NRLW Team of the Week: Round 2
Round Two of the NRL Telstra Women's Premiership saw a golden point victory, a couple of inaugural clubs causing big upsets and two sides remaining undefeated.
Wests Tigers and the Titans secured back-to-back wins to start the season while the Broncos and Eels remain winless ahead of Round 3.
NRLW Team of the Week: Round 2
1. Teagan Berry (Dragons)
Another bumper performance from the Dragons fullback, who scored two more tries for this season, ran for 209 metres and had nine tackle busts in her side's big win over the Eels.
2. Jakiya Whitfeld (Wests Tigers)
Ran for 292 metres, scored a crucial long-range try and produced 16 tackle busts - equalling the record set by Evania Pelite last week. The former rugby sevens product and Knights winger has found a home at the joint venture.
All the tries from the Raiders first NRLW win
3. Cheyelle Robins-Reti (Raiders)
The former Black Ferns rugby sevens player as emerged as a real dangerous player on the right edge for the Raiders with her 198 metres and five tackle busts setting up her game while she finished off an Apii Nicholls linebreak for her first NRLW try.
4. Jasmine Peters (Cowboys)
Helped shut down the Knights left edge while also producing a linebreak for a try, 129 metres and five tackle busts and a well-rounded game for the young Queenslander.
5. Annessa Biddle (Sharks)
A huge effort from the Sharks winger in a beaten side with 260 run metres, two linebreaks and six tackle busts. Went close to scoring a try late in the second half that could've got the side on the board.
Raecene McGregor dominates in return to WIN Stadium
6. Zahara Temara (Raiders)
A near-perfect kicking game from the Raiders recruit, who came back to haunt her old side and in doing so was the first to pass 100 NRLW points in the competition's history.
7. Raecene McGregor (Dragons)
The reigning Dally M medal winner has hit the ground running in the Red V with her two try assists and 284 kick metres turning the Eels around more often than not on Saturday. McGregor's running game has been potent to start the season in a clear sign she's at the top of her game.
8. Christian Pio (Wests Tigers)
The former Eel is relishing a move to the middle this season and is complementing Sarah Togatuki nicely in the front row with a mammoth work rate that included 138 metres and 29 tackles.
9. Emma Manzelmann (Cowboys)
Topped the tackle count for her side with 30 in their win over the Knights and also made a linebreak through the middle from one of her three carries with an offload and five tackle busts causing stress for her former club. Sent Sareka Mooka over from close range to seal the game.
10. Shannon Mato (Titans)
Set the tone again for her side with 245 metres and along with Jess Elliston really rattled the Broncos through the middle of the field. Set up a nice try for her Titans front-row partner to add to their big night out against their old team.
Whitfeld goes 80 metres
11. Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers)
A captain's knock from the old girl, who worked hard in the back row with 12 carries, 58 post-contact metres and 24 tackles. Crossed for the side's first try running a good line on the left edge and overall played tough.
12. Monalisa Soliola (Raiders)
Proved the difference late against the Roosters with a crucial one-on-one strip before scoring the match-winning try in a performance that included 103 metres, three tackle busts and 18 tackles.
13. Simaima Taufa (Raiders)
A workhorse performance from the Raiders co-captain, which we've come to expect every week but are equally as amazed she can get through so much work consistently. Scored a crucial try to put the Green Machine up by 18 after the break and led from the front and finished with 42 tackles and 99 metres.
The top 10 NRLW plays from Women in League Round, 2023
14. Tyla Nathan-Wong (Dragons)
Class, class, class from the Dragons playmaker who has taken no time settling into rugby league. Her left edge attack is getting better and she combined much better this week with halves partner Raecene McGregor and fullback Teagan Berry, who surprise, surprise, all feature in Round 2's Team of the Week as a result.
15. Grace Kemp (Raiders)
An influential performance from the bench prop, who scored Canberra's first-ever NRLW try on home turf and really took it to the Roosters forward pack in just her second game of rugby league. Finished the game with 121 metres and three offloads.
16. Georgia Hale (Titans)
Racked up 50 tackles with not a single missed and racked up 132 metres from 17 carries with an offload in an all-round display of consistency after producing similiar numbers in the opening round of the season.
17. Kirra Dibb (Cowboys)
A statement-making performance from the Cowboys co-captain against her former club with a 40/30, two conversions, a penalty goal and field goal. Produced 294 metres to go with two try assists.
