March 2, 2022
The NRLW is underway, and over 20 of our Kiwi Ferns are taking the field for their respective clubs throughout the season. Each week we will be highlighting a few of our Kiwi Fern standouts and how they performed over each round.
Dragons
The Dragons opened their 2022 NRLW season with a tough victory over the Titans, 20 – 12.
Madison Bartlett is one of the few Kiwi Ferns playing for the Dragons this season and produced another consistent outing. Always dangerous in and around the ball, Bartlett added a four-point for St George in the 26th minute after a superb line break.
Titans
A gallant Titans go down fighting in a historic NRLW opener, losing 20-12 against the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Shannon Mato, the powerful prop, polled the most fantasy points ending the game with 45 points. Mato was efficient, showing her prowess in only 43 minutes on the field, making 24 tackles at an 89 per cent clip while being rewarded with a try late in the game.
Kiwi Fern veteran Georgia Hale was given a late chance to start the match and repaid the faith with her trademark effort on defence. Hale made 22 tackles at an incredible 96 per cent efficiency rate, another imposing performance by one of the world’s best.
Broncos
The Broncos were immediately in impressive form after a dominant 20 – 4 season-opening win against the Roosters.
Amber Hall was her dominant self with 107 metres, 24 tackles, four tackle busts and four offloads and continues to stamp herself as one of the best forwards in the game.
With a line break in the 24th min, Roxy Murdoch – on debut, managed to spin her way over the line, scoring her first try of the season.
Roosters
The Sydney Roosters have come away with a spirited performance against the Brisbane Broncos.
Leianne Tufuga, another Kiwi Fern on NRLW debut, ended the game without missing a single tackle in her 70 minutes on the field, showing why she is deserving of her NRLW start.
Knights
The Newcastle Knights side has suffered a heart-breaking 13 – 12 loss in their opening round clash against the Parramatta Eels.
Annetta Nu’uausala did not disappoint, coming up big for Newcastle in both attack and defence and showing why she is regarded highly in the NRLW.
Katelyn Vaha’akolo, on debut for the Knights, had an incredible try-saving moment in the 23rd minute of the game. Busting from her wing, across the field to chase down superstar Botille Vette-Welsh before the try line.
This Sunday’s triple-header will be played at Wollongong, WIN stadium.
Round 2 matchups:
Knights vs Broncos, 2:00 pm NZT
Roosters vs Titans, 3:50 pm NZT
Dragons vs Eels, 5:40 pm NZT
