The NRLW Tackle: Pamela Whaley’s Likes and Dislikes from Round 5

Last year’s grand finalists Parramatta are yet to secure a win in 2023 while the competition’s newcomers are making their mark as the as the season reaches it’s halfway mark.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 19: Emily Bass of Titans is assisted out of the ground after suffering an injury during the round five NRLW match between Gold Coast Titans and Sydney Roosters at Cbus Super Stadium, on August 19, 2023, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Through five rounds of the NRLW, injuries are mounting – and stars are making their mark on the competition.

We run through the highs, lows and what it all means this week in the Tackle.

DISLIKES

MORE BROKEN BODIES

Halfway through the NRLW season and injuries are banking up every week.

Round 5 is no different and the strain is starting to show on squads.

St George Illawarra copped yet another blow with centre Bobbi Law suffering a hamstring injury that could end her season.

The Indigenous All Stars rep limped from the field after scoring a try in Saturday’s 20-16 win over the Wests Tigers.

“I think she is done,” coach Jamie Soward said.

“We will get some scans but I am probably more upset for her because she has been playing so well for us.

“Hammies and calves are pains in the arses and we’ve got four weeks left so if you get to a grand final you reassess, but we’ve got Bobbi tied up for a while so I am not going to risk long term injuries or long term damage.”

Emily Bass was forced from the field with a shoulder injury. Picture: Getty

Hooker Sophie Clancy also injured her shoulder in the same game.

Across the competition the bodies are piling up too.

Gold Coast’s winger Emily Bass was taken from the field with a shoulder injury after falling awkwardly on it in Saturday’s loss to Sydney Roosters.

The Queensland Origin winger adds to a growing casualty ward for the Titans who still haven’t seen Jillaroos star Taliah Fuimaono on the field since round 1.

There are also fears the season is over for Cowboys winger Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly, who suffered a suspected ACL injury in a 40-12 loss to Cronulla.

Sophie Clancy was taken from the field after sustaining a shoulder injury. Picture: NRL Imagery

NONE FROM FIVE

The Eels are fighting hard but they’ve not yet been able to claim a win yet this season. Injuries dudded their early games and they’re still struggling, even though skipper Rachael Pearson has made a big difference in the absence of Elsie Albert and Kennedy Cherrington. They play North Queensland next Saturday in Kogarah and will be desperate to get a win on the board.

LIKES

FREE KICK FOR NRLW

Rugby league could stand to steal more women’s players from rugby union after the latest drama at Rugby Australia. On Sunday, Wallaroos players past and present as well as their supporters posted an extraordinary statement to their social media calling for more equity in funding for the women’s game. It was in direct breach of their part-time contracts with RA. The discontent between players and RA has been brewing for a while but could be the breaking point for a few to make a code swap. So far Grace Hamilton (Roosters) and Grace Kemp (Raiders) have made the successful switch to the NRLW, while former Rugby Sevens stars such as Emma Tonegato and Evania Pelite have taken the game by storm.

NEWCOMERS ON FIRE

The four new teams were expected to struggle this year but Canberra are killing it. The Cowboys, Tigers and Sharks have all won two games from five, while the Raiders are third on the ladder with four wins. They’ll genuinely challenge for the premiership in their inaugural season. It’s a huge effort from coach Darrin Borthwick and a talented team, led by Simaima Taufa and Zahara Temara.

The Sharks enjoyed a 28-point win over the Cowboys on Saturday. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

JILLROOS CHNGES

A calf injury kept Tamika Upton out of the Jillaroos’ World Cup squad this year.

It kept selectors from having to make a tough call on the No.1 jersey with so much talent in the game. Sam Bremner, Evania Pelite and Emma Tonegato were all in the squad as fullback options as they blitzed through the tournament undefeated.

But as it stands, Upton is the best fullback in the game and arguably the best player in the NRLW.

With ball in hand she tore apart Brisbane for the Knights‘ grandstand finish on Sunday with 212 running metres, 11 tacklebreaks, two line breaks and a handful of try-saving tackles.

If she‘s fit, the Queensland fullback should be the first picked to face New Zealand at the end of the year.

Bremner is now retired, while Tonegato has moved into the halves for Cronulla. Pelite and former Australia fullback Corban Baxter will be her main competition.

Tamika Upton looks well on her way to a Jillaroos return. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

DOUBLE HEADERS

NRL and NRLW double-headers are a sweet spot for the women‘s game.

Newcastle‘s halfback Jesse Southwell steered the team to a premiership last year but said she’s never played in front of a crowd like the one at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The sold out stadium was all-but full by the end of the women‘s game and hearing the Newcastle chant by 20,000 loud Novocastrians was something special.

The Knights were down 20-16 with just one minute to go when Shanice Parker scored to give the crowd a grandstand finish.

Southwell‘s kick from the sideline to win it sent them into raptures.

Full crowds for women‘s games exposes it to more people and also gives players confidence to know people care about their competition.

Southwell kicked the winning goal in front of a sellout crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

AIKEN BLOOMS

Jess Sergis predicted at the start of the season that Tarryn Aiken would be up there in Dally M contenders, and she wasn’t wrong.

The Queensland and Australia five-eighth has made the switch from Brisbane to the Roosters this year and her game has gone to a new level.

Across the first five rounds she’s been one of the standout stars, but her masterclass against the Titans on Saturday was among the best individual performances we’ve ever seen in the NRLW.

The 24-year-old set up two tries but scored the try of the season when she broke the line, chipped for herself over Titans fullback Evania Pelite and then raced to ground the ball just before the line.

She was equal fourth on nine points before Dally M voting went behind closed doors at the end of last week, but she would have scored a swag of points for that performance.

Games like that show why she’s the most exciting player in the game at the moment.