St George Illawarra coach Jamie Soward anointed the Sydney Roosters as the best side in the NRLW ahead of their top-of-the-table grand final rematch with his Dragons side on Friday.
A 16-10 win over Parramatta at CommBank Stadium ensured Soward’s side head to Moore Park next week to open the new Sydney Football Stadium with a perfect start.
The Roosters, who defeated the Dragons in the grand final of the 2021 competition, are also off to a perfect start and will want to open life at the new ground with a bang.
A try-scoring double to Page McGregor and tries from Keele Browne and Teagan Berry helped the Red V to victory after Parramatta had taken a 10-8 lead in at half-time.
“Coming here today and winning is a bonus,” Soward said.
“I think the Roosters were outstanding yesterday (Saturday) and they are the clear favourites to win the competition.
“They are playing at their new $1billion stadium and we are battered and bruised on a shorter turnaround.
“We’ll patch our team together on Tuesday and get on the bus on Friday.”
Soward’s side had to overcome a mounting injury toll including a knee problem for Talei Holmes, while star prop Elsie Albert struggled for impact on her return from an ankle complaint.
At one point the Dragons had just 14 fit bodies with captain Kezie Apps and forward duo Teagan Dymock and McGregor all being sent for head injury assessments.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
McGregor and Browne got them off to a perfect start but their hard work was undone by the devastating combination between Eels centre Tiana Penitani and rugby union sevens convert Gayle Broughton.
The pair set each other up on their own tries in the first half but the Eels couldn’t push on after the break.
After McGregor and Berry added a second, Broughton went off for a head injury assessment late in the game but Eels coach Dean Widders was happy with how she was adapting to the NRLW.
“She’s really solid in the simple things as a fullback,” Widders said. “We see some amazing things from her at training.
“As she builds, I think you’ll see a player we probably haven’t seen in the women’s game. I hope we can keep improving and she will be a big part of that.”
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Knights edge out Titans in nail-biter
Newcastle are living up to their pre-season billing as the NRLW’s big improvers after edging out the Titans on the Gold Coast 16-12 to make it two from two to start the season.
Unheralded hooker hooker Emma Manzelmann was the catalyst for the win, coming off the bench to touch down and set up another try for fullback Tamika Upton.
After Zara Canfield scored their first try, Gold Coast got back into the contest when Steph Hancock continued her recent try spree to cut the deficit to four.
However, Canfield being sent to the sin bin late in the contest thwarted the home side’s hopes of a comeback win. Canfield could face a judiciary charge for the 68th-minute high shot on Upton,
“The pleasing thing is we’re improving,” said Titans coach Karyn Murphy.