Returning five-eighth Gayle Broughton helped spark the Broncos attack to life last week, particularly through strike left centre Mele Hufanga. It was always going to be an area of strength for Brisbane this season but we didn’t see them effectively work towards positive actions down that edge across the opening fortnight.
Even with some big names missing from their forward rotation last week though, Brisbane generated enough ruck speed to win the middle and Broughton, Hufanga and & Co had enough time and space on the edges from there.
Brisbane profile well to do the same again this week against a Raiders outfit that is starting fast but struggling to execute their expansive attacking style under pressure and fatigue. They can find points early in this one but I can’t see Canberra going with Brisbane for 70 minutes.
North Queensland enjoyed a flash in the pan in NRLW Round 2 but their middling forward pack is getting found out late in both halves. Dynamic when fresh through the likes of Essay Banu, the Cowboys lack mobility and resilience through the middle of the field when the game settles into a grind. Dummy-half Emma Manzelmann is struggling to get many positive looks from behind a slow ruck and North Queensland’s attack is struggling as a result.
Gold Coast on the other hand play with more field position than any team in the NRLW. They were beaten physically by Brisbane last week but I’m expecting a big response from their star middle trio of Jessika Elliston, Shannon Mato and Georgia Hale here. Strike centre Jaime Chapman was kept quiet last week but can cash in against a leaky Cowboys right edge in this one; the spaces around Tallulah Tillett will be a target for the Titans attack.
St George-Illawarra were excellent last week to beat the defending champs at their own game. They completed high, defended well and executed enough of their positive looks in attack – albeit while still leaving a few points out there – to pressure Newcastle out of the contest.
Jamie Soward is coaching a very young side right now but the Dragons next-gen stars, particularly in the pack (Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa, Alexis Tauaneai, Charlotte Bashom) have been some of the best performing middles in the NRLW over the opening rounds.
They face another big challenge in NRLW Round 4 against a stacked Roosters pack but the Dragons have shown they are comfortable in the grind and willing to defend their errors this season.
Easts are deserving favourites here but I think St George can keep it close and trouble the scoreboard through Raecene McGregor, Teagan Berry and Bobbi Law down their right edge.
On paper this profiles as the Game of the Round.
Newcastle will be desperate for a response after dropping their first game since July last year while the Sharks continue to find new gears to their attack, particularly through young five-eighth Georgia Hannaway.
The current sample size is small but Hannaway is doing all the right things as a three-game NRLW half. She’s willing to challenge the line and take a hit before passing and is making smart decisions in attack down the Sharks left edge. Some clean early ball to Tiana Penitani sparked Cronulla’s comeback last week before Hannaway snuck down a narrow blind side to put Nakia Davis-Welsh over late in the contest. With Emma Tonegato a chance to return at fullback this week, I’m keen to see what the trio of Hannaway, Tonegato and Taylor Preston can do in attack.
Newcastle will miss the output of star pop Caitlan Johnston-Green again this week and it may take them a while to adjust to her absence. Given the repeatable looks we’ve seen already from Cronulla this year, there’s value in the Sharks line and on their left edge.
Wests are far better than their 0-and-3 record suggests but the reality of a nine-week regular season leaves the Tigers desperate for a result in NRLW Round 4. They have improved significantly in each loss but their poor yardage game is stifling the opportunities of Losana Lutu and Bo Vette-Welsh in attack.
Parramatta on the other hand have found what works for them in season 2024.
Kennedy Cherrington and Elsie Albert headline a forward pack that currently ranks second in the NRLW for total run metres while Abbi Church leads a backline that works hard out of yardage and doesn’t make many errors. Rachael Pearson is pulling the strings from halfback while Cassey Tohi-Hiku is growing in confidence as a running five-eighth down the Eels left edge.
This is a danger game for Parramatta given the context of the Tigers season but I’m happy to look for some try scorer value down the Eels left edge.
Written by Oscar Pannifex | rugbyleaguewriters.com