NRLW 2022: Round 3 Team of the Week features three each from Broncos, Eels and Dragons
The Eels are on the charge in the NRLW thanks to one of the most exciting backlines in the business. But they weren’t the only Sydney team to impress. Check out who starred in Round 3.
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One team nearly pulled off the upset of the season, the other continues to impress on debut, so it’s no wonder they filled almost 50 per cent of the round three NRLW Team of the Week.
The Dragons, who nearly toppled the Broncos, were rewarded with places at five-eighth, second row and prop, while the Eels’ exciting backline claimed spots at fullback, centre and halfback.
NRLW TEAM OF THE WEEK - ROUND 3
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FULLBACK
Botille Vette-Welsh (Eels)
One of the best performances from a fullback all season. Vette-Welsh was unstoppable in Parramatta’s 24-14 win over the Titans, notching up 250 run metres, eight tackle busts and a try.
WINGER
Hagiga Mosby (Broncos)
The youngster continues to impress in her rookie NRLW season. The 21-year-old made some tough carries in the tight tussle with the Dragons on Sunday and scored the matchwinning try after some nice lead up from her teammates.
CENTRE
Tiana Penitani (Eels)
The Parramatta centre put in some mammoth numbers on the weekend and was pivotal in their win over the Titans. Penitani ran for 144 metres with two tackle breaks. Her ability to kick and regather a poor pass to set up Maddie Studdon for the opening try of the match was one of the highlights of a thrilling game.
CENTRE
Isabelle Kelly (Roosters)
Another player back to her damaging best, Kelly proved a handful for the Newcastle defensive line. The New South Wales representative made 144m, four tackle busts, set up a try and scored one for herself.
WINGER
Brydie Parker (Roosters)
Moved back to her preferred wing position this week and made the most of it. The 22-year-old scored two tries and set up another beauty for her inside centre Isabelle Kelly.
FIVE-EIGHTH
Taliah Fuimaono (Dragons)
The 22-year-old was involved in almost everything against the powerhouse Broncos on Sunday. She looked dangerous with ball in hand and even more so in defence, with two bone-rattling tackles making the highlights reel from round 3.
HALFBACK
Maddie Studdon (Eels)
One of the standouts from round 3, Studdon was pivotal for the Eels in their second win of the season. A try, three linebreak assists and two try assists was a mammoth effort from the Origin representative.
PROP
Elsie Albert (Dragons)
A serious force to be reckoned with, the “Jukebox” out-muscled her opposition number, Millie Boyle, on a number of occasions, including when she scored her try in the 59th minute. Albert finished the match with 144m, 18 tackles and a try.
HOOKER
Lauren Brown (Broncos)
Once again, Brown put in a mammoth effort in one of the games of the season. The 26-year-old set up a try for Tallisha Harden in the first half, while her 27 tackles in defence helped keep the Dragons from scoring more points.
PROP
Steph Hancock (Titans)
The rugby league veteran was at her barnstorming best on Sunday. Just days after celebrating her 40th birthday, the Titans prop barged over the tryline, with three Parramatta defenders on her, to score a handy four-pointer.
SECOND ROW
Shaylee Bent (Dragons)
Her runaway try was one of the highlights from the Dragons v Broncos clash but it was her defensive effort which has earned Bent a spot in round 3’s team of the week. Bent made a whopping 32 tackles – the most of any player all round – to hold out an onslaught by the reigning NRLW premiers, Brisbane.
SECOND ROW
Amber Hall (Broncos)
Hall has been one of the most damaging back-rowers all season but her performance against the Dragons was at another level. She made 16 hit-ups for 123m and her defence was perfect with zero missed tackles. Her five offloads also proved a handful for the Dragons defence and allowed the Broncos to capitalise in crucial moments of the game.
LOCK
Destiny Brill (Titans)
At just 18-years-old, Brill is fast becoming one of the stars of the NRLW. She stands at just 178cm but she is almost impossible to stop, as shown by her amazing try in the 36th minute when she palmed off two Parramatta defenders and crashed over the tryline with another four trying to stop her.
Sydney powerhouse would ‘love’ to join NRLW party
- Fatima Kdouh
We want in.
South Sydney has become the first club to apply for a license in an expanded NRLW for next season – and it comes with the heavyweight backing of owners Russell Crowe, James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes.
The NRLW will swell to eight teams next season and then 10 in 2024 as part of overhaul of the women’s game that includes a $350,000 salary cap with minimum pay for players to be increased by 25 per cent.
Six clubs currently compete in the NRLW competition – Brisbane, St George Illawarra, Gold Coast, Parramatta, Sydney Roosters and Newcastle.
After the postponed 2021 competition is completed later this year, the women’s premiership will grow by a further two teams for 2023 and an additional two for 2024.
Most NRL clubs are expected to consider seeking entry into the women’s competition although six will miss out.
The only caution however is cost with an NRLW side costing between $400,000 and $500,000 a year.
Souths CEO Blake Solly said his club was ready to lodge a formal application for entry into next season’s competition.
“All of our shareholders, members, board and corporate partners are 100 percent behind our efforts to have a women’s team,” Solly said. “We’d love to be in for next year but if it can’t be next year then we would settle for 2024.
“Russell, Mike, James and our members are all behind it. It was the first question asked at our AGM a couple of weeks ago. Everyone who loves the club wants a women’s team in the NRL competition.
“Our view is that we want all girls and boys who grow up in the area – and all South Sydney fans - to have an opportunity to wear the red and green at the highest level. At the moment, our men’s team plays in the NRL competition and we really want a women’s team in the NRL too.
“Even those clubs that don’t apply in the next round will want a women’s side at some stage because it’s such a great opportunity to grow our sport.”
And Solly said his club’s women’s side – if accepted – would interact and share facilities with the men’s team.
“All of our teams interact now. Our men’s and women’s teams across all age groups work with each other,” he said.
“Our new community High Performance Centre also has dedicated women’s change room for a NRLW team when it opens in Maroubra in November.”
Souths field sides in the NSW women’s premiership, Tarsha Gale Cup under 19s and Lisa Fiaola Cup under 17s sides. The Rabbitohs invest over $1m a year on male and female pathways.
The NRL rejected Souths’ application for NRLW entry in 2018 – but the Rabbitohs won’t walk away.
“We missed out in 2018 and were disappointed but have taken that opportunity to continue building our player pathways and encouraging more girls and women to play rugby league in our local area,” Solly said.
“Arguably we have been on the journey a lot longer than some other clubs. Peter (V’landys, ARLC chairman) and Andrew (Abdo, NRL CEO) deserve a lot of credit for their ambitions for the women’s game.”
Abdo sent an email to all clubs to express “delight” at NRLW’s approved expansion.
The Daily Telegraph secured a copy of the letter which stated: “In order for the expansion to succeed, more opportunities need to be created at a participation and pathways level.
“We will substantially increase investment in the growth of the women’s game. Not only for new players, but creating academies for female coaches and referees.”
Parramatta’s Maddie Studdon welcomed the expansion news, including making the Origin clash a two-game series.
“It’s fantastic for the women’s game to see it going in the right direction,” Studdon said.
“Getting the pathways up underneath us and then the two games for Origin is a massive step for the womens game.
“We’re very proud to be a part of it.”
Dragons hooker Quincy Dodd said it was an exciting period for women’s rugby league.
“To know that the women’s game is growing each year, it’s incredible to think there’s going to be eight teams next year and 10 in the following,” Dodd said.
“It’s great for women in league.”
RACE IS ON: FRONTRUNNERS FOR NRLW EXPANSION REVEALED
—Chris Honnery
The race is on for the four new NRLW licenses as rugby league’s governing body announces an expansion boom, which has already drawn the ire of some club bosses around its timeline.
The women’s game received one of its most significant boosts in its history on Tuesday with plans to expand the NRLW from six clubs to 10 by 2024, as well as introduce a salary cap system which will increase average players’ wages by 28 per cent.
The Cowboys are set to be the frontrunners to be added to the NRLW next year, when the competition will move to eight teams, before another two will join in 2024.
Current NRL clubs Cronulla, South Sydney and the West Tigers already have a strong female base through their affiliation in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership competition and shape as likely candidates for the NRLW expansion.
Meanwhile, the Warriors already have an established women’s framework after being involved in the NRLW competition from 2018 to 2020 before Covid travel restrictions forced the club to depart from the 2021 season.
Only the 16 current NRL clubs can bid for one of the four new NRLW licenses on offer before the ARLC will make a decision in July this year.
The announcement has drawn the ire of Cowboys boss Jeff Reibel though, who has hit out at the expansion plans, admitting the North Queensland club was ready to enter a women’s team this year.
“Unquestionably we are disappointed the NRL will not be expanding its NRLW program in 2022,“ Reibel said.
“We were confident that we had the pathways, people and processes in place to ensure the Cowboys would be a legitimate contender in an expanded NRLW competition this season.
“We had the backing of our board and the required budgetary support system in place including commitments from our partners.”
The Cowboys are the only Queensland club without a team in the NRLW, with the Titans joining the Broncos this season.
North Queensland has a strong female base through their North Queensland Gold Stars in the QRLW and their Cowboys Women’s Academy – and their Gold Stars managed to make it through to the semi finals in last year’s QRLW season, resulting in eight of their players signing NRLW contracts this year.
Reibel said the club will now turn their attention for a 2023 licence and praised the NRL for its investment in the women’s game.
Under the new salary cap system, each team will have $350,000 to spend on players, including two marquee players to be contracted on full-time employment.
All NRLW players will also be covered by private health insurance as the women’s game moves closer to becoming a full time sport.
The women’s State of Origin clash will also become a two-game series from 2023 with match payments to increase from $4000 to $6000 this year.
All Stars payments will jump from $1600 to $3000 from next year as well.
WHAT THE DECISION MEANS
The Australian Rugby League Commission on Tuesday announced plans for a 10-team competition, a two-game Origin series and an average player salary increase of 28 per cent.
Under the plan, there will be two teams added to form an eight-team NRLW competition in 2023 before a 10-team premiership by 2024.
More significantly is the introduction of a salary cap system for the upcoming 2022 NRLW season later this year, set at $350,000 per team.
The salary cap will allow for clubs to contract two marquee players on full-time employment - a first for women’s rugby league - and will see average player salaries jump by 28 per cent.
All NRLW players will also be covered by private health insurance as the women’s game moves closer to becoming a full time sport.
Today’s announcement is a massive shot in the arm for women’s rugby league as the governing body continues to grow the game at both the top level and at the grassroots.
The ARLC will now enter discussions for the new NRLW licences, with an announcement expected in July around which clubs will feature in expansion plans.
The women’s State of Origin clash will also become a two-game series from 2023 with match payments to increase from $4000 to $6000 this year.
All Stars payments will jump from $1600 to $3000 from next year as well.
“There’s still a long way to go but this is another positive step in our growth journey for the NRLW,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said.
“We’re experiencing significant growth in television audiences and that’s down to the players and the Commission will continue to invest and support that success.
“Importantly the announcements today are about ensuring a sustainable NRLW competition.
“We’ve always been very clear that we would ensure our playing talent is deep enough and our clubs are prepared before expanding.
“The lead-in time ahead of the next expansion phase will ensure our clubs have the right infrastructure in place and there is even more depth to our playing talent.”
All current NRL clubs will have the opportunity to submit applications for a women’s team for the 2023 or 2024 seasons, with several teams already expressing interest.
The Cowboys announced last month their ambition to have a women’s team in the near-future while the Canberra Raiders have also expressed interest.
The ARLC will invest further into junior female pathways, including national age group championships as well as coaching and refereeing academies, to ensure there is enough talent to grow the women’s game.
“Today is not just about the elite game, it’s also about building stronger participation and
pathways,” Abdo said.
“The Commission is focussed on building the women’s game from the bottom up.
“Not just encouraging more participation as players but also more female coaches and female referees.
“Right across the game we will continue to work to create pathways for women regardless of
whether they want to play, coach, referee or be an administrator.”
BRONCOS CASH IN ON HUGE HOME ADVANTAGE
Broncos captain Ali Brigginshaw says the reigning NRLW champions are in for a welcomed boost for their final two games of the regular season, with both matches to be played on Queensland soil.
Saturday’s Queensland derby against newcomers the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium will be just the second NRLW game played in the Sunshine State since the competition’s inception in 2018.
The last time the Broncos played in Queensland was round 1, 2018 at Suncorp Stadium against the Dragons.
The Broncos are the only unbeaten team in the delayed 2021 NRLW season and their run to the finals will only boost their confidence.
“Being home will be great,” Brigginshaw said after their Round 3 win over the Dragons.
“Three trips on the road has been tough and a challenge but we’ve travelled for years now, so we’re used to it.
“It will be good to be back home with some crowd.
“Having our families there supporting us, having the travel minimised. People don’t understand the things we’ve had to do to be on the road and the travel commitments of delayed flights and things like that.
“The girls will be pleased to be at home.”
This year’s NRLW Grand Final will be played at Moreton Daily Stadium at Redcliffe and Brigginshaw admitted playing the decider on Queensland soil was a huge incentive.
“Who doesn’t want to play in Queensland? We’re Queenslanders, of course we want to play at home,” she said.
However, coach Kelvin Wright said the three-time NRLW premiers were far from thinking about this season’s premiership decider.
“The grand final, we don’t even talk about that as a team,” Wright said.
“We’ve got two more rounds and we’ll concentrate on next week.
“Even after all of that, you’ve got a semi final you’ve got to get through.”
The Broncos play the Titans at 11.50am (Queensland time) at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast this Saturday.
Chris Honnery reveals what caught his eye — good and bad — during the weekend NRLW action.
LIKES
WALLY’S DAUGHTER EYES NRLW DEBUT
The famous Lewis surname has returned to the Brisbane Broncos this year with Jamie-Lee Lewis added to the club’s NRLW extended squad for their round three game.
Jamie-Lee, the daughter of NRL great Wally Lewis, was part of the Broncos’ extended 24-person squad to travel to Sydney on the weekend to provide cover in case of any Covid interruptions, as well as to bolster numbers with centre Julia Robinson out injured.
Lewis is forging her own way in rugby league and has overcome some incredible hurdles to get to where she is today.
Born profoundly deaf, Lewis has been a standout in both water polo and rugby union before taking up rugby league when she was 26-years-old.
Lewis played for the Valleys Diehards in the women’s BHP Premiership competition last year and had her chance to travel with the Broncos squad this weekend as she eyes a possible NRLW debut later this season.
BIG HITS, SORE BODIES
The physicality of this year’s NRLW competition. The top-of-the-table clash between the Broncos and Dragons featured some seriously brutal hits in a heated affair.
The standard of play from that game could seriously prove to be a grand final preview, such was the high intensity and skill from both sides. Some of the game’s greats are already lauding the current NRLW competition as the best display of skill in the women’s game.
“The standard is just improving so quickly,” Blues men’s coach Brad Fittler said on Sunday.
INSPIRATIONAL ROOSTER
The Roosters turning it around with the return of inspirational captain Corban Baxter. After two disappointing results to start the season, the winless Roosters returned to form in a big way, defeating the Knights 28-12.
Baxter’s leadership and experience at fullback allowed Roosters stars Isabelle Kelly and Jess Sergis to play with a lot more freedom – and it showed. Kelly and Sergis finished the match with a try each.
VETERAN PROVES AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
Titans forward Steph Hancock scoring a try just days after celebrating her 40th birthday. She powered over the tryline with four Parramatta defenders trying to stop her. Incredible stuff from the women’s rugby league veteran to prove age is just a number.
DISLIKES
SIREN FARCE COSTS TITANS
The halftime siren farce at CommBank Stadium in the Titans v Eels clash. The stadium siren went off with seven minutes still left on the clock before halftime and Fox League commentators revealed the time had even reset on the scoreboard.
It proved a costly mistake, which saw the Titans kick the ball out on the full after being awarded a penalty, thinking they would head straight for the sheds – only for it to be turned over 10m out from their tryline and eventually leading to a Parramatta two-pointer.
ANOTHER NASTY HEAD CLASH
The nasty head clash in the Broncos v Dragons game between star fullback Tamika Upton and Keele Browne. It was an unfortunate incident which saw Upton ruled out for the rest of the game after failing her head injury assessment.
Brisbane has suffered several injuries already this season, including Julia Robinson (cheekbone) and Nakita Sao (knee).
UGLY INCIDENTS MAR WEEKEND ROUND
The dangerous tackles starting to creep into the women’s game. Newcastle prop Ngatokotoru Arakua’s shot on Keilee Joseph earned her 10 in the bin and she has also been referred to the NRLW judiciary for her dangerous throw.
Brisbane’s Jada Ferguson was also put on report for a hair pull during their clash with the Dragons. Gold Coast’s Tazmin Gray was also sent for 10 for a crusher tackle in the final game of the round.
The NRLW is an exciting spectacle to watch as is and doesn’t need dangerous tackles creeping into the game. Good to see the match officials clamp down on them.
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Originally published as NRLW 2022: Round 3 Team of the Week features three each from Broncos, Eels and Dragons
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