Live Blog: Tierney snares double on debut on tough day out

Full-time: Despite scoring a point in the second-half, the Dragons held on to their early lead to crack their first victory for the 2026 season. After running in four tries in the first 25 minutes, the Eels threw everything at the home side and wrestled their way into match to finish with 50 per cent of possession but the Dragons showed great defensive resolve to come away with the win.

69 min: The Dragons throw in a captain challenge for a knock on against Anderson which is unsuccessful and the Eels have one more roll of the dice but the score remains 22-8.

64 min: An early tackle penalty against Rueben Cherrington gives the Dragons an opportunity to wind down the clock and extend their lead by two points however Millard's penalty shot goes wide.

53 min: The Dragons earn another repeat set on the line but Parramatta winger Martha Mataele comes up with a try saver on Millard as the Eels hang on for another set.

49 min: St George continue to pepper the Eels' line but Church does another great job at getting her side out of trouble after coming away with the football.

40 min: Zali Hopkins and Cherrington are sent for a HIA after a head clash as Hopkins tried to bring Cherrington to ground. Cherrington passed her assessment, however Hopkins did not return.

38 min: A last tackle grubber from Cassey Tohi-Hiku sits up perfectly for a steaming Rory Owen to score. Rachael Pearson misses her second conversion attempt. Dragons 22-8.

36 min: A strong opening set from the Eels to start the second half sees the visitors come away with a scrum after Millard knocks the ball on in the in goal.

Half-time: On the back of 57 per cent of possession and four more completed sets, the Dragons take a handy lead to the sheds. Fullback Teagan Berry had eight runs or 125 metres to go with her first half try while Trinity Tauaneai made three tackle breaks off five runs.

26 min: St George extend their lead through Tauaneai who has made her impact known since coming off the interchange bench. Jayme Millard adds the extras. Dragons 22-4.

24 min: Kennedy Cherrington knocks the ball on and the Eels gift the Dragons another opportunity to attack the line.

23 min: On the back of a run of possession the Eels hit back with star skipper Mahalia Murphy doing it all herself to fight her way past several Dragons defenders to score. Dragons 16-4.

19 min: The Eels earn several repeat sets on their line but the score remains 16-0 after a Cherrington offload is intercepted by Dragons forward Trinity Tauaneai.

16 min: Eels finally work their way out of their own end when Chloe Jackson splits the Dragons' defence and puts in a kick for Abbi Church who is brought down by Berry with a spectacular try saver.

10 min: An offside penalty from the Eels invites the Dragons straight back into the Red Zone and a crafty grubber by Kasey Reh sets up Ella Koster to score the home side's third unanswered try. Dragons 16-0.

6 min: Ryvrr-Lee Alo gifts the Eels another early opportunity after being penalised for a slow peel and Brooke Anderson is quick to find Teagan Berry off the tap to score a runaway try. Dragons 12-0.

4 min: The Dragons earn a repeat set on their attacking line and Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis finds the gap from close range to grab the game's opening try and her first in the NRLW. Dragons 6-0.

 

Late Mail

Dragons: No late changes in the 24-hour update. Earlier, coach Nathan Cross has shuffled his line-up following last week's loss to the Raiders, with skipper Brooke Anderson shifting from lock to hooker in place of Nita Maynard-Perrin (head knock). Hannah Southwell starts in No.13 while Ella Koster moves to start in the second row after coming from the bench last week. Veteran front-rower Amelia Huakau is in line for a club debut off the bench. The Dragons remained 1-19 at the 24-hour squad update.

Eels: One change in the 24-hour update, with Fontayne Tufuga coming on to the bench in place of Taneka Todhunter. Young gun second-rower Ryvrr-Lee Alo has been named to start in place of Boss Kapua, who has been suspended for two matches for a careless high tackle. Khyliah Gray fills the vacant bench spot. Winger Martha Mataele has scored six tries in her last four NRLW games. 

Raiders v Warriors at GIO Stadium

Full-time: The Raiders have gone back-to-back to kick off their 2026 season with veterans Simaima Taufa (30 tackles, 113 run metres) and Zahara Temara (142 run metres, four try assists) having a day out for the Green Machine.

70 min: The Warriors get a consolation try in the final minute with Maliepo and Tierney once again combining off a kick to reduce the deficit 42-16 at the buzzer.

63 min: The Warriors cough up the football in their own end again after Fetalaiga pushes an offload and the Raiders extend their lead when Chante Temara darts from dummy half to score her third try in the NRLW. Raiders 42-10.

59 min: The Warriors get one back with a cross-field kick from Patricia Maliepo which despite an ugly bounce is cleaned up by Ocean Tierney who wrestles her way over to score on debut. Raiders 36-10.

53 min: Warriors centre Tysha Ikenasio puts down a Gallagher high ball and another attacking raid from Canberra sees Leianne Tufuga cross for the home side after a cutting under Blackwell. Raiders 36-6.

51 min: The Raiders strike again when Temara delivers a short ball to Jordyn Preston who hits the gap and the shows great speed and footwork to score. Gallagher adds the extras. Raiders 30-6.

47 min: Warriors forward Maarire Puketapu is sent to the sin bin and placed on report for a hip-drop tackle on Gallagher.

44 min: Temara splits the Warriors defence and carries the ball downfield to create another opportunity for the Raiders who shift the ball right on the next play to hand Wiki a double. Raiders 24-6 

39 min: The Warriors concede the first penalty of the half with a slow peel by Paekau but the Raiders can't cash in with Apii Nicholls intercepting a Temara pass.

Half-time: The Raiders completed 18 of 22 sets at 81 per cent and had 57 per cent of possession. Lock Simaima Taufa ran for 77 metres and made 20 tackles while Elise Simpson, Bobbi Law and Grace Kemp all made three tackle breaks. The Warriors meanwhile struggled with discipline, making seven errors and conceding five penalties.

30 min: A mistake by Gallagher gives the Warriors a second opportunity in their attacking zone but the Raiders' defence holds firm.

29 min: Raiders forward Hollie-Mae Dodd leaves the field for a HIA for which she later passed.

27 min: A Wiki error hands the Warriors some much-needed field position and hooker Paekau darts out of dummy half to score her first NRLW try. Maliepo converts. Raiders 18-6.

20 min: The Raiders again make the Warriors pay with Temara finding impact forward Grace Kemp on the inside to muscle her way over the line. Raiders 18-0.

19 min: Desperate to avoid another set of goal-line defence, the Warriors lose their captain's challenge in an unsuccessful bid to overturn a Patricia Maliepo knock-on coming off her own line.

14 min: The dream start continues for Canberra with Zahara Temara throwing a long cut-out pass for a steaming Bobbi Law who crashes over from close range. Raiders 14-0.

13 min: After defusing another set on their line, the Warriors are on the attack but Tysha Ikenasio puts the ball down.

7 min: A penalty for a slow peel by Capri Paekau invites the Raiders back into the Red Zone and this time the Raiders goes right and Krystal Blackwell throws a long ball which sets up Mackenzi Wiki in the corner. Raiders 10-0.

4 min: A fast start for the Raiders finishing off two strong sets with a left side raid and a spectacular finish from winger Elise Simpson in the corner for the opening try. Sheridan Gallagher adds the extras from the sideline. Raiders 6-0

 

Late Mail

Raiders: The Raiders are 1-18 with no late changes for Darrin Borthwick who has gone with an unchanged line-up after a first-up win over the Dragons. Krystal Blackwell made her first appearance as a five-eighth last week and will once again partner co-captain Zahara Temara in the halves for the Green Machine, who have won only one of their last 11 games at GIO Stadium. 

Warriors: No further changes for the Warriors after a big shuffle on Saturday with five-eighth Gayle Broughton ruled out with a quad injury while winger Lavinia Tauhalaliku and forward Felilia Kia are also out. Centre Emmanita Paki replaces Broughton at five-eighth. Ocean Tierney makes her NRLW debut on the wing and Natalia Hickling debuts off the bench. Black Ferns superstar Stacey Waaka has been moved into the centres for her first appearance for the Warriors. With prop Mya Hill-Moana suspended for one game for a hip drop tackle, Tonga international Metanoia Fetalaiga moves into the starting front row. Ivana Lauitiiti returns on the bench having served a suspension incurred during the Kiwi Ferns’ Pacific Championships final loss to the Jillaroos last November.