Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership: Canterbury calls on young gun for key clash

Canterbury is facing one of the toughest road trips in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, calling on a young gun to get them back into the top four. Here are the full round eight teams.

Ambryn Murphy-Haua comes back into the Canterbury starting 13. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Canterbury has made four changes for a must win Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership clash with Illawarra this weekend.

Young gun Ambryn Murphy-Haua comes into the side at dummy half with Paea Uilou, Summer van Gelder and Waimarie Martin all inclusions for the trip south as they look to get back into the top four.

Here are all the round eight HNWP teams:

SOUTH SYDNEY VS CRONULLA

Redfern Oval, Saturday 11.30am

SOUTH SYDNEY: Kiana Takairangi, Daisy Gordon, Shanelle Lyons, Portia Bourke, Paige Knapp, Kiara McGregor, Maddie Studdon, Nancy Sullivan, Mikayla Langer, Ashlea Nolan, Lowana McDougall, Jazmon Tupou-Witchman, Jade Etherden, Abbie Ritchie, Anastacia Shum-Cottrell, Janaya Trapman, TBA

CRONULLA: Brittney Brown, Kayla Fleming, Jayme Millard, Taylor Mapasua, Keilamarita Pouri-Lane, Luti Maile, Olivia Herman, Pia Tapsell, Seli Mailangi, Lavinia Kitai, Ahlivia Ingram, Jaydika Tafua, Stephanie Faulkner, Lahtia Stone, Ariana Harden, Leki Leilua, Bianca Sutton

PARRAMATTA VS NEWCASTLE

Eric Tweedale Stadium, Saturday 1.30pm

PARRAMATTA: Yasmine Baker, Debbie Doueihi, Kate Fallon, Aaliyah Haumono, Lindsay Tui, Pihuka Berryman-Duff, Sarah Dimech, Aliti Namoce, Chelsea Makira, Rysh’e Fa’amausili, Bella Sandford, Tahleisha Maeva, Ryvrr-Lee Alo, Ashlee Pottinger, Losalio Sita Payne, Alysha Bell, Fontayne Tufuga

NEWCASTLE: Jayde Herdegen, Tyla Brown, Isabella Waterman, Carissa Reid, Jessica Gentle, Evie Jones, Melanie Howard, Elizabeth Montgomery, Joeli Morris, Viena Tinao, Evah McEwen, Fane Finau, Jules Kirkpatrick, Chelsea Lehman, Lexi Beagan, Leah Ollerton, Jacinta Carter

ILLAWARRA VS CANTERBURY

Collegians Sporting Complex, Saturday 3pm

ILLAWARRA: Tayleah Handcock, Herewaka Pohatu, Mia-Rose Walsh, Lily Rogan, Ula-Mari Time-Cribb, Riley Scott, Caitlin Moran, Hope Millard, Kaarla Cowan, Mackenzie Lear, Jordyn Preston, Taylor Curtis, Trinity Tauanei, Sienna Yeo, Sophie Clancy, Tiarna West, Olivia Vale

CANTERBURY: Natalia Webb, Summer van Gelder, Sarahcen Oliver, Litia Fusi, Charlotte Eather, Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau, Olivia Vaalele, Shaniece Monschau, Ambryn Murphy-Haua, Shannon Muru, Sarai Pule, Pauline Suli-Ruka, Latisha Smythe, Waimarie Martin, Macie Carlile, Paea Uilou, Abbie Grant

ST GEORGE VS CENTRAL COAST

Hurstville Oval, Saturday 3.15pm

ST GEORGE: Katrina Phippen, Danielle Close, Taylor Charman, Heidi Regan, Monique McGlynn, Shannai Vakai, Georgia Thomas, Analei Netzler, Madison-Lee Kelly, Stephanie Ball, Grace Li, Grace Clarke, Taimani Kolomaka, Hope Hutchins, Tashjan Managreve, Jamiee-Lee Cotter, Brooke Tauaneai

CENTRAL COAST: Shannon Rose, Jessica Stevens, Sharni Waters, Tyra Ekepati, Kaitlyn Whitehead, Jayla Dicker, Olivia Glanville, Phoenix Lamese, Tahlia Smith, Taylah Juckes, Melanie Watherston, Eliza Lopamaua, Sienna Deeley, Sienna-Mae Montgomery, Samantha Economos, Taylah Fuiava, TBA

WESTS TIGERS VS MANLY

Leichhardt Oval, Sunday 11.30am

WESTS TIGERS: Tess Staines, Claudia Nielsen, Josie Lenaz, Jessica Whelan, Darcy Eade, Evie McGrath, Emily Curtain, Iemaima Etuale, Chelsea Savill, Naomi Bott, Shaianee McGlone, Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua, Jessica Kennedy, Ilisia Haumono, Elisa Akpa, Folau Vaki, Patricia Raikadroka

MANLY: Mollie Tagaloa, Anna Dingley, Lavinia Tauhalaliku, Maddison Binding, Georgia Sim, Makyla Eli, Tayla Montgomery, Kyla Gordon, Rebecca Riley, Alianna Tonuu, Aleksandra Tunufai, Shontelle Stowers, Lili Boyle, Tanika-Jazz Noble, Ngatokotoru Arakua, Riley McKay, Paris Ingegneri

WENTWORTHVILLE VS MOUNTIES

NSWRL Centre of Excellence, Monday 7pm

WENWORTHVILLE: Caitlin Turnbull, Alofa Schuster, Belinda Gwasamun, Carly Abbott, Danielle Seckold, Anneka Wilson, Cassie Siataga, Sade Schaumkel, Sarah Colman, Rosaline Aumale, Chantel Tugaga, Leilani Wilson, Breanna Eales, Aaliyah Soufan, Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis, Zali Waihape, Naomi De Bruine

MOUNTIES: Brooke Wilkins, Alanna Dummett, Gwen Swann, Breeze E’e, Rachel Simpson, Logan Lemusu, Hollie Massey, Sarah Boyle, Sonia Mose, Janelle Williams, Terisa Lemauga Nafatali, Tatiana Finau, Kahu Cassidy, Janaya Bent, Piper Sutton, Marley Cardwell, Amelia Pasikala

Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua scored the winning try for the Tigers. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

ROUND SEVEN WRAP

There’s just four rounds of the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership remaining and the finals race is heating up.

Here’s how a dramatic round seven went down:

CENTRAL COAST 24 DEF CANTERBURY 20

In one of the upsets of the season, the Central Coast has made it back-to-back wins after downing Canterbury 24-20 at Belmore Oval.

The Roosters raced out to a 12-0 lead in as many minutes before the Bulldogs were able to hit back with two tries of their own to cut it back to four at the break.

They eventually tied the scores, but not for long as Eliza Lopamaua completed her hat-trick in style.

Shaniece Monschau helped give the Bulldogs one last shot at victory, but they couldn’t capitalise.

WENTWORTHVILLE 40 DEF SOUTH SYDNEY 6

Wentworthville has turned in another polished performance to record a 40-6 thumping of South Sydney at Redfern Oval.

Despite striking early, the Magpies were well held by the Rabbitohs, until three tries in a six-minute period just before the break stretched the lead to 20-0.

Alofa Schuster, Danielle Seckold and Belinda Gwasamun all finished with doubles.

Logan Lemusu of Mounties in the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

MOUNTIES 19 DEF MANLY 18

17-year-old Logan Lemusu proved the hero for Mounties in a thrilling 19-18 victory over Manly at Aubrey Keech Reserve.

The young gun opened the scoring before a double to Alanna Drummett helped them to a commanding 18-6 halftime advantage.

The Sea Eagles responded, and when Pier Pritchard crossed the scores were level with 12 minutes remaining.

Up stepped Lemusu, who hit it sweetly from close range to seal the win.

ILLAWARRA 22 DEF NEWCASTLE 16

A last-ditch try from front rower Mackenzie Lear has lifted the Steelers to a 22-16 win over Newcastle.

After a runaway try from Tyla Brown helped bring the scores to 16-all, it looked like time would beat both sides and they would be forced to settle for a draw.

That was until a rampaging Lear was turned inside close to the line, carrying three defenders over with her on her way to score.

Alafou Fatu of St George Dragons in the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

ST GEORGE 22 DEF CRONULLA 4

An early blitz has helped St George overcome rivals Cronulla to the tune of 22-4 at Cronulla High School.

Fullback Katrina Phippen set the tempo early with a try in the opening two minutes, before Heidi Regan added two of her own to push the buffer to 16-0.

Jaydika Tafua gave the Sharks a much-needed boost before the break, but they were unable to make up any ground in the second half as Phippen scored her second to ice the game.

WESTS TIGERS 12 DEF PARRAMATTA 10

The Wests Tigers are on the board for their first win in 2024 after overcoming Parramatta 12-10.

Defence was the theme of the first half with neither side able to break through, before Alysha Bell finally broke the deadlock in the 39th minute for the Eels.

Patricia Raikadroka got the Tigers on the board to level things, before Tahleisha Maeva swiftly hit back for the Eels.

The Tigers thought they had again drawn level, only for Ellie Barnett’s pass to Darcy Eade to be ruled forward.

Just minutes later they had their breakthrough, as Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua hit a hole close to the line to score with Barnett converting to seal victory.