The Cumberland Throw

Live Blog – NSW Women’s Premiership Round 1, 2026: Eels vs Mounties

Welcome to the 2026 Eels Women’s campaigns, and it kicks off with the NSW Women’s Premiership.

It’s sort of Parra vs Parra with the Eels taking on another club from the Parra catchment in Mounties.

As far as the Eels line up is concerned, there are seven players from the NRLW squad taking the field. Of interest is the collection of Tarsha Gale graduates.

Kick off is at midday at the Kellyville Centre of Excellence.

Team List

 

1 Ella Carlisle
2 Tess Staines
3 Jasmin Morrissey
4 Fleur Ginn
5 Zali Fay
6 Layne Morgan
7 Jayde Herdegen
8 Tess McWilliams
9 Taneka Todhunter
10 Ryshe Fa’amausili
11 Josie Lenaz
12 Tia Matthews
13 Jessica Kennedy
Interchange
14 Bailey Ma-Chong
15 Alana O’Loughlin
16 Shire Thocolich
17 Tiana-Lee Thorne
18

First Half

Eels kicking off running to the northern end. Mounties complete a very basic set and the kick is fielded by Carlisle who returns it to around the 40. Right side shift and Morrissey splits them. She draws the fullback but the pass goes well behind Staines.

Penalty to Mounties next set and they advance to Parra’s quarter. Wide to the left but the pass to the centre is a shocker. Eels scrum

Penalty follows and Toddhunter splits the defence to take play to the red zone. Parra explores down the left and Mounties scramble. Last tackle kick goes along the ground to the posts and it’s cleaned up by the defender.

Another strong kick return from Carlisle. Short side play down the left and Ginn accelerates and shreds the defence. She approaches the fullback looking for support but then puts on a classic in and away to score in the corner.

Carlisle takes the angled conversion but it falls short.

Eels 4 Mounties nil after 9 minutes

Well it didn’t take long for Parra to strike again literally as I was typing up the last try. Carlisle split the defence down the left before linking with support. It looked like Herdegen delivering the final pass for Fay to score again in the left corner.

Conversion unsuccessful

Eels 8 lead Mounties nil after 11 minutes

Fa’amausili is doing some damage from the kick offs. Mounties will be sick of her charges.
Eels complete the set with an attacking kick but it rolls dead for a seven tackle set.

Mounties penalty this set which helps them to get to Parra’s red zone but the line speed from the Eels forces the error. Parra complete the set which includes a terrific charge from McWilliams. The kick completes the set then Mounties get another penalty to help them in yardage.

Late tackle error from Mounties ten out. Eels scrum. Parra advance to Mounties half and run it on the last. Mounties shut it down for a turnover 30 out. Illegal lift tackle from Parra and Mounties get the penalty 40 out from Parra’s line.

Weight of possession works for Mounties as they run a number of crash plays at the line and succeed with a try between the sticks.

Conversion successful

Eels 8 lead Mounties 6 after 20 minutes

Faultless set from Mounties concludes with a kick to Carlisle. Eels complete their set with a poor kick 40 out so Mounties are able to get deep into Parra territory in their set and finish with a line finder a metre out.

Parra get to a deeper kick this time but a high tackle provides Mounties with yet another penalty. They squander possession with an error on half way.

Ma Chong is now on at dummy half and almost engineers a line break. The penalty comes as the desperation tackle is high. Full set coming in the red zone.

Eels pepper through the middle. Right side with Carlisle chiming in and Morrissey looks likely to score but the defence is superb and forces an error in grounding.

Mounties again make good yardage to put in another attacking kick. In reply Parra barely get to their forty and the kick is shallow. Stoppage now as Herdegen has to be carried off the field with a leg (knee?) injury.

Mounties last tackle kick is fielded in goal by Thorne on the wing – Staines has moved to half.

Eels use the seven tackle set to get a kick into the mouth of the posts but the Mounties fullback does another great job to be multiple defenders and get out of her quarter. She again causes trouble late in the set but the last tackle kick takes a fortunate bounce for Parra and goes over the sideline in goal. Seven tackle set to Parra to finish the half.

The Eels throw up a mid field bomb on the last which is fumbled by Mounties but there’s no time for the scrum.

Half time Eels 8 lead Mounties 6

Second Half

Mounties kick off. Terrific ball movement this set with Morgan prominent in a left side shift to Ginn. Great kick chase by Matthews on the last to tackle the winger a metre out.

Mounties put up a mid field bomb fielded by Ginn.

Eels like their chances down the left edge and Morgan again engineers a break for Ginn. She in turn steps back in field just enough to get the winger to follow her then she offloads to Fay who bumps through a couple of defenders to ground the ball.

Angled Conversion from Ma Chong hits the cross bar

Eels 12 Mounties 6 after 40 minutes

The team’s trade completed sets with Mounties getting the territorial advantage. A last tackle kick from Ma Chong rescues an ordinary set in possession but the Mounties reply with a top set and last tackle kick to force an error from Fay and a line drop out.

The short drop out results in a Mounties error.

Thocolich Splits the defence and Ma Chong and Fa’amausili join forces in punishing Mounties through the middle. Thocolich has a second involvement. It looks like Mounties have shut down Matthews in front of the posts but she gets a late offload. The ball comes to Staines who Dogs and zags and accelerates to score beside the posts.

Ma Chong converts

Eels 18 Mounties 6 after 52 minutes

Mounties just defend another Eels attack but then turn the ball over on half way. Eels get back to the red zone and put up a wide bomb that Mounties defend.

Mounties get to their kick and Thorne carries it back to the 40. O’Loughlin takes a run through the middle but is penalised for passing off the ground. A forward pass from Mounties sees Parra back in possession.

Eels push their advantage as they drive play to the quarter. The ball comes right to Morgan who steps off her right and mesmerises defenders to score.

Ma Chong converts

Eels 24 Mounties 6 with 13 minutes remaining

Mounties get possession from the short kick off. Mounties dive to the red zone and the posts but lose possession in contact.

Ma Chong is working her combinations with the middles to perfection as McWilliams takes a hit up.

Mounties winger fumbles the kick but recovers. The error eventually comes 30 out. Eels scrum. Left side to Carlisle off the scrum and the Eels fullback puts the pedal to the metal and burns the Mounties centre to cut through and score.

Ma Chong hits the upright with her conversion attempt

Eels 28 Mounties 6 with 7 minutes remaining

Short kick off again retrieved by Mounties. They ask questions as they drive into red zone and earn a drop out with their kick on the last. Eels go the long drop out and defend the set with Fay catching the kick in goal.

Gonn gets the Eels on the front foot with a rapid tap restart. Parra get deep into Mounties territory but a good trap and scrap prevents the Eels attacking kick from getting a result.

Good yardage this set and then the Mounties dummy half deliberately passes the ball into a retreating defender and the ref awards the penalty to Mounties. It was almost a forward pass to an isolated player!

Mounties take full advantage with their lock running a great line to carry defenders over the line.

Conversion successful

Eels 28 Mounties 12 with 28 seconds remaining

Kick off taken but siren sounds soon after.

Full time Eels 28 defeat Mounties 12

Sixties

 

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2 thoughts on “Live Blog – NSW Women’s Premiership Round 1, 2026: Eels vs Mounties

  1. mw11

    Super keen to see Layne Morgan in action!
    Would you expect all the u19 origin girls to join this team next week?

    Freedom Crichton Ropati
    Taylah Falaniko
    Khyliah Gray
    Ava Jones
    Irae Savea
    Aaliyah Soufan
    Fontayne Tufuga

    1. Sixties

      Layne was very impressive. Most of in not all should join the squad. From memory they were all part of the season launch

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