NRLW Round 1 2024 scores: Bulldogs, Broncos brawl mars match, Sharks shut-out Cowboys
Broncos forward Annetta-Claudia Nu’uasala is facing a big stint on the sidelines for throwing a punch in her side’s opening round loss on Saturday. Round One Wrap.
Broncos forward Annetta-Claudia Nu’uasala is facing six weeks on the sideline for punching Eels lock Kennedy Cherrington as well as a hip drop tackle on her sister Rueben in a fiery NRLW clash on Saturday.
In a big statement, the NRL has hit Nu’uausala with two charges from the ugly incident, which blew up at the end of the Broncos’ shock 22-10 NRLW loss to Parramatta.
If she pleads guilty, Nu’uausala will miss four games and almost half of the season for the Broncos, with two weeks for a striking charge and two weeks for dangerous contact for the hip drop.
Cherrington was also hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge for igniting the brawl but can escape suspension if she opts for a $400 fine instead.
The same goes for Tazmin Rapana who was charged with contrary conduct for pulling Cherrington’s hair in the melee.
Meanwhile, Broncos forward Lavina Gould will also miss a week for a grade one dangerous contact charge for a tackle on Eels fullback Abbi Church.
GOLDEN BOOT
The Eels were the biggest disappointment in 2023 as they finished with the wooden spoon, but they look like a completely different team under new coach Steve Georgallis who had them firing against one of the competition heavyweights.
Rachael Pearson’s boot was the difference on Saturday, with the win seeing Parramatta match their entire win total from last season.
Pearson steered the team brilliantly, with the NSW halfback nailing a 40/30 and then putting in a perfect grubber for Kennedy Cherrington to make it 20-10 just when the hosts looked like they were storming home.
There were plenty of positives for Parramatta on Saturday afternoon, with the blue and golds getting in the Olympic spirit with a starting block celebration and then a volleyball re-enactment to raise money for Try July.
Match Highlights ð¥ - #NRLWBroncosEels
— NRLW (@NRLWomens) July 27, 2024
The Parramatta Eels have turned around their wooden spoon form from the 2023 season to post an upset 22-10 win against the Broncos to launch their new season. pic.twitter.com/ZlgT7fwUbY
KENNEDY CONFUSION
It’s probably a good thing that the Eels held on because it looked like they were denied a legitimate try midway through the first half that the referee refused to send upstairs.
Eels star Kennedy Cherrington burrowed over from close range and looked to have got the ball to the line, but the referee said play on instead of asking to have it reviewed.
“I thought the ball was over (the line) but the ref said otherwise. I think we scored the next set so it’s all good,” Cherrington said as she left the field at half-time.
BRONCOS BUCKED
The afternoon started perfectly with Julia Robinson reeling in a kick and sprinting 97 metres before she celebrated like Usain Bolt, but poor discipline cost the Broncos dearly.
They finished the game with just 37 per cent possession and 36 per cent of the territory on the back of a lopsided penalty count and 11 handling errors.
SHARKS SHUT OUT COWBOYS
A first-half double to Cassie Staples has powered the Sharks to a thumping 14-0 win over the Cowboys who could be in for another tough season after they failed to fire in attack despite dominating possession and territory.
The Sharks were tipped in the pre-season to be the big improvers after they missed the finals in their first year, and they showed they will be a force in 2024 with their left edge causing all sorts of problems for the Cowboys defence.
Emma Tonegato set up Tiana Penitani for the opener before the skipper turned provider for
Staples who scored two tries in three minutes from simple scrum plays close to the line.
The Sharks have strike all over the park, make easy metres through Ellie Johnston and they also have a weapon in defence with Brooke Anderson cutting the Cowboys in half and forcing an error which led to Staples’ try.
They also know how to celebrate with Penitani resuscitating Staples after her first try to put another $5000 in the Try July kitty.
BAD SIGNS
The Cowboys won just two games in their inaugural season and the early signs suggest they could be in for another long year after they failed to capitalise on a stack of first-half territory when they were camped on Cronulla’s line.
North Queensland rarely threatened, with key signing Jakiya Whitfeld having to wait 22 minutes for her first carry after she was one of the league’s best metre eaters at the Tigers last year.
Things won’t get easier next week with Queensland rookie Makenzie Weale set to enter concussion protocols after her head slammed into the turf inside the opening five minutes.
ROOSTERS HEARTBREAK AS KNIGHTS CLAIM NRLW SEASON OPENER
- Jack Blyth
The Newcastle Knights have kicked off their premiership defence in style after weathering a hungry Roosters outfit in the NRLW season opener.
The Knights, who won the last two premierships in the women’s competition, survived a heavy onslaught from the Chooks to make a statement as they aim for their third straight Grand Final victory, claiming a 12-10 victory at home.
Despite being named at fullback, Origin star Isabelle Kelly made a late switch into the halves for the first time in her career, a potentially permanent move with former star Sam Bremner announcing her return from retirement earlier in the week.
“A lot of fun being a bit involved, especially when you’ve got Taz (Tarryn Aiken) as a seven.
“She’s just a natural leader, being a ballplayer. Probably a little bit clunky on my end, but like Strangey said, we had a such a good connection with Corbs (Corbin Baxter) throughout the pre-season, so it was a little hard adjusting to that” Kelly said post-match.
The tricolours, who start the season as premiership favourites, dominated the opening 20 minutes of the clash, however came up empty-handed despite 15 tackles inside the Knights’ 20m.
“That’s one of the toughest 20 minutes I’ve played,” skipper Hannah Southwell said post-game.
The back-to-back premiers continually invited the Roosters into the game, Sheridan Gallagher dropping the ball cold 30 metres out from her own line, yet it would be the home side that opened the scoring minutes later.
Despite the Bunker denying Shanice Parker the season opener after her foot grazed the touchline, only for crafty hooker Olivia Higgins to dart over for the first try two plays later.
It was a fitting four-pointer for the No. 9, who scored her maiden NRLW try in the Roosters’ only premiership win back in early 2022, and now crosses the stripe as New South Wales’ starting hooker.
“Yeah I guess you saw tonight she (Olivia Higgins) did really, really well, and that’s why she got picked in the Origin side.
“I feel like it’s a few years too late, but full credit to her, she worked really hard in the off-season, and she’s come back as well fitter, faster, stronger,” Southwell said after the match.
The most pivotal moment of the half came with a tumultuous two-minutes for superstar Jess Sergis, who bombed a try on the right-edge after dropping a pass from Kelly for a certain try.
It was only moments later and 100 metres down the field when the centre was caught defending infield, creating a gap for Dally M medallist Tamika Upton to send Sergis’ opposite number in Abigail Roache over for Newcastle’s second.
Another Knights’ error, this time through debutant Isabella Waterman, opened the door for the Roosters to set up camp on Newcastle’s line again, firstly being denied their opened through Taina Naividi before former Knight Jasmine Strange bombed a try of her own.
The winger-turned-centre was completely unmarked after a short pass from Kelly, only to back herself and get cut down by Parker millimetres from the tryline, despite a wide open Naividi on her outside as the siren rang.
Similar to the opening stanza, the second-half had an emphasis on defence.
Gallagher was in everything after an uncharacteristic start to the game, earning reprieve through a number of runs out trouble, including an amazing effort to escape the in-goal after a perfect grubber from Tarryn Aiken.
However, as most season openers do, the rust showed as a stretch of errors crept into the game, inviting each side to attack, although neither side would crack until the final ten minutes on the back of some absolute razzle dazzle.
An Aiken chip from her side of halfway found Sergis’ chest, finding her halfback in support before an offload to Jocelyn Kelleher sent the supersub over for the tricolour’s first try of the game.
A Jesse Southwell penalty goal with three minutes to go seemed to seal the win for the Novocastrians, only for a final minute try to Sergis to leave the 3,921 Knights’ fans with their heart in their mouth.
A shift right found the hands of Aiken who dabbled a grubber along the turf into Sergis’ lap, only for Kelleher to miss the conversion, and send the two-time premiers home victors in the season opener.
SOUTHWELL SISTERS SET THE STANDARD
The 1990s were about the Johns brothers in the Hunter, the 2020s are set to be defined by the Southwells.
While Upton is considered the game’s best individual star, Jesse has been a crowd favourite since her 2022 debut, losing just two games across her first two seasons in the competition, while skipper Hannah has been integral since her return from an ACL tear last season.
While Jesse brought up her 100th NRLW point, it was the pair’s defence that stood tall, the young half cutting former teammate Millie Elliott down one-on-one in the first-half before Hannah stopped a certain try to Sergis midway through the second.
“Last year she probably missed a few key tackles but this year she’s come back fitter, faster and stronger.
“Definitely really proud of the effort she put in there and I think she definitely saved us a couple of times,” Hannah said of her sister’s defensive game post-match.
AIKEN SHAPING UP FOR KEY SEASON
When you have surnames like Sergis, Kelly, Davis, Elliott and Kernick in your line-up, it’s easy to forget about the rest of the stars, however halfback Tarryn Aiken showed she’ll be as dominant as anyone in this season.
Just weeks after scoring a try at McDonald Jones in a Maroons’ jersey, Aiken set up both Roosters’ four-pointers and looked dangerous in attack for the entire contest.
With the former Jillaroo at the helm and Bremner set to come into the fold, this side will go far in 2024, and head coach John Strange sees the same in his star half.
“She’s a great player, world class player, one of the best halves if not the best half in the women’s game.
“For me, when she came to this team she was a genuine six, a great ballrunner. we’ve worked all pre-season about her being a halfback. Someone like her, you just want her on the ball a lot. She did a great job there, and setting up those tries there at the end, she’s someone you want to have the ball in their hand in crucial moments.
MCDONALD JONES STADIUM THE NRLW’S NEWEST FORTRESS
Tonight’s victory didn’t just mark Newcastle’s premiership defence, it marked McDonald Jones as a fortress to the rest of the competition.
It’s been 28 months since the Knights last lost at their home venue, losing two games in their maiden season before going unbeaten at the venue ever since.
Despite having just three more games at home this season, it’s hard to see them getting the wool pulled over them in the Hunter yet again this season.
New coach Ben Jeffries emphasised how important defending the kingdom was, and praised his side’s defence.
“Massive (focus on defence).
“Obviously it’s 50% of the game, we’ve talked about cleaning up our ruck and things like that. We’ll have to do some more work, but overall, to come out of that game like that, I could see other teams capitulating with the amount of ball the Roosters had tonight.”