Round 2 of the NRLW has arrived and with it comes the opportunity for the Parramatta Eels to steal a march on every team in the competition – save perhaps for the Brisbane Broncos. The Eels, alongside the Broncos and Dragons, exited last week as victorious combatants and while the reigning premiers take on the team Parramatta just bested the Eels themselves now meet the Dragons. That means (that a draw pending) that one of those two clubs must end the week 2-0 with the makings of a buffer over the rest of the chasing pack beginning to form.

Fans have every reason to believe that it can and should be the Parramatta Eels that will seize that opportunity given the brand of football they play under Dean Widders. With that said, the Blue & Gold will need every ounce of the finesse and aggression they showed on opening day in order to overcome the Dragons. Headed by the famed Kezzie Apps and featuring a backline full of strike power the Red V will be a fearsome prospect in front of a home crowd.

In a way it is quite the similar proposition to Round 1 with the Eels once again playing the home team in the triple header (which they do in three of their four away games as part of horrid scheduling) but the major difference this week comes in the fact that the opponents are far more experienced. Newcastle were plenty talented but St George will bring a hardened edge to this game that only comes with battleworn experience.

All in all it makes for a hugely exciting opportunity for Parramatta. The 2-0 record up and the mini-break up for grabs. The chance to knock off a foundation team and genuinely announce themselves to the premiership. The prospect of honing their skills and cohesiveness to greater heights. It is all on the line this week.

Game Info

Date: Sunday March 6, 2022

Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Kick Off: 3:40 PM, AEDT

Referee: Belinda Sharpe

Broadcast: Channel 9, Fox League, Kayo

Teams

Parramatta Eels

1. Botille Vette-Welsh
2. Taina Naividi
3. Tiana Penitani
4. Jocephy Daniels
5. Rikeya Horne
6. Sereana Naitokatoka
7. Maddie Studdon
8. Kennedy Cherrington
9. Nita Maynard
10. Tommaya Kelly-Sines
11. Ellie Johnston
12. Jade Etherden
13. Simaima Taufa ©

Interchange:
14. Shirley Mailangi
15. Filomina Hanisi
16. Therese Aiton
17. Abbi Church

Extended Bench:
18. Christine Pauli
21. Mareva Swann
22. Tess Staines
23. Jamie-Anne Wright
24. Emily Curtain
23. Katrina Phippen

24. Fatahesi Hanisi

The Blue & Gold named an unchanged line-up this week. On the one hand that is not surprisingly given the positive manner in which they played against the Knights and the fact they could have run away with the game save for a handful of last gasp miscues. On the other hand, the presence of Therese Aiton is a stunning testament to her toughness. I dubbed her ‘X-23’ on Team List Tuesday and I stand by that ahead of kickoff. She certainly has the adamantium skeleton and superhuman healing factor worthy of the Wolverine progeny, hopefully this week she gets the chance to show the ferocity and tenacity.

Outside of the known stars and weapons in the Parramatta roster I am looking forward to seeing a bit more of Jade Etherden this week. I mentioned it in the Post-Game Grades but while her numbers were not eye-popping, the eye test suggested that she could be a crafty component in the forward pack for the Eels.

Looking to the bench I expect to see Shirley Mailangi and Filomina Hanisi further enhance their own stock after strong showings last week. Having bench forwards that can apply a surge of momentum or wade into the thick of a gritty brawl in the middle is a key asset for any competitive team. These two could be a huge factor in augmenting a glittering starting forward pack.

St George Illawarra Dragons

1. Emma Tonegato
2. Teagan Berry
3. Jaime Chapman
4. Page McGregor
5. Madison Bartlett
6. Taliah Fuimaono
7. Rachael Pearson
8. Elsie Albert
9. Keeley Davis
10. Kezie Apps (c)
11. Talei Holmes
12. Shaylee Bent
13. Holli Wheeler

Interchange:
14. Quincy Dodd
15. Kody House
16. Tegan Dymock
17. Janelle Williams

Extended Bench:
18. Renee Targett
19. Keele Browne
20. Shellie Long
21. Aliti Namoce
22. Alexandra Sulusi
23. Matilda Power
24. Chantel Tugaga

Kezzie Apps will understandably draw a lot of the talk whenever the Dragons are mentioned in the NRLW. Apps is one of the franchise players for the entire code. A leader and an ambassador not unlike Parramatta’s own Simaima Taufa. She is the heart and soul of the Red V and brings a wealth of representative experience to the table. Formerly a backrower, she now finds herself leading her troops through the breach in the ruck where she will stand toe-to-toe with Taufa throughout the course of the game.

A dual-code star lurks at fullback in Emma Tonegato and she proved crucial in their 8-point victory over the Gold Coast Titans last week. She will be the spearhead of an electric backline featuring a young star I saw plenty of in the Tarsha Gale in Teagan Berry. A scintillating speedster – seriously she is a track and field (emphasis on the track part) specialist – Berry will take the proverbial mile if she is given an inch by a defender. Throw in All-Stars MVP Jaime Chapman and you have some serious weaponry out wide.

Key Players

Sereana Naitokatoka

Sereana is firmly on my radar now after a sparkling club debut against the Knights. Players that possess the ability to consistently beat the first defender are nightmare fuel to game plan for and Naitakatoka’s play against the Novocastrians suggested she has that knack. The challenge for Sereana will be restricting the errors late in the game as fatigue creeps in.

I am hugely excited to see how she progresses this season and how the team gels around her ability to break a game open. I mentioned it on The Tip Sheet this week but I believe she will be a deciding factor this week and might even cross for a try.

Kennedy Cherrington

Kennedy earns her second appearance on the Key Player section this year given that I expect her to feature far more prominently in offence this week. If the Eels can gain the ascendancy in the ruck I expect Cherrington to be a dominant force there as she gets in behind retreating defenders and wreaks havoc in general.

Her ability to be disruptive transcends any offensive metric though and the relentless pressure she applies on play-makers is invaluable. Seriously, watch her off-the-ball work this week – she is an animal.

Tiana Penitani

Penitani is a powerhouse in her own right and is more likely than not going to cross the white stripe on Sunday. In a Shyamalanian twist though she lands a spot on the Key Players list for what she will do without the ball this week. The Eels’ left centre will be the defensive fulcrum tasked with blunting the outstanding right-edge of the Dragons. Her head-to-head match up with Jaime Chapman will potentially be the deciding factor on the scoreboard.

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.