The St George Illawarra Dragons have plenty to prove after an embarrassing opening round performance while the New Zealand Warriors are looking to remain undefeated following a strong start to the season. Join The Roar from 5:10pm (AEST) for live coverage of the match.
The St George Illawarra Dragons will want to put their first game behind them after being embarrassed by the Broncos in their 30-4 loss.
The Red V now find themselves on the bottom of the table and require a win to have a shot at appearing in the grand final.
Their defence will need to improve however, most of their problems were put down to their lack of pre-season preparation with round one being their first hit-out as a team.
Despite what the scoreline read, the Dragons were well and truly in the match and put up a good fight however, their lack of possession proved costly.
Samantha Bremner, Honey Hireme and Holli Wheeler were especially impressive but the question lies with their halves pairing of Melanie Howard and Raecene McGregor.
The Warriors were relentless winning their round one meeting with the Roosters 10-4 based solely on defence.
The New Zealand side were continually forcing errors and putting the tricolours under pressure giving them some good field position.
It was very much a game of attrition with Krystal Rota, Laura Mariu and Tanika-Jazz Noble contributing heavily in defence.
Lorina Papali’i and Luisa Gago paved the way forward for the Warriors’ forward pack and will be looking to deliver a similar display on Saturday.
Georgia Hale wasn’t given much opportunity to structure attacking raids but if they can gain good ground through the middle, the New Zealand international could thrive and display the other facet of the Warriors’ game.
Prediction
The Warriors will dominate through the middle and remain undefeated in a hard slog.
Warriors by 8.
Join The Roar from 5:10pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
That concludes The Roar’s coverage of St George Illawarra Dragons vs Warriors. The Dragons have defeated the Warriors by 12 points to blow the competition wide open in a bid to join the Brisbane Broncos in the inaugural NRL Women's Championship grand final. There is plenty more sporting action across The Roar this weekend with the NRL and AFL finals, The Rugby Championship, Premier League and Singapore GP. Stay tuned for the second NRL semifinal on The Roar between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons tonight from 7:40pm (AEST). Thanks for following along.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME The Dragons have kept their grand final hopes alive with a 12-point win over the Warriors. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 10
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
60' Brander tackled on halfway on the fourth, Howard kicks down the right touchline, Nicholls brings it back and the siren sounds. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 10
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
59' Southwell with a strong run, held at the 30 metre line as Clark scrambles desperately to take her out of the field of play. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 10
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
58' Laura Mariu showing and going up to halfway on the fourth. Nicholls to Papali'i, on to Leiataua and Veainu is taken in-touch by Sergis. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 10
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
58' Play resumes, Papali'i brings it back, cut down 25 metres out from her own line. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 10
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL! Nicholls line it up from 21 metres out, 10 metres in from the right touchline. It waves across the face to the left of the uprights St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 10
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
TRY! SARINA CLARK 56' Laura Mariu passes to Apii Nicholls who goes short to Sarina Clark, McGregor wraps her up. Insufficient evidence to overturn St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 10
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
DECISION PENDING... 56' Restart, Horne to Apps, knock-on. Smalley up to the 30 metre line on the zero tackle. Gago stopped ten metres out. Laura Mariu to Nicholls, passes to Clark and she scores in the corner. On-field decision is try, checking the grounding St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
55' Southwell with a strong scoot from acting half, dragged down five metres short of halfway. Penalty against Papali'i, crusher tackle St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
54' Warriors restart on halfway, good run by Smalley to the 40 metre line. Gago up the middle, tackled 25 metres out. Cut-out ball down the right edge to Clark, stopped 20 metres out. Gago cut down by Stephens 12 metres from the Dragons' line. Hale short ball to Nicholls on the fourth, five metres short. Hale cut-out to Veainu on the last, passes to Kani, knock-on. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
54' Penalty against Schwalger again, offside inside 10m. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
53' Horne busts the tackle, dragged down by Nicholls 45 metres out from the Warriors' line. Schwalger with a great run , short of the 20 metre line. McGregor chips through and Gago comes up with it on the fourth. Penalty against Schwalger, offside inside 10m. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
52' Lorina Papali'i with a great run to the Dragons' 40 metre line, Laura Mariu plays it out the back to Clark, stopped 20 metres out. Papali'i has the ball on the last, miscommunication, tackled, turnover. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
51' Stephens effective from the scrumbase, burrows her way up to the 20 metre line. Howard drives it down the ground, Nicholls brings it back and is met by Apps and Sergis 25 metres out from her own line. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
50' Tamarua with a strong run through the middle, seven metres short. Warriors spread it blind side, Clark knocks on. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
49' Wheeler knocks on, Warriors scrum-feed. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
48' Quinn brings it back from the kick-off, tackled 20 metres out. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL! Tungai drags it away to the right of the sticks, Dragons lead by 16 points. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
TRY! JESSICA SERGIS 46' Tamarua up the middle, tackled by Brander 30 metres out. Hale short ball to Papali'i, she isn't expecting it and Apps comes up with possession. Howard dummies and runs, tackled by Anderson-Pitman 20 metres out. Horne with a quick scoot out of dummy-half. McGregor dummies and concedes the tackle to avoid a shepherd. Haren goes within three metres of the Warriors' line. Howard cut-out pass to Sergis, shrugs off defenders to go over in the corner. St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Warriors 6