NRLW Tackle: Dragons cop potential finals KO after sickening head knock; record goal-kicking streak
St George Illawarra has suffered a major blow to their finals hopes, while Knights halfback Jesse Southwell is on an unbelievable kicking streak that the Jillaroos selectors can’t ignore. NRLW TACKLE.
NRLW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRLW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Rising St George Illawarra star Kasey Reh will miss a crucial Magic Round clash with Parramatta after copping a nasty knock in Sunday’s loss to Brisbane. The 19-year-old Dragons half was bumped to the ground by Broncos forward Romy Teitzel and ruled out with a category 1 head knock midway through the second half of a 30-6 loss in Wollongong.
She will automatically miss the next 11 days under HIA protocols.
Sitting fifth on the ladder on an equal four points with the Eels heading into round five, the Dragons are desperate to stay in touch with the top six and break a two-year NRLW finals drought.
A win over the Eels would be a huge advantage in the back end of the season, but they could be forced to do it the hard way without Reh.
Try-scoring fullback Teagan Berry will also face an anxious wait on Monday’s charge sheet for dangerous contact on rookie Broncos winger Kerri Johnson.
Berry was binned in the 42nd minute for sliding knees first into Johnson as she scored Brisbane’s second try of the afternoon to extend the lead 12-6.
It was enough to deflate the Dragons as the Broncos ran in four more tries to wrap up second place on the ladder on points differential above Newcastle and North Queensland.
ROUND 4 LIKES
RECORD-BREAKER
Newcastle halfback Jesse Southwell is making a case for a Jillaroos debut at the end of the season after extending her unbelievable kicking streak Sunday’s 30-6 win over Parramatta.
With ball in hand the 20-year-old was at her commanding best, but her work with the boot is elite.
She converted all five of Newcastle’s tries at Eric Tweedale Stadium, taking her tally to 20 straight goals without a miss according to Fox Sports Lab.
It far and away eclipses the previous NRLW record of 11 set by former Broncos star Meg Ward back in 2020.
After starring for NSW during this year’s State of Origin series, Southwell is turning up the pressure on incumbent Australia halves Tarryn Aiken, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury, and captain Ali Brigginshaw.
It’ll be one of the first major selection dilemmas for newly announced Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner ahead of the end of season tournament.
Led by Southwell, the Knights have bounced back from a shock loss to the Bulldogs in round one to score three straight wins.
Sunday’s was the best of them.
Skipper Yasmin Clydsdale was devastating on the left edge, while Tess Staines, Sheridan Gallagher, Kayla Romaniuk and Tenika Willison found some luck on the board too.
Down 12-0 at halftime, Parramatta were willing in the second half with prop Elsie Albert the lone scorer after a monster game up front.
The PNG hero dominated up front, clocking up 150 running metres and eight tacklebreaks.
KIRRA DIBB
Like it or not, Cowboys coach Ricky Henry’s bold move to drop co-captain Kirra Dibb is paying off.
There’s been whispers of a personality clash between the two, and Henry has sidelined the star half for the past two weeks in favour of Tahlulah Tillett at halfback.
Unfortunately for Dibb, they’ve been in great form over the past fortnight with wins against Cronulla and Canberra, which will make it even more difficult for her to get back into the team.
She’s signed at the club until the end of 2026 but rivals would be crazy not to be asking the question for next season.
ROOSTERS UNSTOPPABLE
It’s hard to imagine anyone stopping the Roosters this season.
Undefeated at the top of the ladder, they’ve already knocked off Brisbane and still have last year’s Karyn Murphy Medallist Tarryn Aiken to come back into the team.
Coach John Strange has done a wonderful job building a team that can create a dynasty of their own over the next few seasons.
TIGERS UNEARTH GUN
Wests Tigers have struggled across the first month of the season but they’ve been a better team than their results show.
Particularly on the edge.
Rookie winger Caitlin Turnbull, 24, has been one of the surprise packets of this season.
In four games she’s scored six tries, including a double against the Sharks, since making her NRLW debut with the Tigers in round one.
It’s a huge win for the Tigers, who brought her into first grade this year after playing a season with Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW competition in 2024.
ROUND 4 DISLIKES
NO QUICK FIX ON THE SCHEDULE
There’s no way to make everyone happy - fans, broadcasters or players, as long as the NRLW is a part-time game.
But even all of the above can agree a stand alone game at 6.15pm on Sunday night at Cronulla is about the last place you’d want to be in the depths of winter.
Nothing but respect for the diehards who showed up to watch the Sharks beat Wests Tigers 20-16 in a brave contest from both teams, but scheduling is a major area of the game that needs to improve in the coming years.
It’s one of the main topics of conversation in any chat about the NRLW with players, fans and media colleagues.
Unfortunately, as long as the players aren’t paid a full-time wage from the game and have other jobs to consider, there is no way to avoid clunky scheduling that rules out week nights or afternoons, double-headers at stadiums like Shark Park and certain time slots.
Clashes with NRL games are inevitable.
But that doesn’t mean it’s right or fun.
RAIDERS LOSE THEIR PASSION
Canberra’s poor start to the season reached a new low after Saturday’s 26-0 loss to the Cowboys.
The winless Raiders have leaked 164 points in four games, as well as a whopping 163 missed tackles.
Even coach Darrin Borthwick couldn’t sugar-coat it.
In the post-match press conference he took aim at his players for not having a go.
“I feel sorry for some of these girls who are just turning up week in and week out to defend stupid errors and mistakes that just zap so much energy out of you,” he said.
“One positive is that players like (Simaima Taufa) keep turning up each week and putting their body on the line and there’s some who just aren’t turning up and to be honest, are just happy to be here. I’m over it.”
Borthwick highlighted Taufa’s effort despite the horrific start.
“If I could buy another 50 of her I would,” he said of her leadership.
“If half the group could take the passion she does into a game, our results would be a hell of a lot better.”
Originally published as NRLW Tackle: Dragons cop potential finals KO after sickening head knock; record goal-kicking streak
Roosters teach Dogs new tricks in tenth straight win
The Roosters bid for back-to-back NRLW titles is going strong, teaching the Bulldogs some valuable lessons after securing a tenth straight win.
Dirty bulk: NRLW star reveals weight battle
While most athletes fret about avoiding weight gain, the reverse was true for Jasmin Strange. Here Strange opens up on why her coach, and father, pushed her to change her body shape.