NRLW 2023: All the team and signing news ahead of round 3
Wallaroos legend Grace Hamilton is set to complete a stunning return to the NRLW in round 3, while the Sharks sweat on injured star Emma Tonegato.
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Wallaroos’ star forward Grace Hamilton is set to make a return to the NRLW with the Sydney Roosters in a huge coup for the injury-hit club.
The 31-year-old has been named on the Roosters’ interchange bench to face St George Illawarra on Thursday while the club awaits clearance from the NRL over her contract.
The Roosters were given permission to name her in Tuesday’s team list, however, with an official green light expected within the next 24 hours.
Her addition to the side is a big boost for the tri-colours, who have lost star prop Amber Hall for the remainder of the season with a lisfranc foot injury.
It comes just two weeks after she finished the 2023 Pacific Fours Series with the Wallaroos.
This will be Hamilton’s second stint in women’s rugby league after playing a season with the Roosters in 2020.
Hamilton and Rugby Sevens star Charlotte Caslick both joined the Roosters that season, helping the team to the NRLW grand final.
SHARKS STAR RACING THE CLOCK
Cronulla star Emma Tonegato will be given every chance to play the undefeated Gold Coast on Saturday as she manages a calf injury that forced her from the field last week.
The ex-Olympian is set to be named in the halves on Tuesday but will be managed through the week ahead of Saturday’s NRLW clash at PointsBet Stadium.
It’s understood the injury isn’t as bad as first feared for Tonegato, which will come as welcome relief for the Sharks who are confident she can play.
They’re currently without speedy fullback Jada Taylor with an ankle injury, while prop Harata Butler will serve a one-week suspension for a hip-drop tackle on Wests Tigers flyer Jakiya Whitfeld on Sunday.
Taylor is still at least a week away, while Sharks veteran Holli Wheeler is inching closer to a return to the field from a knee injury she’s been managing during the off-season.
ROUND 23 TEAMS
ROOSTERS v DRAGONS
Thursday, 5.40pm, SCG, Sydney
Roosters: 1. Corban Baxter 2. Brydie Parker 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Jayme Fressard 6. Tarryn Aiken 7. Jocelyn Kelleher 8. Millie Boyle 9. Keeley Davis 10. Teuila Fotu-Moala 11. Amelia Pasikala 12. Olivia Kernick 13. Keilee Joseph
Interchange: 14. Shawden Burton 15. Grace Hamilton 16. Lexi Kiriwi 17. Otesa Pule
Reserves: 18. Joeli Morris 19. Mia Wood 20. Tyler Bentley 21. Lily Rogan 22. Kalosipani Hopoate
Team news: Jess Sergis has been named in the centres despite missing last week’s loss to Canberra with a tight hamstring. The Jillaroos star will be given every chance to play the Dragons on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Grace Hamilton has been named on the interchange bench as the club awaits final paperwork to approve her contract.
Dragons: 1. Teagan Berry 2. Margot Vella 3. Keele Browne 4. Bobbi Law 5. Cortez Te Pau 6. Tyla Nathan-Wong 7. Raecene Mcgregor 8. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 9. Kaarla Cowan 10. Roxy Murdoch 11. Sara Sautia 12. Shenai Lendill 13. Alexis Tauaneai
Interchange: 14. Sophie Clancy 15. Ella Koster 16. Tara McGrath-West 17. Maddison Weatherall
Reserves: 18. Zali Hopkins 19. Cheynoah Amone 20. Renee Targett 21. Macie Carlile 22. Sarah Riorden
Team news: The Dragons have made one change to the side that beat Parramatta 38-12 in round 2, with Renee Targett dropping out of the starting side, replaced by Kaarla Cowan at No.9. Sophie Clancy will make her NRLW debut.
COWBOYS v BRONCOS
Saturday, 12.50pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: 1. Francesca Goldthorp 2. Vitalina Naikore 3. Jasmine Peters 4. Shellie Long 5. Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly 6. Krystal Blackwell 7. Kirra Dibb 8. Tallisha Harden 9. Emma Manzelmann 10. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith 11. Shaniah Power 12. Bree Chester 13. Makenzie Weale
Interchange: 14. Sera Koroi 15. Sareka Mooka 16. China Polata 17. April Ngatupuna
Reserves: 18. Jetaya Faifua 19. Merewalesi Rokouono 21. Jessikah Reeves 22. Essay Banu 24. Tahlulah Tillett
Team news: Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly has been named to make her first appearance for the season, while Queensland winger China Polata has been dropped back to the bench.
Broncos: 1. Hayley Maddick 2. Lauren Dam 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Shenae Ciesiolka 5. Toni Hunt 6. Gayle Broughton 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Annetta Nuuausala 9. Destiny Brill 10. Brianna Clark 11. Tazmin Gray 12. Romy Teitzel 13. Mariah Denman
Reserves: 14. Jada Ferguson 15. Filomina Hanisi 16. Chelsea Lenarduzzi 17. Jasmine Fogavini Interchange: 18. Lavinia Gould 19. Grace Griffin 20. Breanna Eales 21. Keisha-Leigh Coolwell
Team news: Toni Hunt has been named on the wing for the Broncos, replacing Jasmine Fogavini who has been named on the bench to face the Cowboys. Brianna Clark has been named to start this week as the Broncos search for their first win of the season.
CRONULLA v GOLD COAST
Saturday, 3.10pm at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks: 1. Andie Robinson 2. Annessa Biddle 3. Tiana Penitani 4. Kiana Takairangi 5. Cassie Staples 6. Emma Tonegato 7. Tayla Preston 8. Ellie Johnston 9. Quincy Dodd 10. Chloe Saunders 11. Talei Holmes 12. Vanessa Foliaki 13. Brooke Anderson
Interchange: 14. Sereana Naitokatoka 15. Fiona Jahnke 16. Tegan Dymock 17. Jazmon Tupou Witchman
Reserves: 19. Fatafehi Hanisi 20. Maddie Studdon 21. Jada Taylor 22. Georgia Ravics 23. Holli Wheeler
Team news:
Cronulla star Emma Tonegato will be given every chance to play the undefeated Gold Coast on Saturday as she manages a calf injury that forced her from the field last week. She has been named to start on the halves but will be managed through the week.
It’s understood the injury isn’t as bad as first feared for Tonegato, which will come as welcome relief for the Sharks who are confident she can play.
Prop Harata Butler will serve a one-week suspension for a hip drop tackle on Wests Tigers flyer Jakiya Whitfeld on Sunday.
Fullback Jada Taylor has been named on the extended bench but she won’t play, while Sharks veteran Holli Wheeler is also inching closer to a return to the field from a knee injury she’s been managing during the off-season.
Titans: 1. Evania Pelite 2. Destiny Mino-Sinapati 3. Jaime Chapman 4. Niall Williams-Guthrie 5. Emily Bass 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Sienna Lofipo 8. Shannon Mato 9. Lauren Brown 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Zara Canfield 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Georgia Hale
Interchange: 14. Brittany Breayley-Nati 15. Stephanie Hancock 16. Rilee Jorgensen 17. Dannii Perese
Reserves: 18. Kaitlyn Phillips 19. Laikha Clarke 20. Sophie Buller 21. Hailee-Jay Maunsell 22. Karina Brown
Team news: The undefeated Titans have made minimal changes this week ahead of their clash with Brisbane. Impressive debutant Rilee Jorgensen has been named on the bench, while Lauren Brown has been named to start. Star half Taliah Fuimaono will be given at least another week off as she manages an ankle injury she suffered in round 1.
EELS v KNIGHTS
Sunday, 12pm at Commbank Stadium
Eels: 1. Abbi Church 2. Zali Fay 3. Mahalia Murphy 4. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 5. Monique Donovan 6. Pihuka Berryman-Duff 7. Rosemarie Beckett 8. Talesha O’Neill 9. Rueben Cherrington 10. Ruby-Jean Kennard 11. Amelia Mafi 12. Shontelle Stowers 13. Kennedy Cherrington
Interchange: 14. Capri Paekau 15. Nakia Davis-Welsh 16. Shannon Muru 17. Madeline Jones
Reserves: 18. Tyla Amiatu 19. Kyra Simon 20. Kimberley Hunt 21. Kelsey Clark 22. Elsie Albert
Team news: The Eels will once again be without duo Elsie Albert and Rachael Pearson, who are at least another week away as they recover from calf injuries. Albert has been named on an extended bench but is understood to be no chance of playing.
Knights: 1. Tamika Upton 2. Sheridan Gallagher 3. Shanice Parker 4. Abigail Roache 5. Jasmine Strange 6. Georgia Roche 7. Jesse Southwell 8. Rima Butler 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Simone Karpani 11. Caitlan Johnston 12. Yasmin Clydsdale 13. Hannah Southwell
Interchange: 14. Nita Maynard 15. Kayla Romaniuk 16. Laishon Albert-Jones 17. Tayla Predebon
Reserves: 18. Felila Kia 19. Tiana Davison 20. Jayde Herdegen 21. Tamerah Leati 22. Viena Tinao
Team news: Hannah Southwell has been named to make her return at lock after a 12-month recovery from an ACL injury she suffered at the start of last season. English recruit Georgia Roche has been named to make her NRLW debut, which has forced Caitlin Moran out of the side.
RAIDERS v TIGERS
Sunday, 1.50pm at GIO Stadium
Raiders: 1. Apii Nicholls 2. Madison Bartlett 3. Cheyelle Robins-Reti 4. Mackenzie Wiki 5. Shakiah Tungai 6. Zahara Temara 7. Ash Quinlan 8. Tommaya Kelly-Sines 9. Chante Temara 10. Sophie Holyman 11. Monalisa Soliola 12. Hollie Dodd 13. Simaima Taufa
Interchange: 14. Emma Barnes 15. Grace Kemp 16. Kerehitina Matua 17. Tara Reinke
Reserves: 18. Elise Smith 19. Ahlivia Ingram 20. Ella Ryan 21. Ua Ravu 22. Jessica Gentle
Team news: The Raiders are unchanged from the side that defeated the Roosters last Saturday.
Tigers: 1. Botille Vette-Welsh 2. Jakiya Whitfeld 3. Rikeya Horne 4. Leianne Tufuga 5. Josephine Lenaz 6. Pauline Piliae 7. Emily Curtain 8. Sarah Togatuki 9. Ebony Prior 10. Christian Pio 11. Kezie Apps 12. Eliza Siilata 13. Najvada George
Interchange: 14. Sophie Curtain 15. Losana Lutu 16. Taylor Osborne 17. Folau Vaki
Reserves: 18. Jessica Kennedy 19. Rebecca Pollard 20. Bianca Bennetts 21. Salma Nour 22. Imogen Gobran
Team news: The Tigers haven’t made any changes to their undefeated side.
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