Two first round winners go head-to-head in the first of next Sunday's double-header games at Allianz Stadium with the new-and-improved Eels facing off against the Sharks.
The Eels upset the highly-fancied Broncos 22-10 with new halves pairing Rachael Pearson and Cassey Hohi-Hiku pulling the strings, while forwards Elsie Albert and captain Mahalia Murphy impressing with their go-forward.
Eels forward Kennedy Cherrington was fined $400 for a Grade 1 Contrary Conduct charge from the fiery win over the Broncos and is free to play in what's set to be a strongly contested match.
The Sharks put in a strong defensive display to shut-out the Cowboys in their 14-0 win in front of their home crowd, with winger Cassie Staples scoring a double.
After playing fullback for New South Wales in the recent State of Origin series, Emma Tonegato moved into the five-eighth position for the Sharks and played a starring role with a hand in all three of her side's first half tries.
The match-up between Tonegato and halfback Taylor Preston up against fellow Blues player Pearson and Tohi-Hiku - who played all of the 2023 season on the wing for the Eels - will be good to watch.
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Team News
Eels: Taneka Todhunter comes into the starting side as hooker with Rueben Cherrington ruled out for the season after she sustained a syndesmosis injury last week. Other changes see Chloe Jackson into the second row for her NRLW debut in place of Boss Kapua who is also out for the season with a a PCL injury. Rosemarie Beckett, who was 18th player last week, comes onto the bench. Tafao Asaua is the new replacement player for Round 2.
Sharks: Cronulla are unchanged for what is shaping as a blockbuster game against the Eels this weekend. Coach Tony Herman would have been most impressed by his side's defensive efforts to keep the Cowboys scoreless, but will be keen to see his side correct a high error rate that prevented them from scoring any second-half points after winger Cassie Staples posted a first-half double.
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Stat Attack
- The Eels are aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since 2022.
- The Sharks became the first team to score 50 points in an NRLW game in last year’s clash against the Eels.
- Eels halfback Rachael Pearson will play her 20th NRLW game.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.