Georgia Roche missing the second half after coming off in the first with ankle injuries. Their availability in coming weeks may well be telling as to whether the red-and-blue will make it three straight premierships.

Newcastle Knights (W) 34 Wests Tigers (W) 6
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, New Lambton / Awabakal

Date: Sun, 1st September.   Kickoff: 12:00 PM.   Halftime: Newcastle (W) 26-0.   Penalties: Newcastle (W) 10-5.   Referee: Luke Saldern.   

Newcastle (W): Upton, Gallagher, Parker, Willison, White; Roche, Jones; Butler, Higgins, Karpani, Albert-Jones, Clydsdale, Southwell (C). Int: Maynard, Romaniuk, Tinao, Southwell.
Wests Tigers (W): Vette-Welsh (C), Pollard, Staines, McGone, Lee-Thorne; Piliae-Rasabale, Lutu; Togatuki, Nour, Pio, Talataina, Clifford, George. Int: Curtain, Penitani, Reinke, Prior.

Newcastle Knights (34)
Tries: Sheridan Gallagher 2, Hannah Southwell, Kayla Romaniuk, Tamika Upton, Georgia Roche, Lilly-Ann White
Goals: Sheridan Gallagher 3/7

Wests Tigers (6)
Tries: Ebony Prior
Goals: Pauline Piliae-Rasabale 1/1

Broncos win big over rivals

with Beth Nicholls

Brisbane braved the blistering heat to get their fourth straight win of the season, consolidating a top four position, whilst the Cowboys face their first loss since Round 3.

Despite the first half being a pull and tug between the two teams, the second half cracked open for the Broncos where they yet again left their opposition scoreless in the second half for the second time this season.

It looked like the Broncos were going to score first through Julia Robinson, but the sliding goal line defence from the Cowboys was just too good. North QLD then managed to get the first points on the board with Tiana Raftstrand-Smith just pushing her way over the line.

The home side then fought back in the 13###sup

minute, with a late offload from Tafito Lafaele, which saw Romy Teitzel run 20 metres and cross over herself for the Broncos, scoring their first try of the match.  Shenae Ciesiolka then crossed over for her second try of the season just nine minutes later, giving the Broncos the lead in the match.

Brisbane's lead then looked to be growing with Ciesiolka crossing for a double, however with it being sent up as a "no try" and the bunker unable to find insufficient evidence to overrule the decision, the score remaining 10-6.

The Cowboys then took back the lead, with centre Jakiya Whitfeld easily shaking off Bronco defenders to get over the line and score another one for her new 2024 club in the 27###sup

minute. Though the lead didn't last from the away side, with the Tazmin Rapana scoring five minutes later to give the Broncos back the lead.

With less than a minute to go it looked like the teams would be going into halftime with a 14-12 score line to the Broncos, but it wasn't over yet. A play in the final seconds of the half saw Mele Hufanga bound over the line and increase the gap between the two QLD sides to six points.

The Broncos looked sure to score in the opening minutes of the second half, but the play was shut down after Jakiya Whitfeld caught an intercept pass from Brisbane fullback, Hayley Maddick. After the Broncos gave away back-to-back penalties, it looked like the Cowboys were in, but the defence from Stacey Waaka and Romy Teiztel was just too good.

After almost 15 minutes with no scoring, the Broncos finally decided to be the team to break it up, with Stacey Waaka cutting back on the inside on the final play of the set, after an inside pass from Shenae Ciesiolka.

Just minutes later the Broncos strike again, with Destiny Brill doing a show and go before crashing over the line herself. Mele Hufunga then scored her second for the game in the 55###sup

minute, just unable to be stopped. Brisbane looked to extend their lead even further through Teitzel, but the Cowboys desperate defence allowed the ball the never find the grass.

With the clock running down the Cowboys were trying to find points, but nothing was sticking, with an error in the Broncos 10m summing up the second half for the North QLD side.

Racking up an NRLW record of five try assists in one game, Hayley Maddick then crossed over for her own four-pointer of the day, off the back of a Julia Robinson linebreak and run. This try gave the Broncos the final scoreline of 38-12.

Not able to beat their "big sister", the Broncos, the Cowboys stay in seventh place, and look to face the Tigers next week back at home, a team who is still yet to win a game in the 2024 season. For Brisbane, they take on reigning premiers Knights next week, and the Broncos will be looking for revenge with the Newcastle side being the team who knocked them out in the first week of the 2023 finals series.

Brisbane Broncos (W) 38 North Queensland Cowboys (W) 12
Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Coorparoo / Turrbal

Date: Sun, 1st September.   Kickoff: 1:45 PM.   Halftime: Brisbane (W) 18-12.   Penalties: North QLD (W) 4-3.   Referee: Daniel Schwass.   

Brisbane (W): Maddick, Robinson, Hufanga, Ciesiolka, Waaka; Broughton, Brigginshaw (C); Clark, Ferguson, Lenarduzzi, Gray, Teitzel, Joseph. Int: Brill, Lafaele, Gould, Nu'uausala.
North QLD (W): Blackwell, Goldthorp, Whitfeld, Peters, Tauhalaliku; Tillett, Dibb (C); Peacock, Manzelmann, Butler, Polata, Raftstrand-Smith, Chester. Int: Harden, Mooka, Power.

Brisbane Broncos (38)
Tries: Mele Hufanga 2, Tazmin Rapana, Romy Teitzel, Hayley Maddick, Destiny Brill, Shenae Ciesiolka, Stacey Waaka
Goals: Romy Teitzel 3/8

North Queensland Cowboys (12)
Tries: Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Jakiya Whitfeld
Goals: Kirra Dibb 2/2

Roosters ride high over rusty Raiders

with AJ Lucantonio

The Sydney Roosters have overcome an early 10-0 buffer to claim a bounceback 34-20 win over the Canberra Raiders who have lost Simaima Taufa to concussion protocols.

The Raiders started strongly with a crash over effort from Taufa, she was able to beat some disappointing efforts from the Roosters middle defence to score for the opening try. She ran 40 metres to do it in an amazing solo effort. Canberra took full advantage of momentum and Madison Bartlett added a second for the Green Machine. There was a touch of controversy about the try with replays showing a touch of doubt on the winger's grounding and the Roosters were on the ropes.

Fortunately, the Roosters were next to score as Amber Hall charged across the try-line. She had to muscle her way across and the home side were right back into the contest. Canberra were dealt a blow when Hollie-Mae Dodd was sent to the sin-bin for a hip-drop style tackle on Keeley Davis. That sin-binning proved critical as the Roosters charged over for consecutive tries during the sin-bin period in identical scenarios. Sam Bremner delivered two magical passes to send Mia Wood over for a quick-fire double and within a split moment, the Roosters had a half-time advantage.

The home side managed a quick try before Dodd returned to the sin-bin and it was Eliza Lopamaua who came up from the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership who scored. A cracking pass from player of the match Tarryn Aitken saw Lopamaua charge across the line. Tiana Davidson followed suit five minutes later after spectacularly grounding the football in the field of play following a Davis grubber and the Raiders were up against it.

Following some rare possession, Mackenzie Wiki strutted her talent with an amazing try. Zahara Temara delivered a good short pass to Wiki who charged across to score to keep the Raiders in touch. However, the class of the Roosters showed in the crunch as Aitken scored to put the match beyond doubt with just over 10 to go.

There will be a concern for Millie Elliott after she was placed on-report and sin-binned for a dangerous tackle in the dying moments of the match. Elliott was binned for shoulder contact to the head. Canberra had a consolation try through Dodd but there was little chance of a comeback as the Roosters hung on for a fourteen point victory.

Sydney Roosters (W) 34 Canberra Raiders (W) 20
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal

Date: Sun, 1st September.   Kickoff: 6:30 PM.   Halftime: Sydney (W) 16-10.   Penalties: Sydney (W) 9-5.   Referee: Belinda Sharpe.   

Sydney (W): Bremner, Naividi, Strange, Kelly (C), Wood; Kelleher, Aiken; Elliott, Davis, Pule, Hall, Kernick, Davison. Int: Papalii, Hopoate, Economos, Lopamaua.
Canberra (W): Nicholls-Pualau, Bartlett, Robins-Reti, Wiki, Tungai; Temara (C), Quinlan; Kemp, Temara, Holyman, Quinlan, Dodd, Taufa. Int: Barnes, Matua, Naitokatoka, Pasikala, Willey.

Sydney Roosters (34)
Tries: Mia Wood 2, Amber Hall, Tarryn Aiken, Eliza Lopamaua, Tiana Davison
Goals: Jocelyn Kelleher 5/6

Canberra Raiders (20)
Tries: Simaima Taufa, Madison Bartlett, Hollie-Mae Dodd, Mackenzie Wiki
Goals: Zahara Temara 2/4

Round 6 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!

10 points - Tamika Upton (Knights)

9 points - Kennedy Cherrington (Eels), Tiana Penitani (Sharks)

8 points - Teagan Berry (Dragons)

7 points - Evania Pelite (Titans)

6 points - Kirra Dibb (Cowboys), Tarryn Aiken (Roosters)

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

4 points - Ellie Johnston (Sharks), Jakiya Whitfeld (Cowboys), Olivia Kernick (Roosters), Isabelle Kelly (Roosters), Elsie Albert (Eels), Annessa Biddle (Sharks), Alexis Tauaneai (Dragons), Rachael Pearson (Eels)

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

2 points - Amber Hall (Roosters), Tafito Lafaele (Broncos), Christian Pio (Wests Tigers), Abbi Church (Eels), Chelsea Lenarduzzi (Broncos), Brooke Anderson (Sharks), Abigail Roache (Knights), Shenae Ciesiolka (Broncos), Madison Bartlett (Raiders)

1 point - Shanice Parker (Knights), Jasmine Peters (Cowboys), Sophie Holyman (Raiders), Raecene Mcgregor (Dragons), Mackenzie Wiki (Raiders), Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers), Emily Bass (Titans), Tazmin Rapana (Broncos), Lily Peacock (Cowboys), Millie Elliott (Roosters), Rosemarie Beckett (Eels), Laishon Albert-Jones (Knights), Shannon Mato (Titans), Jesse Southwell (Knights), Keilee Joseph (Broncos), Tess Staines (Wests Tigers)