NRLW teams round eight: Roosters confirm Tarryn Aiken injury, Titans star Lauren Brown sidelined for rest of season

Canberra prop Sophie Holyman is in the midst of her best NRLW season to date and has the chance to ruin Parramatta’s finals dreams this week. See out exclusive video on the Raiders gun, plus the full teams analysis.

Canberra prop Sophie Holyman is in the midst of her best NRLW season to date and on Sunday has a chance to ruin Parramatta’s finals hopes at GIO Stadium.

The Queensland State of Origin forward has again been named to start against the Eels after three back-to-back 70-minute performances for the Raiders.

Her big motor is churning out 109 metres per game this year which has jumped more than 20 metres from her previous two NRLW seasons.

Holyman will give the Raiders an edge as they take on the red hot Eels who are pushing for a top four finish this season with two rounds to play.

Her partnership up front with NSW Origin prop Grace Kemp as well as the return of inspirational skipper Simaima Taufa will be vital for the Raiders against a hulking Eels pack led by PNG star Elsie Albert on Sunday.

Sophie Holyman is in a purple patch of form. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Sydney Roosters have confirmed an AC joint injury for star halfback Tarryn Aiken, who is now in doubt to finish the NRLW season.

Amid a growing injury toll across the game, Aiken has been sidelined for Sunday’s clash with the Cowboys in Gosford with the club hopeful she will only miss a few weeks.

But with just two rounds remaining until the semi-finals, Aiken will be fighting the clock to return to the field this season.

The Australia and Queensland star was injured in Sunday’s 40-0 win over Cronulla and joins teammates Jess Sergis and Corban Baxter on the sidelines for the club’s premiership push.

Tarryn Aiken has been ruled out for the Roosters. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

In the meantime, Brydie Parker has been named alongside Jocelyn Kelleher to face the Cowboys.

St George Illawarra centre Bobbi Law has been named to face Wests Tigers on Thursday night despite fears of broken ribs out of Saturday’s loss to Canberra.

Meanwhile, the Titans have been hit with mass injuries ahead of Saturday’s grand final rematch against Newcastle at Cbus Super Stadium.

Centre Niall Williams Guthrie has been ruled out with a lisfranc injury that will end her year, joining Matekino Gray (shoulder) and Lauren Brown (hand) on the sidelines.

Lauren Brown has played her last NRLW minutes for 2024. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Jaime Chapman has been named to return from a hamstring issue, while Taliah Fuimaono returns from suspension against the Knights.

Meanwhile, the Sharks have recalled Nakia Davis-Welsh to the wing in place of Dominique du Toit against an unchanged Brisbane side for Saturday’s blockbuster, which could decide the minor premiership.

The Sharks are reeling from a massive loss to the Roosters and are desperate to hold onto top spot with a fortnight left to play.

NRLW TEAMS ROUND EIGHT

WESTS TIGERS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Thursday 7:45pm, Leichhardt Oval, Sydney

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. Claudia Brown 13. Najvada George

Interchange: 14. Chelsea Savill 15. Tara Reinke 16. Natasha Penitani 17. Pauline Piliae

Reserves: 18. Jessica Kennedy 19. Tess Staines 20. Emily Curtain 21. Iemaima Etuale

DRAGONS

1. Teagan Berry 2. Maatuleio Fotu-moala 3. Keele Browne 4. Bobbi Law 5. Alice Gregory 6. Tyla King 7. Raecene Mcgregor 8. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 9. Kasey Reh 10. Jamilee Bright 11. Shenai Lendill 12. Ella Koster 13. Alexis Tauaneai

Interchange: 14. Zali Hopkins 15. Charlotte Basham 16. Madison Mulhall 17. Steph Hancock

Reserves: 18. Sophie Clancy 19. Jordyn Preston 20. Kimberley Hunt 21. Kaarla Cowan 22. Bronte Wilson

BRISBANE BRONCOS v CRONULLA SHARKS

Saturday 12pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

BRONCOS

1. Hayley Maddick 2. Julia Robinson 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Shenae Ciesiolka 5. Stacey Waaka 6. Gayle Broughton 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Brianna Clark 9. Jada Ferguson 10. Chelsea Lenarduzzi 11. Mariah Denman 12. Romy Teitzel 13. Keilee Joseph

Interchange: 14. Destiny Brill 15. Tafito Lafaele 16. Lavinia Gould 17. Annetta Nuuausala

Reserves: 18. Lauren Dam 19. Skyla Adams 20. Bree Spreadborough 21. Jasmine Fogavini 22. Ashleigh Werner

SHARKS

1. Cassie Staples 2. Nakia Davis-Welsh 3. Tiana Penitani 4. Annessa Biddle 5. Georgia Ravics 6. Emma Tonegato 7. Tayla Preston 8. Ellie Johnston 9. Quincy Dodd 10. Holli Wheeler 11. Talei Holmes 12. Rhiannon Byers 13. Brooke Anderson

Interchange: 14. Sharni Smale 15. Chloe Saunders 16. Vanessa Foliaki 17. Tegan Dymock

Reserves: 19. Manilita Takapautolo 20. Filomina Hanisi 21. Dominique Du Toit 22. Georgia Hannaway 23. Leki Leilua

GOLD COAST TITANS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Saturday 1:45pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

TITANS

1. Evania Pelite 2. Georgia Grey 3. Jaime Chapman 4. Taliah Fuimaono 5. Emily Bass 6. Sienna Lofipo 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. Sarina Masaga 17. Ngatokotoru Arakua

Reserves: 18. Georgia Sim 19. Dannii Perese 20. Hailee-Jay Maunsell 21. Malaela Sua 22. Estanoa Faitala

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. Nita Maynard 15. Kayla Romaniuk 16. Tayla Predebon 17. Viena Tinao

Reserves: 18. Evie Jones 19. Lilly-Ann White 20. Jules Kirkpatrick 21. Grace Kukutai 22. Jacinta Carter

SYDNEY ROOSTERS v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

Sunday, 12pm, Industree Group Stadium, Gosford

ROOSTERS

1. Sam Bremner 2. Jayme Fressard 3. Jasmine Strange 4. Isabelle Kelly 5. Mia Wood 6. Brydie Parker 7. Jocelyn Kelleher 8. Otesa Pule 9. Keeley Davis 10. Pani Hopoate 11. Amber Hall 12. Olivia Kernick 13. Tiana Davison

Interchange: 14. Tavarna Papalii 15. Taina Naividi 16. Millie Elliott 17. Eliza Lopamaua

Reserves: 18. Samantha Economos 19. Shannon Rose 20. Kayla Jackson 22. Mya Hill-Moana

COWBOYS

1. Francesca Goldthorp 2. Vitalina Naikore 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. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith 13. Bree Chester

Interchange: 14. Jetaya Faifua 15. Lily Peacock 16. Lillian Yarrow 23. Sareka Mooka

Reserves: 18. Krystal Blackwell 19. Jazmon Tupou-witchman 20. Shellie Long 21. Libby Surha 22. Ebony Raftstrand-Smith

CANBERRA RAIDERS v PARRAMATTA EELS

Sunday, 1:45pm, Gio Stadium, Canberra

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

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