NRLW teams round eight: Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly cleared of ankle injury
The Roosters have received a massive boost ahead of their round eight meeting with the Eels with one of their stars cleared of injury concerns and declared fit for the clash. See the full NRLW teams analysis.
Sydney Roosters have breathed a sigh of relief with skipper Isabelle Kelly cleared of an ankle injury in time to face Parramatta in Sunday’s NRLW blockbuster.
The NSW and Australia star sent a scare through the competition as she clutched at her ankle after clocking up an enormous 308 running metres in a 24-12 win over North Queensland on Sunday.
However, scans have confirmed she is fit to play.
It comes as a huge boost for the Roosters who have been hit hard with injuries this season, with representative stars Corban Baxter (knee), Jess Sergis (knee) and Tarryn Aiken (shoulder) all sidelined for the premiership push.
The inclusion of Kelly comes as the Roosters gun for the NRLW minor premiership in a do-or-die clash for the Eels with finals to start next week.
Sitting fifth on the ladder, Parramatta are in a must-win scenario to sneak into the top four while depending on the Cowboys to beat the Knights on Saturday.
The Roosters will also be without prop Eliza Lopamaua (suspension) and must make the grand final for her to play again this season.
Meanwhile, the Broncos have copped a blow of their own on the eve of the finals with try-scoring winger Stacey Waaka ruled out with a leg fracture she suffered against Cronulla on Saturday.
Laren Dam has been named in her place on the wing.
On the Gold Coast, foundation player Karina Brown has been named to return from a calf injury on the wing for her final NRLW game in Sunday’s clash with the Raiders.
Brown has been named in the No.1 jersey to commemorate her standing as the first Titans player in a game that marks the end of a 14-year career in women’s rugby league.
Danni Perese has been named in place of Ngatokotoru Arakua, who has copped a two match ban for a hip drop tackle, while Taliah Fuimaono has been named at five-eighth in their last game of the year.
Star centre Jaime Chapman succumbed to a hamstring injury she’s been battling all year against the Knights last week and will be given until game day to prove her fitness.
ROUND NINE TEAMS
Sharks vs. Tigers
7:45pm Thursday, PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Sharks
1. Emma Tonegato 2. Cassie Staples 3. Tiana Penitani 4. Annessa Biddle 5. Georgia Ravics 6. Georgia Hannaway 7. Tayla Preston 8. Ellie Johnston 9. Quincy Dodd 10. Holli Wheeler 11. Talei Holmes 12. Rhiannon Byers 13. Brooke Anderson
Interchange: 14. Filomina Hanisi 15. Manilita Takapautolo 16. Vanessa Foliaki 17. Tegan Dymock
Reserves: 19. Nakia Davis-Welsh 20. Chloe Saunders 21. Dominique Du Toit 22. Sharni Smale 23. Leki Leilua
Tigers
1. Botille Vette-Welsh 2. Rebecca Pollard 3. Leianne Tufuga 4. Rikeya Horne 5. Claudia Nielsen 6. Evie McGrath 7. Losana Lutu 8. Sarah Togatuki 9. Ebony Prior 10. Christian Pio 11. Brooke Talataina 12. Montana Clifford 13. Najvada George
Interchange: 14. Chelsea Savill 15. Natasha Penitani 16. Tara Reinke 17. Pauline Piliae
Reserves: 18. Claudia Brown 19. Tess Staines 20. Jessica Kennedy 21. Emily Curtain 22. Iemaima Etuale
Dragons vs. Broncos
1:30pm Saturday, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Dragons
1. Teagan Berry 2. Kimberley Hunt 3. Keele Browne 4. Bobbi Law 5. Alice Gregory 6. Tyla King 7. Raecene Mcgregor 8. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 9. Sophie Clancy 10. Alexis Tauaneai 11. Shenai Lendill 12. Ella Koster 13. Kasey Reh
Interchange: 14. Zali Hopkins 15. Jamilee Bright 16. Madison Mulhall 17. Charlotte Basham
Reserves: 18. Steph Hancock 19. Jordyn Preston 20. Kaarla Cowan 21. Bronte Wilson 22. Maatuleio Fotu-moala
Broncos
1. Hayley Maddick 2. Julia Robinson 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Shenae Ciesiolka 5. Lauren Dam 6. Gayle Broughton 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Brianna Clark 9. Jada Ferguson 10. Annetta Nuuausala 11. Mariah Denman 12. Romy Teitzel 13. Keilee Joseph
Interchange: 14. Destiny Brill 15. Chelsea Lenarduzzi 16. Lavinia Gould 17. Tafito Lafaele
Reserves: 18. Skyla Adams 19. Tazmin Rapana 20. Jasmine Fogavini 21. Ashleigh Werner 22. Hannah Larsson
Cowboys vs. Knights
3:15pm Saturday, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Cowboys:
1. Francesca Goldthorp 2. Krystal Blackwell 3. Jakiya Whitfeld 4. Jasmine Peters 5. Lavinia Tauhalaliku 6. Tahlulah Tillett 7. Kirra Dibb 8. Tallisha Harden 9. Emma Manzelmann 10. Essay Banu 11. Shaniah Power 12. Shellie Long 13. Bree Chester
Interchange: 14. Jetaya Faifua 15. Lily Peacock 16. Sareka Mooka 22. Libby Surha
Reserves: 18. Jazmon Tupou-witchman 21. Ebony Raftstrand-Smith 24. Vitalina Naikore
Knights
1. Tamika Upton 2. Sheridan Gallagher 3. Shanice Parker 4. Abigail Roache 5. Tenika Willison 6. Georgia Roche 7. Jesse Southwell 8. Rima Butler 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Simone Karpani 11. Laishon Albert-Jones 12. Yasmin Clydsdale 13. Hannah Southwell
Interchange: 14. Evie Jones 15. Kayla Romaniuk 16. Tayla Predebon 17. Viena Tinao
Reserves: 18. Lilly-Ann White 19. Evah McEwen 20. Jules Kirkpatrick 21. Jacinta Carter 22. Grace Kukutai
Raiders vs. Titans
1:30pm Sunday, CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Raiders
1. Apii Nicholls 2. Madison Bartlett 3. Cheyelle Robins-Reti 4. Mackenzie Wiki 5. Shakiah Tungai 6. Zahara Temara 7. Ash Quinlan 8. Grace Kemp 9. Chante Temara 10. Sophie Holyman 11. Monalisa Soliola 12. Hollie Dodd 13. Simaima Taufa
Interchange: 14. Emma Barnes 15. Jaida Faleono 16. Amelia Pasikala 17. Felice Quinlan
Reserves: 18. Relna Wuruki-hosea 19. Tatiana Finau 20. Georgia Willey 21. Alanna Dummett 22. Tommaya Kelly-Sines
Titans
21. Evania Pelite 2. Georgia Grey 3. Jaime Chapman 4. Sarina Masaga 1. Karina Brown 6. Taliah Fuimaono 7. Lailani Montgomery 8. Shannon Mato 9. Brittany Breayley-Nati 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Zara Canfield 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Georgia Hale
Interchange: 14. Lily-Rose Kolc 15. Laikha Clarke 16. Sienna Lofipo 17. Dannii Perese
Reserves: 18. Estanoa Faitala 19. Hailee-Jay Maunsell 20. Georgia Sim 22. Rilee Jorgensen 23. Emily Bass
Eels vs. Roosters
3:15pm Sunday, CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Eels
1. Abbi Church 2. Zali Fay 3. Rory Owen 4. Rosie Kelly 5. Monique Donovan 6. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 7. Rachael Pearson 8. Elsie Albert 9. Taneka Todhunter 10. Madeline Jones 11. Chloe Jackson 12. Mahalia Murphy 13. Breanna Eales
Interchange: 14. Rosemarie Beckett 15. Tyla Amiatu 16. Jade Fonua 17. Lindsay Tui
Reserves: 18. Mia Middleton 19. Pihuka Berryman-Duff 20. Ruby-Jean Kennard 21. Kate Fallon 23. Tafao Asaua
Roosters
1. Sam Bremner 2. Jayme Fressard 3. Jasmine Strange 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Mia Wood 6. Brydie Parker 7. Jocelyn Kelleher 8. Millie Elliott 9. Keeley Davis 10. Otesa Pule 11. Amber Hall 12. Olivia Kernick 13. Tiana Davison
Interchange: 14. Tavarna Papalii 15. Pani Hopoate 16. Taina Naividi 17. Mya Hill-Moana
Reserves: 18. Samantha Economos 19. Tarryn Aiken 20. Kayla Jackson 21. Shannon Rose
Originally published as NRLW teams round eight: Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly cleared of ankle injury