Opinion
With just two regular rounds of the National Women’s Rugby League Premiership remaining, I’m prepared to put a red line through the finals prospects of four teams; the Parramatta Eels, Wests Tigers, Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys.
With these four teams sitting on four points or less and the lowest ranked team in the top four sitting on eight points, these teams would have to win both their remaining games and hope that teams in the top four lose the remainder of theirs.
It’s unlikely to happen.
Out of all the new teams, the Canberra Raiders have performed the best. Currently the Raiders sit in fifth spot on equal points with the fourth-placed Broncos.
But it has come as no surprise to me that some of the new teams have struggled. No matter how strong the women’s pathway, there are always growing pains in the first couple of years. No matter how well prepared a club may think they are, there are always lessons learnt along the way. Each of these expansion teams will be better in their second year with the Newcastle Knights being the best example of how much can change in the space of a year.
Here’s your Round 8 preview.
Given how many key players the Dragons lost at the end of last year, it’s a credit to Jamie Soward and his squad that they are still in the hunt for finals footy.
There are 10 players in the Sharks team that have represented the Dragons before including Holli Wheeler, Andie Robinson and Emma Tonegato so I am expecting some feeling in this one.
Each week I seem to highlight a battle of the fullbacks and it demonstrates just how many good fullbacks are in the NRLW. This week is no different with two speedsters up against each other in Jada Taylor and Teagan Berry. Berry has been in exceptional form this year and I’m expecting her to score at least one try.
This is the first local derby between these two teams and I’m hoping for solid attendance and good television ratings given that it is the only NRL match on Thursday night.
The Dragons have a little bit more to play for and I’m expecting them to win this one. Dragons by 8
I’ve really enjoyed watching the Broncos this year and with their win over the Sharks last weekend, the Broncos find themselves in the top four for the first time this year.
With several new players including Mele Hufunga and Gayle Broughton, the Broncos have improved consistently each week and are now ready to charge into the finals.
Their opponents this weekend are a Tigers team who started the season with two wins, but have now had five straight losses. But I am expecting a much improved team this weekend. Last week, the Tigers really struggled to match the intensity of the Gold Coast Titans in the forwards, particularly Shannon Mato, but the return of Kezie Apps and Sarah Togatuki will go a long way to correcting that.
There’s some wonderful backline battles in this game including two of the most explosive backs in the game up Jakiya Whitfeld and Julia Robinson. Rikeya Horne, who also returns this weekend will have a tough match up against Hufunga. Broncos by 4
This is a big game, but strangely with not a lot on the line. Both the Roosters and the Knights sit on equal 12 points at the top of the ladder, with the winner to take an outright lead. But going into the finals with a top four system, sitting on top of the ladder is unlikely to give much advantage.
Regardless, this game will be a cracker in front of a bumper crowd.
No Jess Sergis for the Roosters is a big blow, but the Roosters are not without other explosive players in their backline.
This game will be won in the forwards and some of the best forwards in the game play for these two teams.
In particular, I’m looking forward to seeing Caitlan Johnston up against Mya Hill-Moana and Jillaroos Yasmin Clydesdale come up against Olivia Kernick. Knights by 2
This is an important game for Canberra who have just fallen outside the top eight.
It’s been a tough season for the Cowboys, particularly defensively, where they have conceded over 40 points on three occasions. It’s set to get tougher too with Mackenzie Weale due to miss the rest of the season after being banned for three games after a hip drop tackle.
For the Raiders, there are some exciting ins including Ahlivia Ingram and Emma Barnes. The role of the halves for Canberra will be crucial in this game, with Kirra Dibb, one of the best halves in the game in opposition. Raiders by 12
Kennedy Cherrington is back and it could not have come at a better time for the Parramatta Eels coming up against one of the strongest packs in the competition.
The Eels have had a disappointing season, but can still avoid the wooden spoon with a win in the final weeks of the season.
It’s a tough ask against a Titans team who are keen for their first finals birth since their first season.
I have a feeling this one might be close and given the form of Lauren Brown this year, the Titans always seem to have an edge when the game goes down to the wire. Titans by 1
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All the team list information for Round 9.
Agree with Andrew Johns?
