Roosters roll as Sharks, Knights enjoy first NRLW wins
Margie McDonald |
The Sydney Roosters had to subdue a determined St George Illawarra Dragons outfit to keep their NRLW season blemish-free, while Cronulla and Newcastle enjoyed healthy wins to open their 2025 campaigns.
The Roosters prevailed 24-10 at Jubilee Stadium in Sydney for back-to-back wins to start their year, while the Sharks overwhelmed the Raiders 56-6 in Canberra.
In Townsville, the Cowboys came crashing back to earth as the Knights scored a 26-6 win after leading 14-0 at the break.
The lead changed three times in the top-four clash between the Dragons and Roosters until Hannah Southwell was sin-binned in the 55th minute for a late tackle on Sydney half Jocelyn Kelleher to open the floodgates.
Olivia Kernick and Keeley Davis ran in quick tries to take the spoils.
But coach John Strange wasn’t pleased with 15 errors, compared with nine by the Dragons, and a poor completion rate of just 64 per cent.
“I was disappointed in how we played, but the good thing is it’s only round two and there’s so much improvement in this team, and that gets me excited,” he said.
Much was made before the game of the clash in the centres between rookie Indie Bostock and Jillaroo Isabelle Kelly, with the pair giving as good they got, although Kelly scored the Roosters’ opening try.
“Obviously Izzy is a really good player, but Bossie did a great job on her, and who knows, with a few more years’ experience she (might) be the next Isabelle Kelly,” Dragons captain Raecene McGregor said.
A four-try haul by Emma Verran was the backbone of the Sharks’ 10-try victory at GIO Stadium.
Verran went try-less in 2024, with her last four-pointer back in September 2023. But her acceleration through gaps and her support play brought rewards on Saturday and meant she is just the fourth player – and the first from Cronulla – to score four tries in an NRLW game.
The milestones didn’t stop there. Prop Stephanie Falkner, who came on to the bench for Filomina Hanisi after an ACL injury last round, is a Sharks junior and scored a double on her first-grade debut.
Back-rower Rhiannon Byers also claimed a double, while five-eighth Georgia Hannaway landed eight conversions.
“We came here wanting to show what Sharks footy looks like and I thought the girls did really well – they were relentless,” coach Tony Herman said.
The Raiders had not started an NRLW season with two losses until now. Their only points on Saturday were to ever-reliable winger Madison Bartlett – the 28th of her career.
After a 20-6 win over the Titans last round, it took the Cowboys 68 minutes to post their first points through utility Alisha Foord. But there was no denying the Knights’ resolve to bounce back after a 26-12 loss to new NRLW team, the Bulldogs.
It was also a welcome return for the Knights’ Jillaroos hooker Olivia Higgins, who missed round one through suspension, but scored her side’s fourth and final try on Saturday.
AAP
