NRLW star suffers suspected broken jaw in big win
Margie McDonald |
The Roosters made it nine straight for the NRLW season but are in danger of losing captain Isabelle Kelly for the finals due to a suspected broken jaw.
The Roosters cruised to a 30-0 win over North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night.
The top-three clash promised so much and looked like delivering when the Cowboys only trailed 8-0 at the break.
But four second-half tries, including a double to centre Jess Sergis, extended the Roosters’ undefeated start to 2025.
They might have to march on without Dally M points leader and NSW Origin skipper Kelly for the final two rounds and finals if scans prove the initial diagnosis by Roosters medical staff.
Kelly was accidentally elbowed in the head by while attempting to stop Fran Goldthorp in a tackle.
In other results, Canberra – who are the Roosters’ next opponents – made it three straight wins by rolling the Wests Tigers in golden point 17-16, while St George Illawarra upset the in-form Warriors 26-18.
Zahara Temara celebrated her 50th NRLW match in the best possible way, kicking the winning field goal two minutes into extra time at Canberra’s GIO Stadium.
It was the Raiders’ first win at home since August 2023, snapping a 10-game losing streak.
The match was highlighted by the battle between the fullbacks, with Elise Simpson (Raiders) and Caitlin Turnbull (Wests Tigers) both scoring doubles and busting out of 21 tackles between them.
Both the Warriors and the Dragons still had a sniff at the top six as they ran out onto Jubilee Stadium, but it was the girls in the famous Red V jerseys who triumphed to end a five-game losing streak.
“It’s nice to be back in the winners’ circle … it was just our tenacity,” coach Nathan Cross said.
“We’re still miles from our best footy but we just found a way today. That’s what I’ve been looking for.
“That when they face adversity, they find a way – we haven’t been able to do that for a while.”
Both Cross and Warriors coach Ron Griffiths made extensive changes pre-game due to injuries and last-minute withdrawals, including Dragons halfback, skipper and goalkicker Raecene McGregor.
“Rae and her partner have a really successful business and have been very busy and we could see the love of the game had gone out of her the last couple of weeks so we had a good chat,” Cross said.
“We sat her out to try to get her back (to form). She was here today on the sidelines and all smiles so that’s a good sign.”
It was two tries apiece at halftime, with a Patricia Maliepo conversion the only difference in the Warriors’ 12-10 lead.
By fulltime the lead had changed five times, with a double to Dragons fullback Teagan Berry helping get the win.
Griffiths said although the door to making the finals might be only slightly ajar, his team wouldn’t be giving up.
They currently sit in seventh spot, two wins outside the top six with two rounds left.
“We’re realistic where we are, and what we need to work on, and what we’re trying to achieve here,” he said.
“But one thing they will do, even if it’s not going well for them, is stay at it for each other.”
AAP
