I’ve underestimated Cronulla at every step this year but it’s time we give them their flowers.
After five rounds played, the Sharks yardage game ranks third (just 58m off the top-ranked Roosters) while they lead the league for kick return and post-contact metres.
Cronulla have no difficulty working upfield this season and complement their strong yardage game with an NRLW-high 390 total kick metres per game on average.
Throw in a defensive system that misses fewer tackles than any other side in the competition and the Sharks are thoroughly deserving of their current position on the NRLW ladder.
Up against a Gold Coast outfit that has also built an identity around winning the ruck and defending well, this matchup is a wonderful test of Cronulla’s premiership qualities in 2024.
If both packs play to their potential, the Titans and Sharks will both enjoy their fair share of the ball.
In a low scoring grind though, it’s the Gold Coast who have more repeatable attacking actions in their toolkit through Lauren Brown, Evania Pelite and Jaime Chapman on the left edge.
I won’t be surprised if Cronulla hold them out but if it comes down to a play or two, there’s value in the Titans to steal it.
Parramatta Head Coach Steve Georgallis has this Eels roster playing a highly disciplined and repeatable brand of football.
With the lowest error and penalty counts in the NRLW, Parramatta are a side that don’t beat themselves.
Their conservative approach with the ball translates into a middling attack and they don’t quite have the ceiling to go with the top teams in a shoot-out; last week’s 16-36 loss to Newcastle is evidence of this.
When the game is in the grind though, few teams have looked as comfortable as the Eels have in season 2024.
St George profile similarly in the sense that their attack is still developing around halfback Raecene McGregor and fullback Teagan Berry.
They’re capable of piling on points when it all comes together, but consistency is the challenge when playing behind the youngest forward pack in the NRLW.
I love what’s building down in St George but I’m happy to be with Parramatta here.
The defending champs snapped a two-game losing streak in emphatic fashion last week, running in seven tries without star halfback Jesse Southwell.
Veteran hooker Olivia Higgins orchestrated things from behind the ruck while five-eighth Georgia Roche and fullback Tamika Upton pulled the triggers on the edges in Newcastle’s best attacking display of the season.
A season ending injury to Caitlan Johnston-Green has weakened the Knights through the middle but the productivity of their outside backs (combined 604 run metres in NRLW Round 5) can ensure Newcastle remain competitive in yardage.
Wests on the other hand are without a win heading into NRLW Round 6 and are yet to find a winning formula in attack.
I still have big wraps on young halfback Losana Lutu but she isn’t getting enough positive looks in a side that spends more time defending (47% possession) than any other team in the competition.
This only reads as a Newcastle win.
It hasn’t been smooth sailing for the Broncos but they continue to find different ways to win.
After holding off a Raiders comeback in NRLW Round 4, last week Brisbane were forced to respond themselves after Wests ran out to an early 12-point lead.
The experience of Ali Brigginshaw and the productivity of her forward pack kept Brisbane in the game last week against the Tigers.
No less than five Broncos forwards clocked 100+ running metres to consistently put Brigginshaw into positive involvements late in the set, while a lethal left edge featuring Gayle Broughton, Tazmin Rapana, Mele Hufanga and Julia Robinson continues to generate highlight reel actions.
North Queensland have impressed to quickly improve their defence and adopt a gritty, physical brand of football.
That being said, I’m not sure they’ve got the big bodies to match Brisbane through the middle here and if the Broncos get a roll on, the points could pile up late.
The Sydney Roosters are stacked with top-tier athletic talent which sees them rank above average in most key stat areas.
With some of the most damaging outside backs in the women’s game and an established forward rotation, Easts always fare well in the physical contest to earn their share of possession and field position.
A lack of footy IQ is crippling their efficiency in good-ball, though.
Tarryn Aiken is a walking highlight reel but she’s struggling to construct repeatable actions as an organising halfback.
The Roosters attack has looked clunky and frustrated at times as a result while their opponents this week – the Canberra Raiders – currently play with the second-best offence in the NRLW.
Positional changes both pre- and mid-game in NRLW Round 5 hurt Canberra who leaked a troubling 10 line breaks to the Cowboys middling attack last week.
The Raiders generated enough looks to mount a comeback but lacked the polish and cohesion with halfback Ash Quinlan sidelined through illness.
At full strength though, the Raiders have the pack to match Easts early through the middle before their spine shifts the ball smartly to the edges.
With their season on the line, I’m backing Canberra to keep this close.
Written by Oscar Pannifex | rugbyleaguewriters.com