NRLW 2022: All the latest news and results from round 2

Last week Dragons’ coach Jamie Soward labelled her the world’s best fullback, and after guiding the Red V to victory over Parramatta, its fair to say Emma Tonegato is delivering.

The Broncos must find a way to stop Isabelle Kelly. Picture; Matt Blyth/Getty Images

Just a week after Dragons coach Jamie Soward declared her the best fullback in the world, Emma Tonegato lived up to the hype with a hand in all four of her team’s tries as the Red V survived a huge scare to beat the Eels 16-10.

Tonegato threw the final pass to set up tries for her two centres in the first half and then played a part from a scrum move with 18 minutes remaining as Teagan Berry strolled over to put St George Illawarra back in front.

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After sharing last season’s Dally M Medal with Millie Boyle, the Dragons fullback has hit new heights in her second NRLW campaign.

She finished Sunday’s game with a team-high 154 metres to help her side make it back-to-back wins this season ahead of next week’s grand final rematch with the Roosters where she’ll face fellow fullback phenom Sam Bremner.

Emma Tonegato played a hand in all of the Dragons tries, as they survived a scare to run over Parramatta. Picture: Getty Images.

GAYLE FORCE

It’s not just the Australian fullbacks finding form before the World Cup.

Rugby Sevens convert Gayle Broughton might just be on the plane to England after a dazzling display for the Eels at CommBank Stadium.

The Olympic gold medallist was well contained by the Roosters in the opening round but showed off her skills with a couple of classy touches on the left edge to get her side back in the contest.

Broughton bamboozled the defence to set up former sevens rival Tiana Penitani for Parramatta’s first try, and the pair were at it again minutes later when the left centre repaid the favour with a perfect pass to set up her fullback.

That had the Eels up 10-8 at the break but poor discipline cruelled Parramatta in the end with Christian Pio placed on report for a crusher tackle on Shaylee Bent before Kennedy Cherrington conceded a penalty late in the count for an ugly cannonball.

The Eels were much better than they were last week and their new-look halves combination is one they should stick with going forward, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Broughton was forced off for an HIA.

It wasn’t all good news for the Dragons however, with Talei Holmes forced from the field with a knee injury. Picture: Getty Images.

While Page McGregor went off after a nasty looking neck injury. Picture: Getty Images.

INJURY CONCERNS

St George Illawarra’s medical staff will be kept busy as they try to ready the troops ahead of Friday’s showdown with the unbeaten Roosters.

Talei Holmes is the biggest concern after she had to be carried from the field with a right knee injury, while several players came off for HIAs but were able to return.

One of those was two-try hero Page McGregor who had her neck pinned in a three woman tackle and stayed down for several minutes, but she was able to walk from the field and returned in the second half.

ROOSTERS MAKE A STATEMENT IN BRISBANE ROUT

Brisbane’s reign as the dominant force in the NRLW is over after the Roosters stamped their authority with a 28-8 mauling at Suncorp Stadium to prove last season’s semi-final win was no fluke.

The Broncos had lost just two regular season games in the first four NRLW seasons but they are now 0-2 after heavy defeats to the Knights and Roosters.

Halves Ali Brigginshaw and Tarryn Aiken tried their hearts out, with Aiken bagging a second-half double including the try of the season when she backed up a break by Julia Robinson to give her side a sniff.

Samantha Bremner bursts through the Brisbane defence. Picture NRL Photos

But 16-8 was as close as they got as the Roosters ran in a couple more tries with former Bronco Jayme Fressard strolling over to put the result beyond doubt.

It’s too early to write obituaries for Brisbane’s season, but they clearly miss the class of Tamika Upton and Millie Boyle’s power and aggression through the middle.

IT COULD BE DESTINY

Having seen Brisbane win three-straight titles, the Roosters showed on Saturday that they have all the talent and desire to go on their own winning streak.

Last season’s champs look even better this time around, with the addition of Sam Bremner and Destiny Brill taking their spine to new heights.

Brill opened the scoring with a trademark burrowing effort from dummy-half but it was Bremner who provided the moment of the afternoon when she backed up a break by Raecene McGregor and then beat several defenders to score as the halftime siren sounded.

Bronco Tarryn Aiken’s incredible tackle effort. Picture NRL photos

McGregor was outstanding in the first half, setting up two tries and breaking the line twice as her fancy feet helped her break five tackles through the middle against her former side.

And just when the Broncos were mounting a comeback, it was Brill who busted through, McGregor made another break on the next play before Olivia Kernick crashed through for her third try in two games this season.

SERGIS ON ICE

There must be something in the water in Bondi because it’s not just the NRL side having to deal with injuries.

Gun centre Jess Sergis faces a nervous wait after she was forced off with a left hamstring injury.

She cut a forlorn figure on the bench with a big bag of ice around her leg, with any long-term injury likely to rule her out for the rest of the season.

Destiny Brill of the Roosters attempts to power through the Brisbane defence. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

There could be more bad news with Sarah Togatuki helped from the field by two trainers after the reigning Karyn Murphy medallist landed awkwardly in a tackle.

Bremner (cork) and Fressard (lacerated knee) also failed to finish the contest.

HALL OF PAIN

The scoreboard probably flattered Brisbane in the first half with the Broncos coming up with some incredible try-savers, including an epic shot from Aiken to deny a rampaging Sergis.

But the highlight in defence came midway through the first half when Amber Hall blindsided Keilee Joseph with a brutal hit that forced the ball free and had the fans at Suncorp Stadium on their feet.