Fast Starting Roosters Dominate Eels in Season Opener

Forward duo Kalosipani Hopoate and Otesa Pule made their highly-anticipated NRLW debuts from the interchange bench just months after claiming the 2022 Tarsha Gale Cup, which was also coincidentally played at Commbank Stadium. 

Isabelle Kelly also had a day to remember in her first outing as Captain, setting up the opening try before powering through for her first career double in a scintillating first fifteen minutes.

Easts stepped out onto an overcast Commbank Stadium and began their campaign with a trick shot as Power regathered a short kick-off from Zahara Temara, while fullback Bremner announced her return to the NRLW with a scything run. 

After an early arm-wrestle, the Tricolours took advantage to open the scoring for season 2022 through winger Jayme Fressard thanks to a well-timed offload from Kelly. 

On the very next set, the newly-appointed Captain found herself on the scoresheet after powering over from 30 metres out, giving her side a handy eight-point lead after just twelve minutes.

Continuing their momentum, the Red, White and Blue charged downfield, and after Parramatta were penalised for holding on too long in the tackle, it was Kelly charging over on the right side for her second just three minutes later.

An error just over halfway halted the side's momentum as tempers began to flare up, and it was Parramatta taking advantage from dummy half - bringing the scores to 12-6 with fifteen remaining in the first half. 

Ill-discipline continued to put pressure on the side, and a cruel bounce of the ball saw the Eels hit back in quick succession after a ricocheting kick landed perfectly in the hands of Simaima Taufa, with the scores now level.

Needing to regain the ascendency, the Roosters brought on Pani Hopoate from the interchange in her first NRLW appearance, and the Tongan representative attracted a penalty from a quick play the ball to get her side back into an attacking position.

A strong charge from Hopoate saw the Tricolours just ten metres out, before the boot of Raecene McGregor resulted in a line drop out, and while a dropped ball threatened to thwart their raid, a clever Captain's Challenge reversed the call. 

From there, the Roosters took a six-point lead with just two minutes remaining in the half as Jess Sergis powered over, holding out a late charge from the home side in the final seconds to take an 18-12 advantage at the break. 

A line drop out put the Bondi Wall under pressure to start the second stanza, and the lead was brought to two points as Parramatta broke through to score five minutes on resumption.

Threatening to break through, the Tricolours chipped away through the middle of the park through Fressard, Power and Leianne Tufuga, and a half break from Temara saw the side just 20 metres from the line.

From there, Olivia Kernick strode through a yawning gap to score her first try of the season thanks to a well-timed pass from Raecene McGregor, and the Red, White and Blue found themselves with a handy eight-point lead.

Going back-to-back for the second time, a threatening fifth-tackle kick from McGregor fooled the defence, and Keilee Joseph took advantage by pouncing on the loose ball - only for the Bunker to deny the lock forward. 

Not to be deterred, Sarah Togatuki was held up after a monstering charge, and it was the left-hand side's chance to shine as Shaniah Power charged off a pass from Temara, bringing the lead to fourteen with 20 minutes to go. 

With the wind behind their backs, Easts continued to grow through the match, with Bremner breaking through for a 40-metre run up the middle before debutant Otesa Pule charged to fall just inches from the line.

The custodian's magic touch nearly saw Leianne Tufuga touch down in the corner, only for an offside interference to deny the young winger, but that mattered little as the crafty no.1 set up Fressard for her second on the ensuing scrum.

There was justice for Tufuga not long after as the winger slammed the ball down in the corner after another work of brilliance from Bremner as the Tricolours' lead grew to 22 with just under ten minutes remaining.

Parramatta looked to have breached the line out wide, but it was the diminutive fullback whose mighty effort on the line denied the home side as the Roosters ran in a 38-16 victory. 

The Sydney Roosters will travel north to face the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday afternoon in a mouth-watering replay of the 2021 semi-final.

Sydney Roosters 38 (Jayme Fressard 2, Isabelle Kelly 2, Jess Sergis, Olivia Kernick, Shaniah Power, Leianne Tufuga tries; Zahara Temara 3 goals) def Parramatta Eels 16 (Seli Mailangi, Simaima Taufa, Vanessa Foliaki tries; Brooke Walker 2 goals)