NRLW Tackle: Judiciary, Olympic gold medallist Portia Woodman-Wickliffe rumoured to be NRLW bound
Another big name Broncos star is set to spend time on the sidelines after being hit with a suspension for a shoulder charge. Plus, the gold medallist rumoured to be NRLW bound and much more in THE TACKLE.
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Brisbane have been hit with yet another big name suspension with prop Brianna Clark facing a three-match ban for a shoulder charge on Sydney Roosters star Jess Sergis.
Clarke was penalised and placed on report late in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Roosters at Allianz Stadium, and has been charged with a grade one shoulder charge.
An early guilty plea will cost her two weeks on the sidelines, but if the Broncos opt to fight the charge at the judiciary this week and lose, the 29-year-old could be wiped out until round six.
It comes as the Broncos deal with an onslaught of injuries to start the season, while prop Annetta Nu’uausala still has three weeks left to serve on her suspension for striking and a hip drop tackle from round one.
The Broncos are winless from the first two games after their 28-12 loss to the Roosters but are expected to have Rugby 7s Olympian Stacey Waaka available to face the Titans on Sunday, as well as injured Origin star Shenae Ciesiolka.
Pamela Whaley reveals her likes and dislikes from round 2 of the NRLW season.
LIKES
ANOTHER CONVERT
There are growing whispers Olympic gold medallist Portia Woodman-Wickliffe will land in the NRLW next season.
One of the most decorated players in world rugby, the New Zealand Rugby 7s champion announced her retirement from the sport after winning gold in Paris.
But she’s hinted at taking her career in a new direction, which could well be the NRLW.
Her 7s teammate Tyla King will rejoin the Dragons next week and could be the ideal destination for her, but she will have no shortage of options.
Fellow teammates Tenika Willison and Stacey Waaka will arrive at the Knights and the Broncos respectively this week.
RETURN OF A CHAMP
Roosters fullback Sam Bremner made her return to the NRLW on Sunday for the first time since 2022.
She announced her retirement after leading the Jillaroos to victory at the Rugby League World Cup, then had her third child before deciding she could still make a go of it in the NRLW.
Fitness is never going to be her issue, she’s an absolute beast.
And she will warm into the season after a solid first game back against the Broncos.
She didn’t get enough time with her hands on the ball but made some brilliant try-saving efforts in defence for the win.
“It’s like she played last week,” said Roosters coach John Strange of her return.
“I was really confident bringing her in that she’d be able to get back to where she was when she played with us in 2022, she’s kept herself really fit and caught some great kicks in goal as well, she diffused a lot.
“That was probably a big moment in the match in the second half when Julia Robinson made a break and Sammy pulled her down from behind.
“That’s Sammy, she’s really competitive, I thought she was really good and she’ll get better the more she trains with the girls.”
CHAPMAN ON THE UP
The NRLW has a mega superstar in the making and her name is Jaime Chapman.
If you’ve been keeping up with the women’s game for a while now, you’ll know she’s not exactly an overnight revelation, but as more audiences tune in the Titans star is front and centre of the highlight reels just at the right time.
On Saturday against the Tigers she racked up her fourth career hat-trick for a 28-12 win in front of a packed home crowd, where she has become a cult hero.
She’s becoming a household name, her long stride, power and raw competitiveness capturing the imagination of old and new fans.
This is her fifth season in the NRLW but could be her best if her form so far is anything to go by.
It follows her hat-trick in the NRLW grand final against the Knights last year, as well as two sensational tries for NSW in the most recent State of Origin series.
If this is the kind of athlete she is now, wait until the NRLW goes professional in just a few years time.
At just 22 years of age there’s a long career ahead of her.
Some of the bigger stars in the game at the moment, Tamika Upton, Jess Sergis and Isabelle Kelly, are into their mid to late 20s, and if the game is professional by 2028 as expected, they may be able to enjoy it for just a few years longer depending on how their bodies are holding up.
Chapman and a rising group of stars are the future and we’ll only see the best of them once they’re paid to train and play year round.
Which is a scary thought.
LIFE UP NORTH
Defence was non-existent but there’s signs of life up north.
The Cowboys struggled to score points against Cronulla in round one but they piled on 38 against the Dragons on Sunday night.
And their rising guns are to thank.
Teenage forward Lily Peacock was destructive in the middle, backing up from a big game last week, while Emma Manzelmann was key to the roll on.
Peacock made her NRLW debut last year and she’s been earmarked for the top grade for the past few years now.
She co-captained the under-19s Origin side earlier this season before being picked on the extended bench for the Maroons women in the Townsville decider.
Manzelmann played all three games in the Origin series and is quickly becoming an influential leader at the Cowboys.
Both need to be involved as much as possible from now on.
DISLIKES
SCRAP THE WARNINGS
Warnings are a non event.
The women’s game needs to be tidied up and a slap on the wrist and a stern talking to just won’t do.
Knights halfback Jesse Southwell was hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge for kicking out at Raiders captain Simaima Taufa on Saturday, clocking her right in the face with the bottom of her boot.
It’s not on, and that’s a lesson you should only need to learn once. However, Southwell will pay no penalty and spend no time on the sidelines.
I know these are semi-professional athletes and fines and suspensions come at a greater cost to them and their teams, but there has got to be a better way to stamp out bad behaviour.
Penalties and suspensions are supposed to hurt.
NOT AGAIN
The sight of Jada Taylor being carried off the turf at Allianz Stadium with a potentially serious knee injury breaks your heart.
The 20-year-old Sharks fullback, who turns 21 next week, has been through the ringer when it comes to injuries over the years.
She’s had three shoulder reconstructions, including one in the off-season last year after a dislocation as well as surgery on one of two ankle injuries from the 2023 alone.
She’s spoken in the past about feeling as though her career is a slow burn with just nine NRLW games over the past three seasons and wanting to repay the Sharks for the faith they’ve showed in her so far.
It was telling on Sunday when Sharks coach Tony Herman spoke of her latest injury, which happened in an 18-16 win over the Eels at Allianz Stadium.
Taylor’s knee was twisted awkwardly in a tackle as her boot gripped the earth and her body went the other way.
“She’s not great. She’ll be going for scans as soon as we can possibly get her in, but it doesn’t look great.
“She’s been having an awesome year and she’s trained really hard in the pre-season and was really pumped for a great year, so it’s not easy for her. It’s really disappointing for her.
“But she’s got some really good people around her, T (Tiana Penitani) and all the girls are in and around her and talking to her, so she’s in a good place that way with a support network, but she’s a bit upset.”
BRONCOS IN STRIFE
Misery is compounding for the Broncos.
Their men’s team has had one win since Magic Round and their women’s team hasn’t gotten out of the blocks yet with back-to-back losses to the Eels and Roosters.
Similarly, they went through a period of early greatness when they first entered the NRLW, but haven’t been able to get back to the top since 2020.
Their 28-12 loss to the Roosters on Sunday was particularly cruel with former Broncos star Tarryn Aiken scoring a double.
It would be harsh to name and shame so early in the season, but a couple of stars are letting the side down with lazy plays, and they need to turn it around quickly or get left behind.
They face the high-flying Titans next week followed by the Raiders, who are no easy beats this year.
Originally published as NRLW Tackle: Judiciary, Olympic gold medallist Portia Woodman-Wickliffe rumoured to be NRLW bound
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