NRLW 2023: Raecene McGregor calls for calm with Dragons’ season on the line
The NRLW season is getting interesting with a number of teams including the St George Illawarra Dragons facing must-win matches every week.
St George Illawarra are in a log jam on the NRLW ladder heading towards finals but skipper Raecene McGregor is spreading calm, not panic.
The reigning Dally M Medallist is one of the most experienced players in the NRLW and with four rounds left to play she knows every game is do or die for the Dragons.
Sitting eighth on the ladder, the Dragons are in a race with Wests Tigers, Brisbane, Cronulla and North Queensland who have all won two games each halfway through the longest NRLW season to date.
“I thought there’d be some strong teams, but the teams at the top are really strong and there’s a few who are still finding their feet,” McGregor said. “We’re one of them.
“Aside from winning, it’s about getting the girls around each other and making sure we’re nice and close. For me it’s about keeping everyone’s minds off the ladder.
“Now that we’re getting to the end of the season, everyone is starting to get a bit concerned about where we’re sitting so I want to make sure the girls are off social media and keeping our heads here at the Dragons so we can take each week as they come.”
The Dragons are coming off a heart-stopping win against Wests Tigers last week that kept their season alive.
But taking the pressure off the young team is key for McGregor.
“We’re still in it, anyone can win on their day and there were a few upsets last week, but it’s about concentrating and not worrying too much about the final result,” she said.
“We know we need to win but we’ve got to enjoy ourselves.
“We have a young squad and you can see there are some nerves there and anxiousness, so I try to give as much confidence and comfort as I can to those younger girls.”
The Gold Coast sit fourth with three wins, which sets up Saturday’s clash as a circuit breaker.
The Titans copped a 30-8 thrashing at the hands of competition leaders the Roosters last weekend, and the week before lost their first game of the season to the Knights.
Injuries have plagued their season with Jillaroos half Taliah Fuiamaono still sidelined with an ankle injury she suffered in round one, but the forward pack is jammed with representative stars.
“They’ve got a big, strong forward pack,” McGregor said.
“It’s something we’ve identified and we’ve got to muscle up in that defence. It’s something we’ve lacked in the last couple of weeks but we’ve been working on it a lot so hopefully we can give them a good challenge in the middle.”
The Dragons host the Titans at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday as part of an NRLW double header with Parramatta and North Queensland.
The Roosters will play Wests Tigers at Allianz Stadium ahead of the NRL clash on Saturday afternoon, while the Knights host Cronulla at McDonald Jones Stadium in another double header in front of a packed crowd on Sunday.
Brisbane’s season is also on the line when they host third-placed Canberra at Totally Workwear Stadium.
Broncos get huge boost as Test gun returns
Brisbane are set for a huge boost with Julia Robinson to make her return from a hamstring injury in a crucial clash with Canberra on Sunday.
The Australia and Queensland star suffered the leg injury in a round one loss to the Sydney Roosters and missed the next four games as she recovered.
The Broncos desperately missed her experience in both attack and defence, particularly in Sunday’s 22-20- loss to Newcastle.
With four rounds to play the Broncos are sitting sixth on the ladder and have made a few key changes for their clash with the Raiders, which could decide their finals fate.
Robinson’s return has forced Ashleigh Werner out of the team, while Brianna Clark will start at prop with Breanna Eales dropping out of the squad.
Elsewhere, Hannah Southwell has been named to return from a knee injury for Newcastle after missing last week’s win over the Broncos.
For the Roosters, Grace Hamilton has been named on the extended bench against the Wests Tigers on Saturday as she nurses a suspected shoulder injury.
The Tigers, now on a three-game losing streak, have named young gun Losana Lutu at halfback as she returns from a knee injury.
She takes the place of Emily Curtain, who has been left out of the side to face the Roosters in what shapes as a crucial game for their season.
NRLW ROUND 6 TEAMS
EELS v COWBOYS
Saturday, 11.05am, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Eels: 1. Abbi Church 2. Zali Fay 3. Kimberley Hunt 4. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 5. Monique Donovan 6. Pihuka Berryman-Duff 7. Rachael Pearson 8. Talesha O‘Neill 9. Rueben Cherrington 10. Tyla Amiatu 11. Amelia Mafi 12. Mahalia Murphy 13. Jade Fonua 14. Capri Paekau 15. Noaria Kapua 16. Shannon Muru 17. Nakia Davis-Welsh 18. Kyra Simon 19. Ruby-Jean Kennard 20. Madeline Jones 21. Lindsay Tui 22. Rosemarie Beckett
Cowboys: 1. Fran Goldthorp, 2. Vitalina Naikore, 3. Jasmine Peters, 4. Shellie Long, 5. Krystal Blackwell, 6. Tahlulah Tillett, 7. Kirra Dibb, 8. Tallisha Harden, 9. Emma Manzelmann, 10. Makenzie Weale, 11. Bree Chester, 12. Libby Surha, 13. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, 14. Jetaya Faifua, 15. Jessikah Reeves, 16. China Polata, 17. April Ngatupuna, 18. Sareka Mooka, 19. Mia Middleton, 20. Sera Koroi, 21. Merewalesi Rokouono, 22. Essay Banu
Team news: The Cowboys have made mass changes after their 40-12 loss to Cronulla. A new wing pairing has been named in Krystal Blackwell and Vitalina Naikore with Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly (knee) and China Polata (bench) out of the starting team. Shaniah Power is also out of the side with a foot injury, and Mia Middleton has been dropped back to the bench. The new centres are Shellie Long and Jasmine Peters. Libby Surha has been named to make her debut.
DRAGONS v TITANS
Saturday, 1.15pm, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Dragons: 1. Teagan Berry 2. Margot Vella 3. Keele Browne 4. Bobbi Law 5. Shenai Lendill 6. Tyla Nathan-Wong 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 9. Sophie Clancy 10. Tara McGrath-West 11. Ella Koster 12. Jamilee Bright 13. Alexis Tauaneai 14. Zali Hopkins 15. Kaarla Cowan 16. Sarah Riorden 17. Maddison Weatherall 18. Renee Targett 19. Cheynoah Amone 20. Taylor Mapusua 21. Macie Carlile 22. Roxy Murdoch
Titans: 1. Evania Pelite 2. Karina Brown 3. Jaime Chapman 4. Niall Williams-Guthrie 5. Destiny Mino-Sinapati 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Sienna Lofipo 8. Shannon Mato 9. Lauren Brown 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Zara Canfield 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Georgia Hale 14. Brittany Breayley-Nati 15. Stephanie Hancock 16. Hailee-Jay Maunsell 17. Laikha Clarke 18. Kaitlyn Phillips 19. Sophie Buller 20. Sienna Laing 21. Dannii Perese 22. Rilee Jorgensen
Team news: Bobbi Law has been named in the centres for the Dragons despite what was initially feared to be a season ending hamstring injury in round 5. For the Titans, Jamie Chapman will make her return from a head knock, while Emily Bass has not been named after suffering a shoulder injury in their loss to the Roosters.
ROOSTERS v TIGERS
Saturday, 3.10pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Roosters: 1. Corban Baxter 2. Brydie Parker 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Mia Wood 6. Tarryn Aiken 7. Jocelyn Kelleher 8. Millie Boyle 9. Keeley Davis 10. Mya Hill-Moana 11. Otesa Pule 12. Olivia Kernick 13. Keilee Joseph 14. Shawden Burton 15. Teuila Fotu-Moala 16. Pani Hopoate 17. Amelia Pasikala 18. Joeli Morris 19. Grace Hamilton 20. Lexi Kiriwi 21. Lily Rogan 22. Tyler Bentley
Tigers: 1. Botille Vette-Welsh 2. Jakiya Whitfeld 3. Rikeya Horne 4. Leianne Tufuga 5. Josephine Lenaz 6. Pauline Piliae 7. Losana Lutu 8. Sarah Togatuki 9. Ebony Prior 10. Christian Pio 11. Kezie Apps 12. Eliza Siilata 13. Najvada George 14. Sophie Curtain 15. Imogen Gobran 16. Jessica Kennedy 17. Tess Staines 18. Hope Tevaga 19. Rebecca Pollard 20. Taylor Osborne 21. Salma Nour 22. Bianca Bennetts
Team news: Grace Hamilton has been moved back to the extended bench for the Roosters after suffering what appeared to be a shoulder injury at the weekend. Mia Wood will make her NRLW debut on the wing in place of Jayme Fressard (head knock). For the Tigers, Losana Lutu has been named to start at halfback this week in place of Emily Curtain.
BRONCOS v RAIDERS
Sunday, 12.03pm, Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
Broncos: 1. Hayley Maddick 2. Julia Robinson 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Shenae Ciesiolka 5. Lauren Dam 6. Gayle Broughton 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Annetta Nuuausala 9. Destiny Brill 10. Brianna Clark 11. Tazmin Gray 12. Romy Teitzel 13. Mariah Denman 14. Lavinia Gould 15. Tafito Lafaele 16. Chelsea Lenarduzzi 17. Jasmine Fogavini 18. Jada Ferguson 19. Filomina Hanisi 20. Grace Griffin 21. Toni Hunt 22. Keisha-Leigh Coolwell
Raiders: 1. Apii Nicholls 2. Madison Bartlett 3. Cheyelle Robins-Reti 4. Alanna Dummett 5. Shakiah Tungai 6. Zahara Temara 7. Ash Quinlan 8. Grace Kemp 9. Chante Temara 10. Sophie Holyman 11. Elise Smith 12. Hollie Dodd 13. Simaima Taufa 14. Ua Ravu 15. Ahlivia Ingram 16. Kerehitina Matua 17. Tara Reinke 18. Petesa Lio 19. Ella Ryan 20. Monalisa Soliola 21. Jessica Gentle 22. Mackenzie Wiki
Team news: Julia Robinson makes her return to the field for the Broncos the first time since round 1. For the Raiders, Grace Kemp has been named to start at prop after coming off the bench last week.
KNIGHTS v SHARKS
Sunday, 1.45pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
More Coverage
Knights: 1. Tamika Upton 2. Sheridan Gallagher 3. Shanice Parker 4. Abigail Roache 5. Jasmine Strange 6. Georgia Roche 7. Jesse Southwell 8. Kayla Romaniuk 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Caitlan Johnston 11. Laishon Albert-Jones 12. Yasmin Clydsdale 13. Hannah Southwell 14. Nita Maynard 15. Felila Kia 16. Viena Tinao 17. Tayla Predebon 18. Tiana Davison 19. Jacinta Carter 20. Jayde Herdegen 21. Caitlin Moran 22. Tamerah Leati
Sharks: 1. Jada Taylor 2. Georgia Ravics 3. Tiana Penitani 4. Annessa Biddle 5. Andie Robinson 6. Emma Tonegato 7. Tayla Preston 8. Ellie Johnston 9. Quincy Dodd 10. Chloe Saunders 11. Talei Holmes 12. Vanessa Foliaki 13. Holli Wheeler 14. Sereana Naitokatoka 15. Harata Butler 16. Brooke Anderson 17. Tegan Dymock 18. Cassie Staples 19. Fatafehi Hanisi 20. Maddie Studdon 21. Jazmon Tupou Witchman 22. Kiana Takairangi
Team news: Hannah Southwell has been named to start at lock after missing last weekend with a knee injury. The Sharks are unchanged after their thrashing of North Queensland.
Originally published as NRLW 2023: Raecene McGregor calls for calm with Dragons’ season on the line
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