Live Blog: Defeat sees Warriors lose top six position

Media conferences

Dynamic duo: The Tigers have a superb 1-2 punch out of dummy half with Salma Nour and Faythe Manera in great form and scoring tries for fun. Both hookers bagged a double out of dummy half as they exposed some loose Bulldogs defence around the ruck. Nour and Manera had 13 tackle breaks between them and proved all but unstoppable from close range.

Full-time: Wests Tigers have punched their ticket to their first ever finals series with a dominant 44-14 win. A stunning turnaround from the team that collected the wooden spoon in 2024 and 2025.

68 min: Salma Nour with another piece of deception out of dummy half as he throws a huge dummy to the left and then proves too strong Andie Robinson to plunge over. Raecene McGregor converts. Wests Tigers 44-14

65 min: Raecene McGregor with a magical cross field kick from 10m for Lily Rogan to follow through, catch the ball on the full and dot down for her second try of the night. McGregor is enjoying a stellar season and she will take the Tigers into their first ever finals series. Wests Tigers 38-14

64 min: Pani Hopoate is placed on report for contact on the back of the neck and is warned by the referee 'don't squeeze on the neck'.

62 min: Alexis Tauaneai goes to the line and loses the ball. The Tigers are penalised for a strip by Brooke Talataina and then lodge a captain's challenge which comes up empty. Bulldogs go inside the red zone.

60 min: A nice hitback by the Bulldogs as Tayla Preston and Leilani Wilson combine before Daynah Nankivell finishes the movement off to grab her first NRLW try. Preston converts. Wests Tigers 34-14

57 min: A crash play from Shaniece Monschau as she is just too strong for the Bulldogs defenders and slams it down for the Tigers' sixth try. Raecene McGregor misses from close range. Wests Tigers 34-8 

54 min: The Tigers get on the back of a powerful run by Sarah Togatuki on the right edge and come to the left where Losana Lutu delivers a quality pass over the top to Lily Rogan for a try. Raecene McGregor converts. Wests Tigers 30-8

51 min: Shenae Lendill leaves the field with an arm injury.

49 min: Shenae Lendill goes on report for dangerous contact on the legs. Bulldog Latisha Smythe is also put on report for an earlier indiscretion.

47 min: Tayla Preston bombs and a knock on is ruled against the Bulldogs. They throw in a challenge and it's successful but the Tigers get a penalty as the bunker ruled Bridget Hoy had contacted the catcher early and prevented her getting a fair play at the ball.

45 min: Ash Quinlan with another try assist as she sends a ball over the top to a storming Monica Tagoai who surges into a hole to score. Tayla Preston fails to convert. Wests Tigers 24-8

41 min: A penalty against Lily Rogan for a leg pull in the play-the-ball allows the Bulldogs to march down into attacking position but Tayla Preston's high ball is cleaned up by Kezie Apps after it was allowed to bounce.

38 min: A third try out of dummy half for the Tigers as Faythe Manera gets on the back of a Christian Pio run and powers over from close range. That's eight for the season for Manera and that equals the club record for most tries in a season set by Caitlin Turnbull last year. Raecene McGregor converts. Wests Tigers 24-4

36 min: Leilani Wilson with an error in the play-the-ball in the opening set and the Tigers go on the attack early.

Captain's knock: Kezie Apps showed the way for the Tigers with 121 run metres and seven tackle breaks as she gave the Bulldogs' left edge defence a torrid time. The skipper also peeled off 12 tackles of her own.

Half-time: Wests Tigers are well on the way to their first ever finals series after a composed first-half performance that sees them leading 18-4 at the break. Both sides completed high at 86 per cent and 83 per cent but it was the Tigers who were more dangerous in attack with five line breaks to two and 25 tackle breaks to eight.

35 min: Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa gets out of dummy half and tries to power her way over but Caitlin Turnbull does a great job to hold the ball up and deny the try.

30 min: Christian Pio strolls over from close range as the Bulldogs' defence is opened up far too easily from close range. Raecene McGregor adds the extras. Wests Tigers 18-4

30 min: Kezie Apps tests the Bulldogs defence on the left edge and has the ball stripped in a three-player tackle. Tigers penalty.

26 min: Another dummy-half special for the Tigers as Faythe Manera holds off three defenders and keeps her momentum going to get over for her seventh try of the season. Raecene McGregor converts. Wests Tigers 12-4

25 min: Tayla Preston with a superb bending grubber kick into the in-goal and Ash Quinlan almost gets there first on the chase but the ball just goes dead.

20 min: A safe take by Andie Robinson off a high ball and then Shaylee Bent catches her high. Bulldogs penalty.

18 min: The Tigers are on the board as Salma Nour gets out of dummy half and scoots over from close range after Holli Wheeler had been stopped just short of the line. Raecene McGregor converts. Wests Tigers 6-4

17 min: Mary-Jane Taito is pinged for a high shot on Shaniece Monschau and the Tigers have good field position again.

15 min: Losana Lutu goes with the grubber on the last play but it is too strong and rolls dead. Seven-tackle set for the Bulldogs.

13 min: Tayla Preston's high ball is taken safely by Lily Rogan but it's the Bulldogs controlling field position.

10 min: Simina Lokotui continues her outstanding tryscoring form as she takes a long cut-out pass from Ash Quinlan and gets over in the left-hand corner. Tayla Preston fails to convert. Bulldogs 4-0

9 min: The Tigers come up empty as the pass to Raecene McGregor is too high and she puts it down. The Bulldogs pounce and come away from the danger zone.

8 min: Mary-Jane Taito is penalised for a slow peel and the Tigers get their first crack inside the red zone.

6 min: Another error from Caitlin Turnbull as she loses the ball in contact as she returns a kick. The Bulldogs go quickly to the left and Ash Quinlan puts Monica Tagoai over but the pass is ruled forward.

4 min: Slick hands from the Bulldogs to the right edge where Bridget Hoy goes for the corner but her foot touches the sideline before she can get it down. A tight call but the Tigers hold on.

2 min: Alexis Tauaneai elects to run the ball on the last tackle and is stopped 2m out from the Tigers line.

1 min: Caitlin Turnbull with an early error to hand the Bulldogs an early shot at points.

Late Mail

Wests Tigers: Centre Rikeya Horne has been promoted to the starting side on game day in her return from a calf injury. Horne missed the 2025 season with pregnancy and then suffered an injury on the eve of the 2026 season. Shenai Lendill reverts to the bench. Other changes see Shaniece Monschau come from the bench to start at prop, moving Christian Pio to the interchange. Tara Reinke has dropped to 18th player.

Bulldogs: Monica Tagoai returns from a knee injury in the centres with Simina Lokotui shifting to the wing. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa moves to an edge with Pauline Suli-Ruka dropping back to 18th player. Hope Millard has earned a promotion to start at lock with Maátuleio Fotu-Moala joining the bench. Elizabeth McGregor came out of the side on Saturday. Earlier, young gun Evelyn Roberts was named to returned to the bench, shifting Ebony Prior to the reserves. 

 

Eels v Broncos at CommBank Stadium

Media Conferences

Full-time: With 16 line breaks compared to the Eels' three, Steve Georgallis' side just couldn't match the speed of the 2025 premiers. Julia Robinson finished the match with 198 run metres while Kerri Johnson had four line breaks to help inspire her second hat-trick for the season.

70 min: A late consolation try for the Eels with the home side shifting left and Rory Owen getting on the outside of Southwell and charging 60m downfield to score.

66 min: The Broncos go further ahead. Line breaks continue to torment the Eels' defence with rookie forward Harlem Walker powering through the middle for her second career try. Broncos 44-4.

60 min: The Eels go left and some impressive footwork and a late offload from Cherrington sets up space for Fay out wide to go over untouched in the corner. Broncos 38-4.

59 min: Lauren Dam is placed on report for contact on Rachael Pearson following a kick and the Eels have a golden opportunity in the Red Zone. 

54 min: The Broncos finally break the stalemate with Southwell sending a long ball out for Johnson in space to send the winger over for a hat-trick. Broncos 38-0.

50 min: The Eels turn the ball over on their line, gifting the Broncos a golden opportunity. Upton scoots from close range but Church and Kennedy Cherrington hold up the fullback in the in-goal.

47 min: Parramatta manage to get themselves back into the arm-wrestle as the two sides trade sets. Score remains 34-0.

41 min: The Eels look to Albert for her trademark crash play over the line but the veteran prop once again knocks the ball over the line. 

40 min: Parramatta launch a captain's challenge on an Albert knock on in the Red Zone. The home side come up trumps with the bunker ruling a strip from Southwell. Eels tap 10m out.

37 min: The Eels sigh relief with Cassey Tohi-Hiku intercepting a poor pass from Ferguson on Parramatta's line.

36 min: The Broncos pick up where they left off with Robinson taking the ball to the opposite 40m line from the kick off.

Half-time: The Broncos came up with ten line breaks to one as their speed tormented the Eels' defence. Julia Robinson had an incredible 127 run metres and two line breaks to go with her try.

33 min: The Broncos poke the Eels' line but Chloe Jackson does a superb job to hold up Chelsea Lenarduzzi in the in-goal. Upton swings a cut-out pass for Robinson in the next play and the winger crosses over despite a desperate effort from Zali Fay. Broncos 34-0.

32 min: The Eels wrestle back some much-needed momentum and look to put some points on the board through a barnstorming Elsie Albert but the Broncos force a knock on in the put down.

27 min: Parramatta work the ball downfield and earn a repeat set. The Eels let the ball go out on the bounce which hands the ball straight back to the Broncos.

22 min: Jasmin Morrissey comes up with an impressive cover tackle on Brigginshaw but the Broncos go straight over on the next play with Upton sending a long pass to Johnson who strolls over untouched. 5 from 5 conversions for Southwell. Broncos 30-0.

20 min: Romy Teitzel runs a superb line to finds space on the right edge and tips on to the ever-reliable Upton in support for a first-half double. Broncos 24-0.

18 min: Southwell ignites a left side raid and Johnson dives over in the corner for the visitors' third try. Broncos 18-0.

17 min: Zali Fay is penalised for crowding the ruck and the Broncos get a scrum 30m out from their attacking line.

15 min: The Broncos are back on the attack but a Brigginshaw cut-out pass doesn't land for Kerri Johnson.

12 min: A forward pass from Upton turns the ball over and the Eels have a scrum 10m out from their attacking line.

10 min: Ali Brigginshaw makes herself known in her first game back since Round 5, linking up with Tamika Upton in the middle of the field to send the fullback over for her 10th try of the season. Broncos 12-0.

5 min: Abbi Church makes good matres to put the Eels on the attack who then get a repeat set but Brisbane's defence holds firm.

1 min: Blink and you'll miss it! The Broncos get the ball back off the kick off and two plays later Jada Ferguson scoots from dummy half 28sec into the match to break the record for the quickest try scored in the NRLW. Southwell adds the extras. Broncos 6-0.

 

Late Mail

Eels: Representative forward Kennedy Cherrington is a late addition on the has been as she returns from a facial fracture. Khyliah Gray shifts to 18th player. Cherrington's return is the only change to the side that downed the Sharks last week.

Broncos: The Broncos are 1-17 with no late changes. A massive boost for the premiers with the return of five-eighth Ali Brigginshaw from suspension. She will partner Jesse Southwell in the halves, shifting Georgia Bartlett back to the centres. Julia Robinson moves to the wing, with Caitlin Urwin reverting to 18th player. Other changes see Reegan Hicks promoted to prop, with Lillian Yarrow shifting to lock. Destiny Brill is out after injuring her calf last week, with Bree Spreadborough moving to the bench.

Warriors v Dragons at Go Media Stadium

Media Conference

70 min: The Dragons are in! It's the same left-side combination with Hopkins going to the short side and finding Millard who this time gets the offload off to O'Brien to score on the buzzer. Dragons 22-18.

69 min: Dragons chip on the last but Waaka pops up out of nowhere with a superb take and runs the ball 40m downfield. Butler knocks the ball on in the next play and the Dragons have a golden opportunity.

66 min: Scores are locked again! Hopkins and O'Brien combine on the short side and O'Brien gets an offload off to Millard who crosses in the left corner. 18-18.

64 min: Koster charges through under the posts but desperate defence from the Warriors forces the backrower to lose the ball on her way to the line.

63 min: As pressure builds and the clock winds down both sides struggle with completion.

55 min: The Warriors look to the left again and find Hufanga in space who powers through Millard and Koster to put the home side in front with 15min to play. Warriors 18-14.

55 min: The Warriors attack the line and Mele Hufanga passes left but Tyra Ekepati knocks the ball down. Dragons challenge the call which is unsuccessful. Dragons scrum 10m out.

54 min: 12 on 12! Teagan Berry is sent to the sin bin for a professional foul in the play the ball.

50 min: The Warriors go to 12 players. Ivana Lauitiiti is placed on report and sent to the sin bin for late contact on Kasey Reh following a kick. Reh looks to have hurt her knee but stays on the field.

49 min: The home side continue to ask questions but the Dragons do a great job to defend their goal line to force an error from Gayle Broughton and turn over the football.

47 min: The Warriors pepper the Dragons' line and Butler looks to crash over. The try is reviewed and the ball is lost in the put down but the home side come up with the football for high contact.

40 min: The Dragons put together some slick passes down the left edge and Tahlia O'Brien crashes her way to tryline and puts the ball down over her head. Another conversion goes begging in the wind. Scoreboard locked 14-14.

40 min: Another drop ball off the kick off following points from the Warriors and Dragons are on the attack.

38 min: The Warriors shift the ball left on the last play and Tauhalaliku does a superb job to put the ball down in the corner and stay in the field of play despite contact from Ella Koster. Warriors 14-10.

36 min: Warriors make some big metres in their first set and Maliepo goes to the air on the last play and Millard comes up with a knock on. Warriors scrum 10m out.

Half-time: A cracking contest in Auckland with the scoreboard locked at half-time. The Warriors completed 11 of their 14 sets while the Dragons' left plenty of opportunities on the field with six errors.

35 min: Ivana Lauitiiti comes from the field for a HIA after a head clash with teammate Capri Paekau in a tackle which she later passed.

33 min: The Dragons invite the Warriors back into the Red Zone after Zali Hopkins sends the ball out on the full.

29 min: Warriors go left through the hands and Tauhalaliku dives over in the corner. Maliepo hits the posts from the sideline as the wind continues to cause havoc in Auckland. Scoreboard locked 10-10.

28 min: Dragons centre Tyra Ekepati come up with an error coming out of her own end and the Warriors have a scrum 30m out.

20 min: The Dragons have the Warriors on the back foot and a quick play the ball from Tahlia O'Brien opens up an opportunity on the short side for Zali Hopkins to find an unmarked Millard in the corner. Dragons 10-6.

16 min: St George go right off the scrum and Paseka delivers in the corner with a spectacular put down. The winger adds the extras from the sideline. Scoreboard locked 6-6.

16 min: Celebrations are short lived for the Warriors with Harata Butler losing the ball from the kick off in contact. The Warriors challenge the call but are unsuccessful. Dragons scrum 20m out from Warriors' line.

14 min: Maliepo goes high and Millard lets the ball bounce and Stacey Waaka charges through to ground the ball and score. Warriors 6-0.

12 min: St George's offload has the Warriors scrambling but a big shot on the line from Shakira Baker forces an error from Brooke Anderson.

11 min: The Dragons are given more breathing room with their one-player disadvantage with Annetta Nuuausala pinned for a hair pull on Kasey Reh.

8 min: A Dragons error hands the ball straight back to the Warriors who make some in roads but some good cover defence out wide puts Lavinia Tauhalaliku into touch.

7 min: The Warriors make some big metres downfield but can't finish off the set with Patricia Maliepo going high and the unforgiving wind sending the ball out on the full.

3 min: A tough start for the Dragons with Jayme Millard placed on report and sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Tysha Ikenasio in the Dragons' first defensive set.

Late Mail 

Warriors: No late changes on game day. Apii Nicholls will need to wait another week to return from a hand injury after being ruled out in the 24-hour squad update, after she was originally named on reserves. Mya Hill-Moana and Payton Takimoana were also omitted from the reserves. Anastasia Sekene is back from injury for her debut in the number 1 jersey. Try scorer Lavinia Tauhalaliku returns on the wing, while in the forwards, Matekino Gray has also been named in her injury return, starting at prop. This moves Metanoia Fetalaiga to the reserves. In the forwards, stand-in captain Kaiyah Atai starts in the second row, with Maarire Puketapu to start at lock.

Dragons: A late change on game day sees Keele Browne join the bench in place of Ahlivia Ingram. Taliah Fuimaono has failed to overcome a shoulder injury and was omitted from the reserves in the 24-hour squad update. With Shenae Ciesiolka out with a quad injury, Tyra Ekepati will start at centre. Nita Maynard-Perrin is out with a dislocated elbow, so skipper Brooke Anderson shifts to hooker, with Hannah Southwell starting at lock. The new prop is Amelia Haukua, with Seriah Palepale on to the bench for her NRLW debut.