The NRLW is again for 2024 and after Spherical 1 the Newcastle Knights, Cronulla Sharks, Parramatta Eels, Gold Coast Titans and Canberra Raiders all posted wins, with the Raiders sitting on high of the ladder.
Listed below are your speaking factors for Spherical 1.
What’s the plan for scheduling?
I really like that the lads’s and ladies’s Grand Finals are held on the identical day, however for the time being that appears to be the one profit of getting each competitions run concurrently. I can’t fairly work out what the NRL’s plan is for scheduling. Or if they’ve one.
There are 10 groups within the NRLW, subsequent yr there are going to be 12 and the plan is to proceed to develop. As there are extra groups, there might be extra video games and the fact is that they might want to begin clashing with NRL video games.
Even when there’s a miraculous technique to keep away from the clashes, it would imply that the NRLW is performed at off instances.
We noticed it this weekend with the primary Saturday sport being performed at 11am; a foul time for folks to go to the sport and a foul time for folks watching at dwelling.
If the competitions are to run concurrently, very quickly we’re going to be able the place we’re forcing folks to decide about whether or not they watch the lads’s or ladies’s comps and that does nothing apart from cannibalise the NRL viewers.
A change must be made to the schedule, notably for visibility.
Knights impress in win over the Roosters
The sport between two of the competitors heavyweights was a thriller. After a Jess Sergis strive within the final minute, the Roosters have been unable to transform and push the sport into golden level.
What impressed me probably the most about this win was the Knights defence, notably on their very own line. Jess Southwell specifically was dedicated in defence and confirmed me that she positively has some extent to show after lacking out on Origin choice this yr.
There have been additionally a few hits from Caitlan Johnston-Inexperienced and Laishon Albert-Jones that I felt at dwelling sitting on the sofa.
Tamika Upton runs with the ball. (Picture by Scott Gardiner/Getty Pictures)
Don’t underestimate Eels … or Raiders
There’s no technique to sugarcoat it, the Eels have been disappointing in season 2023. However I noticed lots of people writing off the Eels due to that once they solely had three of their greatest gamers in Elsie Albert, Rachael Pearson and Kennedy Cherrington play collectively for about 40 minutes.
With these gamers match, the Eels have been at all times going to raised this yr and with out getting too far forward, their 22-10 win in opposition to the Brisbane Broncos was an effective way to begin.
Albert, Pearson and Cherrington have been all spectacular as was Tohi-Hiku who performed her first NRLW sport within the halves.
Rory Owens scored a strive on debut, Taneka Todhunter supplied loads of spark out of dummy half and rugby union convert, Rosie Kelly confirmed loads of promise on debut.
It was a fantastic begin for the Eels and new coach Steve Georgallis.
Wests Tigers
v
North Queensland Cowboys
NRL : Head To Head
Thu, 1 Aug 2024, 19:50
New Zealand Warriors
v
Parramatta Eels
NRL : Head To Head
Fri, 2 Aug 2024, 18:00
Dolphins
v
Sydney Roosters
NRL : Head To Head
Fri, 2 Aug 2024, 20:00
Gold Coast Titans
v
Brisbane Broncos
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 3 Aug 2024, 15:00
Melbourne Storm
v
St. George Illawarra Dragons
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 3 Aug 2024, 17:30
Cronulla Sharks
v
South Sydney Rabbitohs
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 3 Aug 2024, 19:35
Penrith Panthers
v
Newcastle Knights
NRL : Head To Head
Solar, 4 Aug 2024, 14:00
Canterbury Bulldogs
v
Canberra Raiders
NRL : Head To Head
Solar, 4 Aug 2024, 16:05
* Odds Appropriate At Time Of Posting. Examine PlayUp Web site For Newest Odds
What are you ready to lose at the moment?
Free of charge and confidential assist name 1800 858 858 or go to gamblinghelponline.org.au
For the Broncos, their ill-discipline was expensive, conceding seven penalties within the first half. However the two tries they scored confirmed large talent; first Julia Robinson with a fantastic decide as much as run the size of the sector, adopted by a fantastic barge-over by Chelsea Lenarduzzi who was too exhausting to cease near the road.
The Raiders have been additionally extraordinarily spectacular in opposition to a Wests Tigers staff that struggled to finish units. Zahara Temara managed the sport superbly together with her boot and Madison Bartlett bagged a double.
Carry on Spherical 2
There are some nice match-ups in Spherical 2.
With an enormous win over the Tigers, the match of the spherical is between the Raiders and Knights. Canberra have been thrilling in assault final weekend so I can’t wait to see them come up in opposition to the Knights’ defence, which seemed prefer it was cast within the metal mills of Newcastle.
The Roosters tackle the Broncos at 1.45pm on Sunday. The fact is that one in all these groups might be winless heading into Spherical 3 of the competitors and each might be desperate to bounce again after losses in Spherical 1.
Fast hits:
• With a conversion on Thursday evening, Jess Southwell amassed 100 factors in her NRLW profession. Zahara Temara additionally reached a milestone of 150 NRLW factors.
• The Knights have now gained 10 NRLW video games in a row and Tamika Upton has by no means misplaced a sport at McDonald Jones Stadium (whether or not taking part in for the Broncos, the Knights or Queensland).
• Due to the Robinson strive, the Broncos grew to become the primary NRLW staff to attain 150 tries.
