The 2024 NRLW season is here and Neds has you covered with the best content and analysis in the women’s game.
All the key plays and players are reviewed each week on the Neds NRL Unpopular Opinions Podcast while our tips and previews can be found here on the Neds Blog and in Open Groups (on the Neds app).
Here’s my Punters Preview for NRLW Round 2.
The Raiders started fast against the Wests Tigers last week, making the most of some early luck to cash in via their expansive attack.
Spine players Ash Quinlan, Zahara Temara and Apii Nicholls allowed Canberra to play coast-to-coast in good-ball, bringing both strike centres (Cheyelle Robins-Reti; 117m, Mackenzie Wiki; 157m, 1 try, 1 assist) into the game.
When Canberra get it right they will play with one of the best attacks in the NRLW but Newcastle won’t make it so easy for them in Round 2.
Where the Tigers handed Canberra gift attacking opportunities last week, the Knights will make them work for it.
Newcastle are a team who love the grind.
A productive back five in yardage and the astute kicking game of halfback Jesse Southwell allows Newcastle to absorb and apply pressure throughout a contest.
They are equally happy piling on the points as they are kicking and defending their way to fulltime, as I’m tipping them to do again in this one.
Wests couldn’t have played any worse in the opening 35 minutes last week but there were positive signs from Brett Kimmorley’s girls after the break. Some improved discipline and defensive intent saw the Tigers win the second half and generate a number of almost-moments in good-ball.
There’s still some kinks to iron out in their attack but I have a feeling NRLW Round 1 will end up an outlier in Wests 2024 campaign.
The Titans on the other hand were strong last week in all the areas we’ve come to expect.
Their stacked middle forward rotation consistently won the ruck in yardage while Lauren Brown produced some match defining fifth-tackle options with her boot.
The subtle variations down their left-edge through Brown is something to keep an eye on this week.
Jaime Chapman will always feature heavily in the Titans attack but as we saw in NRLW Round 1, she can influence the defence without even touching the ball.
That being said, I think we see Brown drop Chapman back against the grain with that signature unders play at some point in this one.
Parramatta impressed to play to their strengths against Brisbane in NRLW Round 1.
Kennedy Cherrington spearheads a dynamic forward pack from lock while Rachael Pearson kicks and passes her backline across the field from halfback.
They’ve already found a nice balance in attack between Pearson and Casey Tohi-Hiku – who is proving a revelation as a running five-eighth – while Abbi Church gets through a mountain of work at fullback.
The Eels have quickly figured out what works for them this year while the Sharks are lucky to have scraped home with a win last week.
They gifted North Queensland a stack of easy field position and while their defence stood the test, it’s all relative to what the Cowboys threw at them.
If Cronulla cough up cheap possession again this week I’m not confident they’ll hold out what is already a much-improved Eels attack.
Two of the biggest disappointments from NRLW Round 1 go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon.
Easts struggled for direction in attack last week but have stuck solid with Isabelle Kelly and Tarryn Aiken in the halves.
The inclusion of Sam Bremner at fullback gives them another genuine playmaker in the spine but Easts inability to work towards scoring actions last week was a concern.
They will always perform well in yardage but need to improve their efficiency in good-ball.
Keeley Davis is a likely creator out of dummy-half while backrower Olivia Kernick’s ballplaying is even more relevant given the running qualities of Aiken, Kelly and Bremner in the spine.
The Broncos on the other hand beat themselves in NRLW Round 1.
Their ill-discipline gifted Parramatta too many chances in attack while Brisbane bombed a few themselves.
Ali Brigginshaw can steer them to a narrow win here but I have to tip the Roosters given their advantage in the middle.
Brisbane are missing two starters from their pack this week while the Chooks middle is at full strength.
The North Queensland Cowboys were nothing short of horrible last week against Cronulla.
Awful defensively on the edges and unable to convert a stack of cheap field position, it’s back to the drawing board for new Head Coach Ricky Henry.
While much of their improvements will fall on Kirra Dibb, Tallulah Tillett and Fran Goldthorpe in the spine, the Cowboys need more from their forwards if they’re to generate positive looks in attack.
Essay Banu was a standout last week and earns a starting jersey for this one as a result.
The Dragons are also winless after NRLW Round 1 but their resilience under pressure impressed against the Titans last week.
Down on the scoreboard and up against the best defence in the competition, this young St George squad stayed patient, embraced the grind and nearly dragged themselves back into the contest.
The involvements of halfback Raecene McGregor and fullback Teagan Berry will be a key feature of the Dragons 2024 campaign and both were immense last week.
McGregor’s ability to engage the defence before passing Berry into space will feature in the highlight reels all year while right centre Bobbi Law is an ominous prospect in space on the edges.
From what we’ve seen, the Dragons attack should be far too good for North Queensland here.
Written by Oscar Pannifex | rugbyleaguewriters.com