The Parramatta Eels will aim to break into the NRLW top four, while St George Illawarra are determined to ignite a late push for a finals spot, when the two teams meet on Saturday afternoon.
This match, part of a triple-header at CommBank Stadium, will be followed by an NRL clash between the Eels and Dragons that carries significant post-season implications for the visitors.
Can the Dragons NRLW team provide the inspiration for their male counterparts?
A good crowd should be there early for what might prove to be an intriguing contest.
Parramatta have shown substantial improvement in their 2024 campaign, securing three wins from the first five rounds after managing just one victory last year. Despite a 36-16 loss to the Knights last Saturday, the Eels are expected to put that behind them with a bounce back victory.
With six teams tied on six competition points, the win could see Parramatta finish the weekend inside the top four.
For St George Illawarra NRLW it’s now or never if the team has any hope of featuring in the big end of season games. While the young Dragons squad has shown moments of brilliance, consistency has been elusive, with only one win to their name so far.
Game Info
Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024
Kick-off: 12:45 PM AEST
Venue: Commbank Stadium, Parramatta
Referee: Daniel Luttringer
Broadcast: Foxtel and Nine Gem
Live Stream: Kayo & Nine Now
Team Lists
Parramatta Eels
1. Abbi Church, 2. Zali Fay, 3. Rory Owen, 4. Rosie Kelly, 5. Monique Donovan, 6. Cassey Tohi-Hiku, 7. Rachael Pearson, 8. Elsie Albert, 9. Taneka Todhunter, 10. Madeline Jones, 11. Chloe Jackson, 12. Mahalia Murphy, 13. Kennedy Cherrington, 14. Rosemarie Beckett, 15. Tyla Amiatu 16. Jade Fonua, 17. Lindsay Tui
18. Breanna Eales 19. Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis, 20. Chelsea Makira, 21. Mia Middleton, 23. Tafao Asaua
The Eels have made one change to last week’s side with Lindsay Tui set to make her season debut, coming onto the bench in place of Tafoa Asaua. The rising centre has recovered from the jaw injury she suffered in the Under 19’s State of Origin.
St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Teagan Berry, 2. Maatuleio Fotu-Moala, 3. Keele Brown, 4. Bobbi Law, 5. Alice Gregory, 6. Kasey Reh, 7. Raecene McGregor, 8. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa, 9. Zali Hopkins, 10. Madison Mulhall, 11. Shenai Lendill, 12. Ella Koster, 13. Alexis Tauaneai, 14. Sophie Clancy, 15. Tayla Curtis, 16. Jamilee Bright, 17. Steph Hancock
18. Jordyn Preston, 19. Charlotte Basham, 20. Kimberley Hunt, 21. Kaarla Cowan, 22. Bronte Wilson
Bobbi Law has recovered from a laceration and returns to the centre for this match in which the Dragons will sport special Indigenous jerseys. Law and fellow centre Tyla King were both named in last week’s side but whilst Law is back in action, King remains on the sideline.
Zali Hopkins will take her place at hooker with Kasey Reh at five-eighth, although the duo swapped roles last round. Shenai Lendill moves from the centre to the second row, while Leio Fotu-Moala takes the wing in place of last week’s debutant, Maria Paseka, who is out with a head knock. Sophie Clancy and Tayla Curtis are new faces on the bench, with forwards Charlotte Basham, Kaarla Cowan, and Bronte Wilson listed in the reserves. Jordyn Preston is the new replacement player.
The Game
The Eels entered last week’s match against the Knights confident in their ability to pull off an upset. However, that optimism was quickly dashed as the Knights surged to a 20-0 lead within the first twenty minutes. To their credit, the Eels didn’t give up and mounted a mini-comeback, narrowing the score to 24-16 before the Knights secured the victory late in the game.
A key component of Parramatta’s success this season can be attributed to the leading contributions of their powerful PNG international, Elsie Albert. The seasoned Parramatta forward is enjoying one of her best NRLW seasons, averaging nearly 150 metres per game to be a formidable force in attack. Albert’s strength and drive are huge inclusions to the Eels 2024 campaign.
Elsie Albert
Though Albert still posted nearly 140 run metres against the Knights, the Eels faced a 360 metre deficit in the team run metres stat.
Defensively, the Eels also measured up poorly last week, making 23 ineffective tackles and conceding 15 offloads. This allowed Newcastle to flex their attacking muscle.
As for the Dragons, they were completely out of sync in their 28-4 loss to the Sharks.
The Red V are capable of piling on points, with big comeback efforts against the Titans (loss) and against the Knights (won). The latter was the biggest upset of the NRLW season but aside from that, the Dragons have been greatly disappointing, recording 20+ points losses to the Roosters and Sharks.
A shining light for the Dragons has been fullback, Teagan Berry, and I’m expecting her to have a big game regardless of the result. Her 29 tackle breaks and 7 line breaks this season are outstanding returns in a struggling team. Expect her runs from the back to pose questions of the Eels defence.
Though Berry will trouble the Eels at times, the Eels strength as a unit will be too much for the Dragons to overcome.
Prediction: Eels by 8
Player of the Game: Teagan Berry
Kye
I don’t want to be negative but the coach needs to address our right wing. Unfortunately Donovan is struggling under the high ball.
The 1st hit up should be Elsie.
The girls looked good in patches n should have kept attacking the dragons left each.
Many times the dragons were short parra had 2 player overlaps n failed to score.
Our defence is yet again a poor state. if we need to win big then our defence needs to improve.
But again we do miss rueban cherrington.
dragons by 10
For get everything I said in the last comment. we will get flogged by 30.
We need to make team changes for next week otherwise season is over if not already over.
look I like zali fay but she needs to be dropped. along side rosi Kelly.
We need to buy or chase a really good 5/8 our 5/8 can go to centre in place of Kelly.
what’s that back up Newcastle girl who played against us. she looked great.
can someone explain to me why ruby Jane is not playing she’s a real go getter.
yet again we seem to find away to lose a game we meant to win. we can beat this mob in trials but not for 2 points.
our who structured play is poor. we haven’t scored 30 points
The defence which was a highlight of the girl’s first few games seems to have dropped off.
Another area of concern was the high ball. On a number of occasions they allowed the ball to bounce. It really should be taken on the full to minimise any risks.
It will be difficult to be competitive against the better teams like the Sharks and a full strength Broncos team serving up the fare they gave us today.