NRLW Tackle: Broncos debutant sent off for horror tackle; Dragons cult hero’s fan-friendly act

A shocking send off, a cross code star’s stunning performance and a Dragons star’s humble act. NRLW Tackle looks at all the biggest news and talking points from Round 2.

Tamika Upton has instantly raised Brisbane’s NRLW premiership credentials, but the champion fullback has sent a scare through the club after suffering a leg injury in Sunday’s 38-4 thrashing of the Gold Coast.

The Queensland and Jillaroos star hobbled from the field in the dying minutes after a knee clash to her left leg and looked in terrible discomfort.

Scans will follow over the coming days.

It was a sour end to a massive win for the Broncos who were down to 12 players for the final 12 minutes after debutant Reegan Hicks was sent off for a dangerous throw.

Dangerous tackle sours Broncos win.

The Titans were close to landing Upton this season once she was granted a release from the final years of her contract with Newcastle, but she opted to return to former club Brisbane to be closer to family.

That loss stings more for the Titans, who are without first-choice fullback Vani Isaako who is expecting her first child, while replacement No.1 Jaime Chapman was ruled out of Sunday with a hamstring injury.

Debutant Lily Patston had a tough job at fullback against the rampaging Broncos, who ran in eight tries, including a double to Upton.

NRLW ROUND 2 LIKES

SKIPPER’S APOLOGY

Bulldogs co-captain Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa has publicly apologised to Wests Tigers fullback Jetaya Faifua following an ugly incident that marred Thursday night’s win at Campbelltown Stadium.

Over the weekend ‘Teka’ took to instagram to address her sin bin and suspension for running in to ignite a melee and slapping Faifua twice.

“Not my proudest moment out there - I take full accountability. The passion got the better of me, but I’ll learn from it and come back better. Nothing but respect for Jetaya and the way she plays.”

It was a disgraceful brain snap from Teka, but it takes humility to admit when you’ve made a mistake.

The Bulldogs will miss her up front against her former club on Saturday when they face the Dragons at Accor Stadium.

Bulldogs co-captaon Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa takes accountability for an ugly melee for which she was sin-binned in Thursday night's win over Wests Tigers.

WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA!

Canadian skipper Megan Pakulis made her long-awaited NRLW debut on Sunday with six runs and 26 tackles without a miss.

Pakulis was one of two winners of the women’s combine in Las Vegas last year.

At the time she toured NRLW clubs across the country, but Titans coach Karyn Murphy snapped her up back in May for this season.

WAH STAR

She’s one of the best rugby sevens players in the world but on Sunday Michaela Brake dominated the NRLW too.

On a special day for the Warriors, the two-time Olympic gold medallist showed her cross-code class in a 14-0 win over Parramatta at Go Media Stadium.

The 29-year-old starred with a try, 186 running metres, five tacklebreaks and three linebreaks to outpace the Eels as part of a brand new Warriors side who put the competition on notice with their gutsy defence.

After a first up loss to the Roosters in round one, the Warriors rebounded in their first home game since re-entering the NRLW.

Michaela Brake. Picture: Dave Rowland/Getty Images

It was an emotional homecoming for the women’s team, who were celebrated by a big home crowd and a heartwarming welcome onto the field.

Brake, who joined the NRLW this season after a long career with the Black Ferns, was the standout, while fellow code converts Tysha Ikenasio and Payton Takimoana also scored.

The loss is a crash back to reality for the Eels, who stunned with a first round win over Cronulla and now face Canberra on Saturday afternoon.

HUMBLE LEGEND

St George Illawarra co-captain Zali Hopkins is one of the game’s great ambassadors.

Last week she made headlines with her awesome try-celebrating tribute to assistant coach Mark Riddell, but this week the humble star jumped the fence for a different reason.

After Saturday’s tough loss to the Roosters at Wollongong, she was spotted on the hill in full kit chatting away with friends and family long after the rest of the players had retreated to the sheds.

Dragons co-captain Zali Hopkins jumps the fence to chat to friends and family after Saturday's loss to the Roosters in Wollongong.

NRLW ROUND 2 DISLIKES

TOUGH STUFF

Warriors forward Ashlee Matapo spilt blood all over the turf at Go Media Stadium when she was on the wrong end of a nasty head clash with teenage Eels prop Tess McWilliams on Sunday afternoon.

Blood poured from Matapo’s face after the accidental head clash in the second half of Sunday’s win, souring what was otherwise a brilliant game from the 18-year-old in her debut NRLW season.

She was subbed straight off the field, but will no doubt be nursing a crippling headache on Monday morning.

McWilliams too, who was already sporting a black eye pre-game.

Warriors teen Ashlee Matapo is drenched in blood after a sickening head clash with Eels forward Tess McWilliams at Go Media Stadium on Sunday.

CLASHING GAMES

There’s no other way to say it, but clashing NRL and NRLW games truly sucks.

This week we had three women’s games scheduled at the same time as NRL games, which not only annoys fans but butchers TV audiences who have to choose between the two if they’re watching from home.

It’s the same case next week when three games clash too.

On Saturday the Bulldogs v Dragons game is played at 3.15, while Sharks and Cowboys play at 5.15.

On Sunday the match of the round is the Broncos v Roosters, but it’s played at 1.45pm, same time as the Tigers v Titans NRL game at Leichhardt Oval.

Thankfully, we now have the option to stream one game on a phone and watch one on TV, but it’s a pretty lame solution in this day and age, and a big problem that needs to be sorted out in the coming seasons.

It’s a delicate balance.

Double-headers have been prioritised, which is great for live crowds, and tickets to NRLW games are the cheapest option for a family day out, but TV audiences are really miss out.

TITANS, RAIDERS THRASHED

The Tigers have shown signs of improvement with a young side across the first two rounds, but Canberra and Gold Coast are desperately struggling.

Between them they scored two tries and conceded 100 points on a rough weekend for the two clubs.

The Titans have a stack of injuries and could be missing Reegan Hicks with suspension pending the NRL’s charge sheet on Monday morning for a nasty tackle that got her sent off on Sunday afternoon.

The Raiders are lacking some pace. It’s tough to know where they go from here.

The Raiders face Parramatta to kick off round 3, while someone will get on the board when the Tigers and Titans play on Sunday morning.

MORE SUSPENSIONS

Cronulla centre Annessa Biddle is facing a week on the sidelines for a grade two careless high tackle from Saturday’s monster 56-6 win over Canberra.

The powerhouse Sharks star will miss Saturday’s clash with North Queensland if she accepts an early guilty plea, but faces two if she fights the charge at the judiciary on Tuesday night.

Biddle’s charge for her shot on Cheyelle Robins-Reti is one of a handful handed out by the NRL’s match review committee on Sunday morning, but the only involving an automatic suspension.

St George Illawarra lock Hannah Southwell has escaped with just a warning for her late shot on Jocelyn Kelleher in Saturday’s loss to the Roosters, while Cowboys forward Lily Peacock can accept a one match ban or pay a $400 fine for a dangerous contact charge in their loss to Newcastle.

Originally published as NRLW Tackle: Broncos debutant sent off for horror tackle; Dragons cult hero’s fan-friendly act