NRLW 2022 Round 1 wrap: Fulltimers Evania Pelite and Emma Tonegato show how good comp can be

Elite showings by full-time players, a clinical performance by the reigning premiers and generation next standing up. NRLW round one had it all.

Sara Sautia of the Broncos celebrates the try of Emily Bass (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

The first round of the delayed NRLW 2022 season is done and dusted and what a way to kick things off for the brand new women’s competition.

From a clinical performance by the reigning premiers to the next generation standing up, the first three games will have fans excited for more.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.

LIKES

FULLTIMERS

Evania Pelite and Emma Tonegato showed exactly what caliber of footy can be played if the NRLW becomes a full-time competition. The two former Australian Rugby Sevens stars and Rio gold medallists spent roughly the past nine years of their lives in a full-time training environment and were the standouts from the opening Dragons v Titans clash.

Pelite – the Titans fullback – ran for a game high 151m, made four tackle breaks and two linebreaks, while Tonegato – the Dragons fullback – ran for 135m, with five tackle busts and a try assist.

Sara Sautia of the Broncos celebrates the try of Emily Bass (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

CLASSY BRONCOS

The three-time NRLW champions showed exactly why they are the team to beat this season in a clinical performance over their 2020 grand final rivals.

Star forward Millie Boyle broke the NRLW record for most runs in a match, all while playing injured, with 23 carries for 166m, according to Fox Sports Lab. Fullback Tamika Upton displayed her scintillating speed in the 41st minute to send Boyle over for a try. And utility Lauren Brown seemed to have a hand in everything.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Five debutants managed to score tries in the NRLW season opening triple header at McDonald Jones Stadium in what is a glimpse of what’s to come. The next generation of NRLW players proved the future is bright for the women’s competition.

BACKING IT UP

After playing 70 minutes of rugby league, Titans winger Karina Brown backed it up with a halftime entertainment show during the final game of the day. Brown made 87 running metres, three tackle breaks and a linebreak during the Titans opening clash before jumping up on stage behind the microphone to perform her new song “She’s Got Confidence” with Queensland artist Jess Harlen. Incredible stuff.

STUDDON FIELD GOAL

If there was ever a way to wrap up a top quality NRLW triple header, Maddie Studdon’s field goal in the final game thriller was it. It was a cracker advertisement for the women’s game. It will be interesting to see the TV audience figures for the triple header as the NRL looks to grow the game and it’s exposure. The trio of games were broadcast on both Fox League and Channel Nine, though bumped to Nine Gem in Queensland with the main channel dedicated to the ongoing flood crisis.

DISLIKES

PLAYMAKER PROTECTION

Gold Coast’s Tazmin Gray’s late tackle on Dragons’ half Rachael Pearson well after she passed the ball. There was no need for it. Gray was placed on report and the match review committee now has a chance to show they are serious about protecting playmakers.

RING RUST

The ring rust was evident on some of the players after an 18-month hiatus from playing in a national competition. There were 75 handling errors across the three games and on two occasions in two different games, poor tackling technique resulted in head injury assessments (HIA). The standard of football was a great spectacle on Sunday but there is still room for improvement.

Originally published as NRLW 2022 Round 1 wrap: Fulltimers Evania Pelite and Emma Tonegato show how good comp can be