Oscar Pannifex breaks down Round 7 of the NRLW, offering his usual expertise, analysis, and betting plays on the neds blog!
NRLW Round 6 v Cronulla felt like a danger game for the Titans and it certainly started that way; first points went to the Sharks but this resilient Gold Coast side simply doesn’t know when it is beat.
They play with more patience than any rivals in the NRLW right now; Georgia Hale controls the ruck, Lauren Brown kicks smartly and Teagan Levi takes her running chances when the cues appear.
There’s a lovely balance to how this Titans attack uses the ball and they should get a chance to work through the gears here. Jaime Chapman was mainly the distributor last week ( but can add to her try tally again in this one.
Prediction: Gold Coast Titans 13+ @ $1.24
Anytime Tryscorer: Jaime Chapman @ $1.58
This typically gritty, low-scoring Bulldogs attack worked through the gears last week to highlight their improvements with the ball in NRLW season 2026.
Ashleigh Quinlan was at her ballplaying best to feed Elizabeth McGregor a few on the left while Simina Lokotui continued her try scoring form on the right. It all came on the back of a dominant yardage game though; Canterbury enjoyed wonderful productivity from their bench last week and it profiles as a point-of-difference in the back end of the season.
We keep waiting for the Eels to produce what we know they’re capable of, but the pressure is now rising in Parramatta.
If they can tidy up their discipline and play the long game here, they might just have enough experience to get past this Bulldogs side. It’ll take the most complete performance we’ve seen from Parra so far this year, though.
Prediction: Parramatta Eels to Cover the Line (+7.5) @ $1.90
Tryscorer: Abbi Church @ $3.80
Contrary to popular opinion, NRLW season 2026 is far from a two-horse race right now – particularly after Brisbane’s shock loss to Canberra last week and an injury to star centre Julia Robinson.
The Broncos attack struggled last week without Ali Brigginshaw (suspended) and the pressure is on Jesse Southwell and Tamika Upton to respond here against a Roosters side coming off a nine-try display courtesy of star halfback Tarryn Aiken.
Aiken has had an injury disrupted campaign so far but made a compelling return (again) last week, orchestrating five tries in Easts rout of Parramatta.
Playing behind the best forward rotation in the NRLW, Aiken should again earn enough looks at a disrupted line here to turn field position into points.
Prediction: Roosters 13+ @ $3.00
Anytime Tryscorer: Isabelle Kelly @ $2.70 , Sariah Paki @ $3.25
Big changes before kickoff last week inspired another compelling performance from a Knights side that refuses to beat itself this season. They went toe-to-toe early with a more-fancied New Zealand pack and backline and threatened to spring an ambush thanks to the involvements of Kirra Dibb at halfback before falling away late.
The Knights should make this one another contest but it’s difficult to deny what Canberra produced last week, upsetting the defending champs with their best attacking display of the season.
Isabella Waterman proved a handful at left centre close to the line while Krystel Blackwell is slowly carving out a role for herself at five-eighth to nicely complement Zahara Temara in attack.
I like the Raiders to kick on here.
Prediction: Canberra Raiders to Win @ $1.90
Anytime Tryscorer: Isabella Waterman @ $3.80, Jordyn Preston @ $4.25
The Warriors are getting some troops back and it’s translating onto the scoreboard; another 22 points last week against Newcastle with their right edge in particular trending nicely. Stacey Waaka appears to have found a home at right centre and Tysha Ikenasio profiles as the major beneficiary on the wing outside her, while Apii Nicholls is quietly enjoying a career year for the Wahs at fullback.
Regular readers will know I have a soft spot for Wests but bias aside, I like them to make this a contest.
Both forwards packs have performed well in the grind this year and while the Wahs have more upside in their attack, it’s the Tigers playing with more repeatable actions through Raecene McGregor right now.
This should be a cracker.
Anytime Tryscorer: Tyesha Ikenasio @ $1.78
Cronulla lost their halfback before kickoff but it didn’t dull their attack early as Georgia Hannaway relished the extra ballplaying responsibility. Clean execution down both edges saw the Sharks run out to an early lead but they faded late in each half against an experienced and patient Gold Coast side.
It was the exact opposite for North Queensland; down by 18 at one stage before almost stealing it against the Bulldogs. Those fast finishes are becoming a bit of a theme for this Cowboys side and it profiles nicely given the Sharks own track record.
There’s too much class and power in this Sharks side for North Queensland to contain if they’re forced into a grind, but it’ll take a more disciplined performance than we’ve come to expect from Cronulla this year.
Cows to keep it close.
Prediction: North Queensland Cowboys to Cover the Line (+5.5 Points) @ $1.90
Anytime Tryscorer: Abigail Roche @ $3.10
