NRLW action is back starting this Saturday as the Tricolours begin their quest at retaining the Premiership trophy against a hungry Parramatta side determined to start their campaign with a win.
Last Time Out: Sydney Roosters vs Parramatta Eels
Saturday afternoon marks the second time the two sides have done battle in the NRLW, with the Tricolours coming away with a thrilling 19-18 victory in their first meeting last season Round 4.
The match in Newcastle saw the Roosters overcome a late deficit to claim the two competition points following a barnstorming try to Sarah Togatuki which levelled the scores before Zahara Temara slotted the winning field goal.
That victory was pivotal for Easts, eventually propelling them to fourth position in place of the Eels, and we all know how the rest of the season went from there.
NRLW Round 4 Highlights: Roosters vs Eels
How They Line Up
John Strange's side will feature a number of Roosters debutants, as well as two members of the Club's Pathways System to make their first-grade debuts from the interchange bench.
Veteran fullback Sam Bremner will become Rooster #57 when she takes the field, joined by 2021 debutant Leianne Tufuga, superstar centre Jessica Sergis, newly named Captain Isabelle Kelly and fellow Roosters debutant Jayme Fressard in the backline.
Match: Eels v Roosters
Round 1 -
home Team
Eels
away Team
Roosters
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Eels is number 1 Gayle BroughtonFullback for Roosters is number 1 Samantha Bremner
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Winger for Eels is number 2 Tess StainesWinger for Roosters is number 2 Leianne Tufuga
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Centre for Eels is number 3 Tiana PenitaniCentre for Roosters is number 3 Jessica Sergis
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Centre for Eels is number 4 Abbi ChurchCentre for Roosters is number 4 Isabelle Kelly
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Winger for Eels is number 5 Rikeya HorneWinger for Roosters is number 5 Jayme Fressard
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Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Brooke-Morgan WalkerFive-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Zahara Temara
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Halfback for Eels is number 7 Losana LutuHalfback for Roosters is number 7 Raecene McGregor
Forwards
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Prop for Eels is number 8 Filomina HanisiProp for Roosters is number 8 Sarah Togatuki
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Hooker for Eels is number 9 Seli MailangiHooker for Roosters is number 9 Destiny Brill
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Prop for Eels is number 10 Ellie JohnstonProp for Roosters is number 10 Mya Hill-Moana
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2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Christian Pio2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Shaniah Power
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2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Vanessa Foliaki2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Olivia Kernick
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Lock for Eels is number 13 Simaima TaufaLock for Roosters is number 13 Keilee Joseph
Interchange
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Interchange for Eels is number 14 Kennedy CherringtonInterchange for Roosters is number 14 Jocelyn Kelleher
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Interchange for Eels is number 15 Brooke AndersonInterchange for Roosters is number 15 Shawden Burton
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Interchange for Eels is number 16 Najvada GeorgeInterchange for Roosters is number 16 Pani Hopoate
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Interchange for Eels is number 17 Rima ButlerInterchange for Roosters is number 17 Otesa Pule
Reserves
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Replacement for Eels is number 18 Ruby-Jean Kennard-EllisReplacement for Roosters is number 18 Joeli Morris
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall
Last updated:
Halves Zahara Temara and Raecene McGregor will reprise their Premiership-winning halves combination, while the front row features Karyn Murphy Medalist Sarah Togatuki, new signing Destiny Brill at hooker as well as New Zealand representative Mya Hill-Moana.
Queensland Origin representative and fellow newcomer Shaniah Power joins the Club's 2021 Rookie of the Year Olivia Kernick in the back row, with barnstorming forward Keilee Joseph making her starting debut at lock.
Fellow Premiership winner Jocelyn Kelleher and 2021 rookie Shawden Burton are joined by NRLW debutants Kalosipani Hopoate and Otesa Pule on the interchange bench - with the latter two progressing from claiming the 2022 Tarsha Gale Cup earlier this year.
Grand Final debutant Joeli Morris has been named as 18th player, joined by Sam Economos, Jada Taylor, Chante Temara and Jasmin Strange on the extended bench.
Parramatta have lured rugby sevens star Gayle Broughton into their squad, who lines up against Bremner in her NRLW debut. Another convert, AFLW star Brooke Walker lines up at five-eighth, with former Roosters Vanessa Foliaki and Simaima Taufa lining up in the forward pack.
Key Match Up: Isabelle Kelly vs Tiana Penitani
Two of the premier centres match up this week when Origin teammates Isabelle Kelly and Tiana Penitani face off on the edges.
Former teammates at the Dragons, Kelly and Penitani have been staples in the NRLW, with both adding plenty of strike to their respective teams as noted tryscorers.
Last season, Kelly was an imperative member of the Premiership-winning side, playing in all seven matches and scoring four tries, making nine linebreaks and averaging an impressive 157 running metres.
In her first year at Parramatta, Penitani was just as instrumental for the Eels; featuring in five matches, scoring twice, breaking the line on four occasions and averaging 126 metres with the ball in hand.
With added responsibility for Kelly as the side's 2022 Captain and Penitani shrugging much of the work with a fairly new-look side, look to these strike centres to make their mark throughout the 70 minutes.
Kelly Puts the Roosters in Front
What They Said
“Everyone is humble and willing to learn and be even better than what we were. I think we’re going to still be very strong contenders.” - Isabelle Kelly
Kelly Potent on the Left Edge
Final Verdict
It's been a three-month wait, but the NRLW is finally back - and the Roosters begin their title quest against a formidable opponent in Parramatta in their own backyard.
Keep an eye on new Roosters Sam Bremner, Jayme Fressard, Destiny Brill, Shaniah Power as well as debutants Kalosipani Hopoate and Otesa Pule as they look to etch their names in Red, White and Blue.
For those looking to attend the match, be sure to grab your tickets here, and support the women's game and our NRLW side with 2022 NRLW Membership!
