NRLW Tackle: Two suspended after wild Titans-Roosters clash; Broncos score 22 tries in three games

There has been major fallout from the heated Titans v Roosters NRLW clash, with charges laid and stars facing suspensions from both teams. That and more in The NRLW Tackle.

NRLW Knights pregame dance

Four players have been charged by the match review committee with two of them facing suspensions following the fiery NRLW clash between Gold Coast and the Sydney Roosters which featured an all-in melee.

Titans five-eighth Taliah Fuimaono is facing a two-match ban for a high shot on Isabelle Kelly in the fourth minute while Roosters winger Jayme Fressard is also facing a couple of games on the sideline after being charged with contrary conduct for her part in the melee on Sunday.

If either Fuimaono or Fressard fight the charges and lose at the judiciary, they would each be hit with three-match bans.

Gold Coast’s Shaylee Bent can escape with a warning if she enters a guilty plea for her part in the scuffle while teammate Jaime Chapman can also cop a warning with a guilty plea for a hip-drop tackle on Roosters prop Mya Hill-Moana.

Tyson Jackson reveals his likes and dislikes from round five of the NRLW season.

LIKES

NRLW CHAOS

There’s nothing wrong with players showing a bit of passion and that’s what we saw when the Roosters and Titans came together in an all-in melee during Gold Coast’s 26-6 over the visitors at Cbus Super Stadium.

Shaylee Bent and Jayme Fressard were sent to the sin bin after wild scenes erupted in the second half on Sunday.

Roosters players take umbrage with Brittany Breayley-Nati. Picture: NRL Photos

The scuffle broke out after Roosters winger Fressard reacted to a tackle from Jaime Chapman by throwing the ball at the Titans star.

Bent charged in from a distance to get involved, hinting at possible bad blood between her and the team after she was set to follow David Fifita to the Roosters.

The commotion nearly spilled into the stands, where it briefly appeared that Roosters powerhouse Amber Hall was preparing to send Titans front rower Jessika Elliston into the front row of seats. The sides nearly went at it again after the full-time siren before the teams went their separate ways.

The win was huge for the Titans who came into the Roosters clash after two straight losses.

THE BRONCOS ARE BACK

Coach Scott Prince’s resurgent Broncos are edging closer to their best footy, scoring a whopping 22 tries in the past three games to set up an epic all-Queensland battle against the red hot Cowboys next Sunday.

North Queensland are enjoying a two-game winning streak, and a victory next week could see them slot into the top four.

Kirra Dibb was clinical again for the Cowboys in their 28-18 win over the Raiders, and will face her biggest test of the year against Broncos skipper and veteran half Ali Brigginshaw.

The second-placed Broncos scored eight tries in Sunday’s big win over the Tigers, six four pointers against the Canberra the week before and crossed the line eight times in the game that started their run against Gold Coast in Round 3 after losing the first two matches of the season.

The Wests Tigers faded badly against the Broncos. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

CRONULLA ROLLS ON

Centre Tiana Penitani starred as Cronulla continued their unbeaten start to the NRLW season, further cementing themselves as premiership favourites after a dominant over St George Illawarra.

The centre scored a double in what was mostly one way traffic for the Sharks, with a lot of the damage caused coming from their lethal left edge in the 28-4 win.

Cronulla now travel to the Gold Coast to face the Titans on Saturday.

The Titans who are coming off a big win over the Roosters, are undefeated at home this season, and will be looking to make a dent in the Sharks’ perfect record.

VICTORY DANCE

Although their game was delayed by a staggering 45 minutes, the Knights girls kept their energy high in the sheds, forming a dance circle around injured halfback Jesse Southwell, who led the charge.

After suffering back-to-back defeats, the Knights needed to find a new way to reignite their season.

Their impressive start suggested that their new strategy might be effective.

The team delivered their best performance all year, scoring four tries in the first 20 minutes and securing a 36-16 victory.

Jesse Southwell boosting morale for the Knights. Video: Fox League

In contrast, Parramatta seemed focused from the dressing rooms but failed to gain any momentum once the game began.

Stand-in halfback Evie Jones shone for the Knights, scoring a try and jagging a try assist, leaving coach Ben Jefferies with significant decisions to make when Southwell returns from a concerning head knock.

Next week, the Knights face the Wests Tigers and will aim to build momentum and secure a top-four position for the second half of the season.

Jefferies might consider giving his halfback another week off as they take on the current favourites for the wooden spoon.

DISLIKES

CONCUSSION CONTROVERSY

Concussions are a serious issue in the sport, so it’s troubling that a player has been allowed to return to the field after being diagnosed with a category-one HIA.

North Queensland interchange forward Makenzie Weale was clearly knocked out following a head collision in the 54th minute of the Cowboys vs. Raiders game.

Makenzie Weale leaves the field. Picture: NRL Photos

She was initially ruled out but then returned to play with five minutes remaining.

Players need to be protected from themselves in situations like this, and the handling of these situations needs to be improved.

Just before this game kicked off, the Knights and Eels clash had no medic booked for the ground which meant play was delayed.

Thankfully, Weale was only on the field for two sets after her return. The consequences could have been much more severe.

TIGER TROUBLES

For 35 minutes it looked as though Wests Tigers were set to chalk up their first win of the season before another poor second half performance saw them blown off the park 44-14 by Brisbane who powered to a third straight win.

Up 14-6 at halftime, The Tigers looked to have Broncos in trouble, but seven tries later, and it’s still obvious the home team is battling to compete in the NRLW.

Now 0-5 to start their campaign, it doesn’t get easier for the Tigers, taking on the two-time reigning premiers Newcastle next week, and in-form North Queensland the week after.