Roosters finally produce NRLW goods

Margie McDonald | March 12, 2022

Jess Sergis has sealed the Sydney Roosters’ first victory of the NRLW season with a try in the corner as they returned to the SCG in style, 28-12 over Newcastle.

Sergis had earlier sent a scare through the Roosters camp when she twisted awkwardly in a tackle from Ngatokotoru Arakua late in the first half.

She needed her right ankle strapped but stayed on the field.

Sergis appeared to hobble around at times in the second half but played out the game in a testament to her courage.

Referee Kara-Lee Nolan placed the Knights forward on report because her shoulder had made contact with Sergis’ head.

Then minutes later Arakua was placed on report for a second time — for lifting Keilee Joseph — and sent to the sin bin.

It meant the Knights started the second half with 12 players, which in turn led to two quick tries by the hosts.

Captain and fullback Corban Baxter returned to the side after two weeks out with COVID-19, and praised Sergis for her high pain tolerance.

“She’s a super woman. She’s playing with a limp and can still come up with some magic. She’s a very courageous player,” Baxter said.

Coach John Strange turned the spotlight on his Jillaroos player nominating her presence as the difference from the past two losses to Brisbane and Gold Coast.

“Obviously having Corbs back was really good…. as a player she’s a great fullback,” Strange said.

“That also pushed Brydie (Parker) out to the wing and as we saw, as a winger, I don’t think there’s a better one in the game… “Then it’s pushed Yasmin Meakes from wing to back row and I thought she was outstanding on our left edge, and that also pushed Sarah Togatuki into the middle where she’s strongest.

“So it was a real knock-on effect having Corbs back and it just balanced out our side.”

Strange said Sergis rolled her ankle aggravating an old injury.

“We gave her the option to come off midway through the second half but she didn’t want to,” he said.

“She was brilliant.”

Going into the match, winless Newcastle rebooted their halves pairing with Charntay Poko and Kirra Dibb returning.

The Roosters had the bulk of the possession early so no surprises they were the first to post points after just seven minutes when Parker crossed, before Isabelle Kelly extended the margin with her own four-pointer soon after.

The Knights scored when fullback Romy Teitzel poked her nose through in the 24th minute, dragging three defenders with her, to go to the break 10-6 down.

In the second half with Arakua still in the bin, Parker got her double before second-rower Olivia Kernick got a favourable bounce from a charge-down to score the Roosters’ fourth try.

Newcastle’s Kiwi prop Annetta Nu’uausala barged over with 19 minutes left on the clock to reduce the margin but two Knights errors close to their line ended their hopes.

Joseph scored under the posts and Sergis out wide to seal the Roosters’ win.

In other injury news, the Roosters’ Origin forward Sarah Togatuki didn’t return to the field after failing her HIA.