NRLW Teams round two: Caitlan Johnston headlines clash of elite forward packs

Newcastle star Caitlan Johnston headlines a showdown between two of the best packs in the NRLW as the Knights take on the Raiders in round two. Watch our exclusive video on the two-time premiership winner.

Newcastle star Caitlan Johnston and Canberra workhorse Simaima Taufa headline two of the best packs in the NRLW with the power duo set to collide in a blockbuster clash on Saturday.

Johnston, who has dominated for the two-time NRLW premiers in the last few seasons, was at her intense best for a round one win last Thursday night with 111 metres and 50 post-contact metres against the Roosters.

The NSW and Jillaroos star is the leader of the Knights pack but will face a huge challenge against the top-of the table Raiders at GIO Stadium.

READ ON FOR THE FULL ROUND 2 TEAMS

The Raiders were big winners in round one against the Wests Tigers led by Taufa at lock, who clocked up a massive 189 running metres, a try and 77 post-contact metres in one of the biggest performances of the round.

Parramatta were the other big surprise packets of the opening round of the season but it has come at a cost with two players ruled out for the rest of the year.

Hooker Rueben Cherrington will miss the rest of the NRLW season with an ankle injury she suffered as a result of a hip drop tackle in Saturday’s win over Brisbane, while rising second-rower Boss Kapua has also suffered a serious knee injury.

Watch the above video which shines a light on Knights star Caitlan Johnston. Picture: NRL Photos

The 20-year-old Cherrington was caught around the legs by Broncos forward Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala, who has been hit with a grade two dangerous contact charge out of the incident and has been suspended for four weeks.

She accepted a two-match ban for striking Kennedy Cherrington in Brisbane’s loss, and on Tuesday night she changed her plea to guilty hours before she was due to face the NRL judiciary to seek a downgrade to a grade two dangerous contact charge.

Rueben Cherrington has been ruled out for the season. Picture: NRL Photos

After a spate of hip drop tackles last season the NRL is ready to stamp down on the dangerous technique which caused a number of serious injuries.

The Broncos have now lost Nu’uasala for half of the season as well as veteran Lavinia Gould to a one-week ban, but have named Queensland hooker Destiny Brill to make her return from a calf injury.

Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala will spend four weeks on the sidelines. Picture: NRL Photos

The Eels, who are third after round one, are set to face an unchanged Cronulla side at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sam Bremner has been named at fullback for the Roosters, returning to NRLW 555 days since announcing her retirement after the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.

The former Jillaroos and NSW star missed the Roosters round one loss to the Knights, but has been rushed into the side to face the Broncos at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

Bremner’s shock return comes after fullback Corban Baxter was ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury in the pre-season.

Although she is one of the fittest at the club, the 32 year old was given the first week off to get contact into her body after a long hiatus from the game.

NRLW ROUND 2 TEAMS

Raiders v Knights

Saturday August 3, 11.05am, GIO Stadium, Canberra

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. Sereana Naitokatoka

Reserves: 18. Jaida Faleono 19. Tatiana Finau 20. Felice Quinlan 21. Georgia Willey 22. Relna Wuruki-hosea

Knights

1. Tamika Upton 2. Sheridan Gallagher 3. Shanice Parker 4. Abigail Roache 5. Lilly-Ann White 6. Georgia Roche 7. Jesse Southwell 8. Tayla Predebon 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Caitlan Johnston 11. Laishon Albert-Jones 12. Yasmin Clydsdale 13. Hannah Southwell

Interchange: 14. Nita Maynard 15. Kayla Romaniuk 16. Rima Butler 17. Isabella Waterman

Reserves: 18. Jacinta Carter 19. Viena Tinao 20. Jayde Herdegen 21. Jules Kirkpatrick 22. Simone Karpani

Titans v Wests Tigers

Saturday August 3, 12.45pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. Evania Pelite 2. Georgia Grey 3. Jaime Chapman 4. Niall Williams-Guthrie 5. Emily Bass 6. Taliah Fuimaono 7. Lauren Brown 8. Shannon Mato 9. Brittany Breayley-Nati 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Rilee Jorgensen 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Georgia Hale

Interchange: 14. Lily-Rose Kolc 15. Hailee-Jay Maunsell 16. Dannii Perese 17. Laikha Clarke

Reserves: 18. Georgia Sim 19. Malaela Sua 20. Ngatokotoru Arakua 21. Matekino Gray

Tigers

1. Botille Vette-Welsh 2. Harmony Crichton 3. Leianne Tufuga 4. Rikeya Horne 5. Tess Staines 6. Pauline Piliae 7. Losana Lutu 8. Sarah Togatuki 9. Salma Nour 10. Christian Pio 11. Kezie Apps 12. Shaianne McGlone 13. Najvada George

Interchange: 14. Sophie Curtain 15. Tara Reinke 16. Natasha Penitani 17. Brooke Talataina

Reserves: 18. Jessica Kennedy 19. Rebecca Pollard 20. Tiana-Lee Thorne 21. Claudia Nielsen 22. Imogen Gobran

Eels v Sharks

Sunday August 4, 12pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Eels

1. Abbi Church 2. Zali Fay 3. Rory Owen 4. Rosie Kelly 5. Monique Donovan 6. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 7. Rachael Pearson 8. Elsie Albert 9. Taneka Todhunter 10. Madeline Jones 11. Chloe Jackson 12. Mahalia Murphy 13. Kennedy Cherrington

Interchange: 14. Rosemarie Beckett 15. Tyla Amiatu 16. Jade Fonua 17. Ruby-Jean Kennard

Reserves: 18. Tafao Asaua 19. Pihuka Berryman-Duff 20. Chelsea Makira 21. Kate Fallon 23. Yasmine Baker

Sharks

1. Jada Taylor 2. Cassie Staples 3. Tiana Penitani 4. Annessa Biddle 5. Georgia Ravics 6. Emma Tonegato 7. Tayla Preston 8. Ellie Johnston 9. Quincy Dodd 10. Holli Wheeler 11. Talei Holmes 12. Rhiannon Byers 13. Brooke Anderson

Interchange: 14. Georgia Hannaway 15. Chloe Saunders 16. Vanessa Foliaki 17. Tegan Dymock

Reserves: 18. Manilita Takapautolo 19. Nakia Davis-Welsh 20. Leki Leilua 23. Pia Tapsell

Sam Bremner will make her NRLW return in round two. Picture: Supplied

Roosters v Broncos

Sunday August 4, 1.45pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Roosters

1. Sam Bremner 2. Jayme Fressard 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Jasmine Strange 5. Mia Wood 6. Isabelle Kelly 7. Tarryn Aiken 8. Millie Elliott 9. Keeley Davis 10. Pani Hopoate 11. Otesa Pule 12. Olivia Kernick 13. Aliyah Nasio

Interchange: 14. Jocelyn Kelleher 15. Eliza Lopamaua 16. Samantha Economos 17. Mya Hill-Moana

Reserves: 18. Tiana Davison 19. Taina Naividi 20. Imogen Hei 21. Amber Hall

Broncos

1. Hayley Maddick 2. Julia Robinson 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Lauren Dam 5. Bree Spreadborough 6. Skyla Adams 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Keilee Joseph 9. Jada Ferguson 10. Brianna Clark 11. Tazmin Rapana 12. Romy Teitzel 13. Mariah Denman

Interchange: 14. Destiny Brill 15. Chelsea Lenarduzzi 16. Jasmine Fogavini 17. Bridget Hoy

Reserves: 18. Hannah Larsson 19. Shaylee Joseph

Cowboys v Dragons

Sunday August 4, 6.10pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville

Cowboys

1. Francesca Goldthorp 2. Krystal Blackwell 3. Jakiya Whitfeld 4. Jasmine Peters 5. Ebony Raftstrand-Smith 6. Tahlulah Tillett 7. Kirra Dibb 8. Tallisha Harden 9. Emma Manzelmann 10. Essay Banu 11. China Polata 12. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith 13. Bree Chester

Interchange: 14. Alisha Foord 15. Lily Peacock 16. Sareka Mooka 17. Shaniah Power

Reserves: 18. Harata Butler 19. Jetaya Faifua 20. Lillian Yarrow 21. Vitalina Naikore 22. Shellie Long

Dragons

1. Teagan Berry 2. Kimberley Hunt 3. Keele Browne 4. Bobbi Law 5. Margot Vella 6. Zali Hopkins 7. Raecene Mcgregor 8. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 9. Sophie Clancy 10. Jamilee Bright 11. Shenai Lendill 12. Charlotte Basham 13. Alexis Tauaneai

Interchange: 14. Kasey Reh 15. Sara Sautia 16. Bronte Wilson 17. Steph Hancock

Reserves: 18. Madison Mulhall 19. Alice Gregory 20. Tayla Curtis 21. Maatuleio Fotu-moala 22. Kaarla Cowan

Originally published as NRLW Teams round two: Caitlan Johnston headlines clash of elite forward packs