NRLW Team of the Week: Round 2

A number of big name stars stood out, while some lesser known players also had an impact on their team's results. 

Here is the NRLW team of the week:

1. Tamika Upton (Broncos)

While it was hard to choose the best fullback in the opening round, Upton was a stand out at WIN Stadium as she produced a try assist, two line-break assists while making two line-breaks and 10 tackle breaks in her 13 runs with the ball, which yielded 123 metres.

2. Katelyn Vaha'akolo (Knights)

The Kiwi Ferns speedster followed up her impressive NRLW debut against the Eels with another solid performance in which she made 108 metres from 11 runs with the ball against the three-times champions.

3. Amy Turner (Broncos)

Turner proved that she can still match it with younger opponents as the 2016 Olympic gold medallist ran 134 metres in 10 carries of the ball, laid on a try for debutant Hagiga Mosby and made five tackle breaks.

4. Shenae Ciesiolka (Broncos)

Ciesiolka started and finished arguably the try of the match against the Knights when she broke through the Knights defence, found Upton in support and then backed up to receive the final pass.

5. Madison Bartlett (Dragons)

After scoring a try in St George Illawarra's opening round defeat of the Titans, Bartlett made 98 metres from 10 runs with the ball, including 51 metres from kick returns to help the Dragons dominate the field position stakes against the Eels.

6. Tarryn Aiken (Broncos)

One of three players in the NRLW team of the week for consecutive rounds, Aiken yielded 134 metres from 16 runs with the ball as she helped steer the Broncos to a 28-10 defeat of the Knights.

7. Rachael Pearson (Dragons)

The rookie playmaker showed her game management skills to steer the Dragons to a second win with a 10-0 shutout of Parramatta. Scoring the only try of the game in the first half, Pearson stepped up to land two second half penalty goals and kept the Eels pinned down their own end with her kicking game as the match developed into a slog fest due to the torrential rain at WIN Stadium.

8. Millie Boyle (Broncos)

The representative prop confirmed her status as one of the best players in the game by carrying the ball for 193 metres in 18 runs during a 46-minute performance in which she also scored a try. Boyle joined team-mate Aiken and Dragons halfback Rachael Pearson as one of three players in the NRLW team of the week for consecutive rounds.

9. Brittany Breayley-Nati (Titans)

The former Jillaroos hooker demonstrated why Titans coach Jamie Feeney chose her as captain, despite sitting out the last NRLW season in 2020 by steering the club to an historic 26-16 win against the Roosters. Breayley-Nati scored two tries, had a hand in another and topped the tackle count with 33 tackles in a 49-minute performance. 

10. Elsie Albert (Dragons)

The PNG Orchids prop was almost unstoppable at times as she made 159 metres from 15 runs with the ball that regularly left defenders in her wake as the Dragons hung on to down the Eels 10-0 in torrential rain at WIN Stadium.

11. Tazmin Gray (Titans)

The Queensland forward scored a try and made 121 metres in 15 runs with the ball to help the Titans to an historic first NRLW win against Sydney Roosters.

12. Shaylee Bent (Dragons)

Bent was a workhorse in the rain at WIN Stadium as the Dragons downed the Eels 10-0, with the NSW Origin forward carrying the ball for 128 metres in 15 runs and making 28 tackles.

13. Destiny Brill (Titans)

The one-two punch of Brill and Brittany Breayley-Nati is proving effective for the Titans, with the youngster alternating between lock and hooker in a solid 63 minute performance in which she made 118 metres from 15 runs, as well as 25 tackles.