NRLW Tackle: Harata Butler avoids striking charge against brilliant Tigers

Cronulla’s Harata Butler has avoided a striking charge for an ugly tackle against the Tigers, but still faces time on the sideline for a hip drop. Likes and dislikes from round two of the NRLW.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 30: Harata Butler of the Sharks reacts as she is sent to the sin bin during the round two NRLW match between Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sharks at Belmore Sports Ground, on July 30, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Cronulla’s Harata Butler has escaped a striking charge for lashing out at Wests Tigers winger Jakiya Whitfeld on Sunday but will miss at least one NRLW game for a grade two hip drop tackle during the same incident.

The Sharks prop had a brain snap in the 14th minute of Sunday’s 10-0 loss to the Tigers at Belmore Oval, dragging Whitfeld to the ground with a dangerous hip drop before standing up and aggressively shoving her to the ground again with an open hand.

Butler was sin-binned for the tackle, but it looked as though she could also cop a striking charge for lashing out at the Tigers winger.

However, the NRL’s match review committee saw no issue with the secondary contact, instead pinging Butler for grade two dangerous contact which will rule her out of Saturday’s clash with the undefeated Gold Coast at PointsBet Stadium.

Butler gets sent for 10! 🫣

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She faces a two-match ban if she fights the charge at the judiciary and loses.

Meanwhile, three more warnings were handed out for Sunday’s NRLW games.

North Queensland enforcer April Ngatunpuna has avoided a suspension for a late hit on Knights halfback Jesse Southwell for which she was sin-binned in the Cowboys’ 31-20 win over Newcastle.

Ngatunpuna copped a grade one dangerous contact charge for the tackle but was just handed a warning, which means she’ll be free to play Brisbane in Townsville on Saturday.

Knights Tayla Predebon was also charged with a grade one careless high tackle on North Queensland’s Sareka Mooka, and Tigers half Sophie Curtain copped the same charge for a hit on Cronulla’s Andie Robinson.

Both will be available for round three, which starts on Thursday night.

ROUND 2 LIKES

TERRIFIC TIGERS

Not only are they the best new team in the NRLW, they’re undefeated at the top of the ladder after two rounds.

Their 10-0 win over Cronulla on Sunday shows the Tigers are not only gutsy and well-drilled, but they’re genuinely gunning for the NRLW title come October.

It’s wonderful for a few reasons – firstly for the club in general and all the people behind the scenes who really need something to cheer about considering the drama hovering around the NRL side.

They have a team to be proud of with Jakiya Whitfeld, Botille Vette-Welsh and Sarah Togatuki all humming along, and they’re the first team to keep a side to zero this season.

But also for coach Brett Kimmorley, who had a rough go taking over as interim coach for the NRL side last year but is getting the success he deserves with the women’s team.

Wests Tigers held the Sharks scoreless. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty

YOUNG MATILDA TO NRLW STAR

What a journey for Sheridan Gallagher that could have led to a very different destination.

Last year she captained the Young Matildas in the under-20s Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, before making the switch to rugby league this year, and earning an NRLW contract.

Now she’s using that footwork and speed on the wing for the Newcastle Knights, where she scored two tries in a 31-20 loss to the Cowboys at Belmore Oval on Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, on Monday night, the Matildas will play their must-win match against Canada in Melbourne.

Sheridan Gallagher crosses for one of her two tries. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

BERRY GOOD

St George Illawarra speedster Teagan Berry has lit up the game across the first two rounds.

The 21-year-old fullback has shot to the top of the tryscorer list with consecutive doubles against Newcastle and then Parramatta, amazingly averaging more than 200 running metres per game.

She now also leads the all-time try-scoring tally with 14 tries from 16 games, and it’s still only the start of what she can achieve in this game.

RUGBY CONVERTS MAKE A MARK

Niall Williams-Guthrie, Tyla Nathan Wong, Grace Kemp.

The rugby union and sevens converts are having a field day in the 13-person game and their transition has been a big success so early into the season.

Williams-Guthrie is a defensive force in the centres for the Gold Coast in their golden point win against Brisbane, while Tyla Nathan Wong’s halves partnership with Raecene McGregor is special. Coach Jamie Soward believes it can be the best in the game and it’s hard to argue with him.

Down in Canberra, ex-Wallaroos forward, Grace Kemp, is quickly becoming a cult hero for the club.

The 22-year-old made 111 metres off the bench against Sydney Roosters on Saturday, as well as four tackle-breaks, three offloads, a linebreak and a try to be a legitimate handful.

Tyla Nathan-Wong is starring for St George Illawarra. Picture: Izhar Khan/Getty

CANBERRA’S HOMETOWN SUPPORT

Canberra’s first win at home was special for many reasons, but the support of a crowd of more than 8000 made it a day to never forget.

Led by inspirational skippers Simaima Taufa and Zahara Temara, the Raiders were tough and aggressive against the Sydney Roosters to score the 24-14 upset, but a post-game signing session was a real highlight.

Green Machine fans formed a line up out the door to get their gear signed by the Raiders players to soak up the history-making moment.

All four new NRL sides now have a win this season, with the Broncos and the Eels the only two sides left to celebrate a victory.

A WIN WITH MEANING

Earlier this week Titans veteran Steph Hancock spoke about the sudden and devastating loss of her close friend in recent weeks.

She told The Daily Telegraph that rugby league has been the best distraction for her, and the support of her teammates has meant the world.

Stories like hers put into perspective the meaning of rugby league and sport in general, but also how important these communities are for the athletes who live and breathe it.

All eyes were on Lauren Brown as she nailed the field goal to sink close rivals Brisbane 17-16, but it had a deeper meaning for Hancock, who really needed that boost.

DIBB’S REVENGE

There’s nothing like beating your former team, but orchestrating it is even sweeter.

Kirra Dibb won a premiership with the Knights last season but made the switch to the Cowboys as a co-captain this year and on Sunday she earned some bragging rights with a 31-20 win at Belmore Oval.

Dibb’s kicking game was incredible, and included an early 40/30 and later a field goal from right in front to put the Cowboys ahead.

She missed State of Origin selection but she’s been in hot form this year. And now with the Cowboys on the board, it sets up a brilliant clash with Queensland rivals Brisbane next week, who are winless from the first two rounds.

ROUND 2 DISLIKES

CRUSHING INJURIES

Sharks star Emma Tonegato was taken from the field late in their 10-0 loss to the Wests Tigers on Sunday with a concerning calf injury.

The ex-Olympian will have scans early this week to determine the severity, but it comes as another blow to the Sharks ahead of their home game against the unbeaten Gold Coast on Saturday.

The Sharks were also without lightning quick fullback Jada Taylor against the Tigers on Sunday after she suffered an ankle injury at training late last week.

Across the game injuries are already starting to test the depth of a 24-person squad.

The Roosters will be sweating on Jess Sergis ahead of their clash with St George Illawarra on Thursday night, after the star centre suffered a hamstring injury.

She was a late withdrawal from the Roosters’ loss to the Raiders, but the club is hopeful it’s not too serious after already losing New Zealand star Amber Hall for the season.

The Broncos are still without Jillaroos winger Julia Robinson too, who injured her hamstring in round 1, while the Titans are hopeful of a return for NSW half Taliah Fuimaono from an ankle injury this week.

UGLY HIP DROP FOR SHARKS ENFORCER

Cronulla prop Harata Butler is an aggressive player but she went overboard in Sunday’s clash with Wests Tigers.

And she looks set to pay for it on the charge sheet come Monday.

Just 15 minutes in she was sin-binned for a hip drop tackle on Tigers winger Jakiya Whitfeld.

Knee and ankle injuries are more prevalent in female athletes and the NRL need to come down hard on this horrible, dangerous kind of tackle.

But she could also cop a striking charge from the same incident.

As she stood up she appeared to lash out with an open palm at Whitfeld – something the match review committee has handed out charges for previously.

Harata Butler is marched for an ugly hip drop. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty

SIN BIN DRAMA

Halfback Kirra Dibb has steered North Queensland to a thrilling first win in the NRLW, with the Cowboys beating Newcastle 31-20 at Belmore.

The Cowboys overcame the second half sin-binning of April Ngatupuna for a late shoulder to the head of Newcastle halfback Jesse Southwell on Sunday.

The incident happened in the 42nd minute with the Knights just 10 metres out from their line, when Ngatupuna dropped a shoulder into Southwell’s head before being quickly subbed off the field.

She was walking back to the bench when play was stopped, and she was called back onto the field only to be sin-binned for the dangerous shot.

North Queensland NRLW player April Ngatupuna gets put in the sin bin.

Southwell was rocked by the tackle but stayed on the field after an initial assessment from the Knights medical staff.

The incident threatened to ruin a huge moment for the Cowboys who were desperate for their first NRLW win.

The Cowboys were leading the premiers 12-10 before Ngatupuna was binned, but the Knights ran in two tries while she was off the field.

North Queensland star Dibb slotted a field goal to make it 21-20 late in the game before the Cowboys scored two tries in the final three minutes to cap a great win.

EELS IN TROUBLE

It’s been a rough start to the year for last year’s grand finalists who have conceded 74 points against Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra.

And it doesn’t look like getting any easier either.

Star players Elsie Albert and Rachael Pearson are still a few weeks away as they battle calf injuries, and they take on Newcastle in a grand final rematch on Sunday afternoon at Commbank Stadium.

Dally M standings

Thursday

Gold Coast 17 d Brisbane 16, at The Gabba, Brisbane

Shannon Mato (Titans) 5, Evania Pelite (Titans) 3, Georgia Hale (Titans) 2, Jessika Elliston (Titans) 1, Chelsea Lenarduzzi (Broncos) 1.

Saturday

Canberra 24 d Sydney Roosters 14, at GIO Stadium, Canberra

Zahara Temara (Raiders) 6, Shakiah Tungai (Raiders) 2, Simaima Taufa (Raiders) 2, Grace Kemp (Raiders) 1, Emma Barnes (Raiders) 1.

St George Illawarra 38 d Parramatta 12, at WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Raecene McGregor (Dragons) 6, Teagan Berry (Dragons) 3, Maddison Weatherall (Dragons) 2, Cassey Tohi-Hiku (Eels) 1.

Sunday

North Queensland 31 d Newcastle 20 at Belmore Sports Ground

Kirra Dibb (Cowboys) 6, Rima Butler (Knights) 2, Tamika Upton (Knights) 2, Emma Manzelmann (Cowboys) 1, Vitalina Naikore (Cowboys) 1.

Wests Tigers 10 d Cronulla 0 at Belmore Sports Ground

Jakiya Whitfeld (Tigers) 6, Chrisitan Pio (Tigers) 4, Annessa Biddle (Sharks) 2.

Dally M leaderboard: E Pelite 9, T Berry 7, J Sergis 6, J Whitfeld 6, K Dibb 6, R McGregor 6, S Mato 6, Z Temara 6, E Prior 5, Q Dodd 5, S Togatuki 5, C Pio 4, M Boyle 4, C Johnston 3, E Manzelmann 3, E Tonegato 3, S Gallagher 3, S Taufa 3.