NRLW Match Report | Round 3 v Raiders

49th minute: The Warriors have turned defence into points, the hosts forcing an error to deny the Cowboys before an early shift caught out the North Queensland edge defence. Stacey Waaka set Lavinia Tauhalaliku free down the left sideline before looming up on support on the inside to score her side's fifth try of the afternoon. Warriors 26 - Cowboys 0.

46th minute: We're off to the Bunker as the Cowboys claim their first points of the afternoon. Warriors winger Ocean Tierney spilled a grubber, North Queensland's Fran Goldthorp grabbed the ball but was held up. It's no try but a fresh attacking set of six for the visitors. Warriors 20 - Cowboys 0.

43rd minute: The Warriors have largely controlled the opening exchanges of this half and they've struck a crucial blow to extend their lead. Emmanita Paki found space with a grubber in behind the Cowboys defensive line, Jasmin Huriwai was chasing through the middle and pounced on the loose ball to score the try. Warriors 20 - Cowboys 0.

Kick-off: We are back for the second half with the Cowboys desperate to strike first as they look to remain in the contest. The Warriors were impressive in the opening 35 minutes and will look to kick clear as they chase their first win of the season. Warriors 14 - Cowboys 0.

Half-time: A big moment in the final play of the half, Ivana Lauitiiti beating five Cowboys defenders to charge her way to the line and score on the stroke of half-time. North Queensland did a great job to stay in touch with their opponents throughout a tough first half but that Warriors try could prove costly. Warriors 14 - Cowboys 0.

26th minute: The Cowboys have lodged a Captain's Challenge after Emma Manzelmann was ruled to have dropped the ball in a tackle close to the goal line. The hooker argued it was a strip but the Bunker has ruled a loose carry and it's Warriors ball. Warriors 8 - Cowboys 0.

23rd minute: The Warriors have their second try and it's thanks to another kick to the left corner. Emmanita Paki produced the bomb, Haylee Hifo was unable to reel it in and Stacey Waaka pounced on the loose ball to extend her side's lead. Warriors 8 - Cowboys 0. 

19th minute: Missed opportunity now for the Cowboys after a pair of penalties gave them a prime opportunity to attack. The visitors found some space but a left-edge shift ended with a Sian Williams error and the Warriors hold on. Warriors 4 - Cowboys.

13th minute: The hosts were briefly asked to defend their own line before going straight back on the attack. The Cowboys defence held firm for a second time, forcing an error to regain possession. Warriors 4 - Cowboys 0.

8th minute: The Warriors continue to control this contest but the Cowboys have come up with a crucial defensive stand. Warriors hooker Jasmin Huriwai was stopped just short of the line after darting from dummy half and North Queensland forced an error later in the set to repel their opponents. Warriors 4 - Cowboys 0.

4th minute: The Warriors have turned territory into points, Apii Nicholls producing a well-placed grubber into the in-goal. Cowboys winger Haylee Hifo got a terrible bounce and Lavinia Tauhalaliku was there to ground the ball for the try. Warriors 4 - Cowboys 0.

Kick-off: We are underway at a sold-out Go Media Stadium with both sides chasing their first victory of the season. The Cowboys had an excellent opening set of six and rolled past the halfway line before Bree Chester spilled the ball in a big hit from the Warriors defence. Early chance now for the hosts to build some pressure. Warriors 0 - Cowboys 0.

Late Mail

Warriors: Metanoia Fetalaiga has moved into the starting side at prop in No.18 on Friday with Ashlee Matapo sliding to the bench. Mya Hill-Moana will make her return from suspension at lock with Christabelle Onesemo in the second row. Star playmaker Gayle Broughton remains sidelined with a quad injury, with Emmanita Paki to line up at five-eighth and Olympic gold medallist Stacey Waaka shifting to centre. Jasmin Huriwai is set to start for the first time in her NRLW career and slots in at hooker, while Shakira Baker will return to the back row after starting at centre last week. 

Cowboys: Centre Abigail Roache (knee) has been ruled out, with Haylee Hifo taking her place. Former rugby star Ashley Marsters makes her NRLW debut on the interchange for Saturday's clash in Auckland. Sian Williams is also set to return to the fold after missing last week's loss to Wests Tigers with a concussion. It's North Queensland's first game in New Zealand and second-rower Tallisha Harden will make her 50th NRLW appearance. 

Bulldogs v Sharks at Accor Stadium

 

Raiders v Roosters at GIO Stadium

Full-time: What a game that was! The Roosters get the job done with a hard-fought 22-18 victory, turning around a dominant first 40 minutes from the Raiders at GIO Stadium. A deserved celebration for Roosters lock Olivia Kernick and her coach John Strange in their 50th games.

67th min: The Roosters surge down the field from their own end and Jocelyn Kelleher gets excellent cross-field kick in to finish it off. It ends up in the hands oif Millie Elliott, who is downed inches from the try line.

64th min: Drama in Canberra. Jayme Fressard gets her hand on a Jocelyn Kelleher grubber kick Mackenzie Wiki allowed to bounce. Fressard thinks she knocked the ball on, but the replay shows the ball never left her hand and the try is awarded. Jocelyn Kelleher makes the conversion from out wide. Roosters lead 22-18.

61st min: The home side is back in front! Krystal Blackwell slides across field to the right side and puts it through the hands to Mackenzie Wiki, who has plenty of work to do on her run to the line and ends up with her feet above the sideline after the challenge from Jocelyn Kelleher in scoring the try. Sheridan Gallagher gets the conversion attempt, but misses. Raiders lead 18-16.

Injury update: Charlotte Basham has left the field with a leg injury.

56th min: The Raiders go right on the attack and on last tackle, Zehara Temara put it into the in goal. The chase is left wanting and Tarryn Aiken breaks away for a 50 metres run to get her side in a strong position. The Roosters sniff an opportunity down the left but Jayme Fressard is bundled into touch.

51st min: You know it's coming, but you can't stop it. Tarryn Aiken goes with the dummy and run on this occasion and slices straight through the Raiders defence to put her side, remarkably, level! The conversion is an easy one for Jocelyn Kelleher to put the Roosters in front. The Raiders have been made to pay for giving away for repeat sets and the Roosters are finding some holes. Roosters lead 16-14.

40/30: Just as the Roosters look to have gathered some momentum, Zahara Temara executes a 40/30 to put her side back on the attack.

44th min: Olivia Kernick, you cannot do that! Sariah Paki may have crossed for the try, but she owes that one to the milestone gamer, who throws a ridiculous flick pass while being tackled to make it happen. It came off the back of a Jocelyn Kelleher bomb, which bounced back to the Roosters and went wide to Jayme Fressard, who put in a kick infield, which was taken by Kernick, and the rest is history. Kelleher makes the conversion to close the gap. Raiders lead 14-10.

40th min: After the Raiders turn the ball over after scoring, Isabelle Kelly gets over the line in the following set. Sadly for Roosters fans, she's found to have knocked the ball on over the try line and the chance goes begging. 

38th min: The Green Machine is humming! After an unforgivable penalty for a late tackle, the Raiders take full advantage when Jordyn Preston runs a great line between two Roosters defenders off a Zahara Temara pass, bumping off Corban Baxter to score. Temara misses the conversion attempt. Baxter is placed on report for her goal line challenge on Preston crept high. Raiders lead 14-4.

Half-time: It's hard to imagine a team playing much better than the Raiders in that first half at GIO Stadium. The home side controlled the game while throwing the ball in an entertainment packed half, getting across for two tries in the process to enjoy a 10-4 lead. The fact it wasn't more was a credit to the desperate Roosters defence after giving up 68% of the ball and making an extra 60 tackles. The Raiders have been making easy metres on the back of outstanding opening stints from Jordyn Preston and Sophie Holyman, running for 98m and 88m respectively.

35th min: Jess Sergis is down receiving treatment after an unlucky finger to the eye, but she soldiers on.

33rd min: The Raiders send waves of attack on the Roosters line once again, but the visitors somehow manage to hold on in defence, and Corban Baxter makes sure of it when she covers a ball in-goal and gets back into the field of play.

28th min: Sheridan Gallagher has her first try for the Raiders. The fullback has had an outstanding game and gets the just reward, receiving the ball on last tackle and opting to take on the line, brushing off Olivia Kernick, Tarryn Aiken and Rima Butler to get the ball down. The Raiders are making easy metres and receiving some useful penalties to get into the attacking zone on the back of some Roosters ill-discipline. Zahara Temara has a forgettable conversion attempt. Raiders lead 10-4.

21st min: The Raiders take the lead, opting to take the two after receiving a marker penalty adjacent the posts. Zahara Temara makes no mistake. It came off the back of a repeat set from a Temara grubber kick. The Raiders are impressing with their ball movement and control, constantly having the Roosters on the back foot. Raiders lead 6-4.

17th min: The two teams have settled into a rhythm, going set for set. The kicking dual between the two sides has been a highlight, with Roosters five-eighth Jocelyn Kelleher and Raiders fullback Sheridan Gallagher trading towering floating bombs, which are well handed at the back.

12th min: The Raiders hit back with a try of their own. Bobbi Law is the beneficiary of a beautiful double-cutout out ball from Zahara Temara to her centre, who carries the Roosters defenders over. It came after the Raiders found touch from the restart after the Fressard try and then earned a repeat set from a penalty. Zahara Temara also pulls the sideline conversion attempt to the left. Scores level 4-4.

10th min: The Roosters are in! Against the run of play in the opening 10 minutes, the Raiders gift penalties to their opposition and they strike right away, as the pass goes to the left to Jayme Fressard, who had plenty of work to do and bounces off defenders to squeeze the ball down to score. Jocelyn in the corner. Jocelyn Kelleher pulls the conversion attempt to the left. Roosters lead 4-0. 

7th min: Tarryn Aiken saves the day! After the Raiders go 84m in a set of six and with Zahara Temara wreaking havoc, an opportunity to score opens up on the left, but Aiken sticks the hand out, bunts up the ball and regathers to quell the threat.

5th min: The Roosters have been scrappy to start this one in the nation's capital, surrendering on last tackle in their second set still 35m out from their own line. Sheridan Gallagher puts in an attacking cross-field kick but the Roosters defend their mistake and it's a changeover. 

2nd min: After the Roosters making an error in the opening set of the game, the Raiders go on the attack. They threaten the Roosters line and Zahara Temara gets a handy kick in goal, but the ball comes back for a 20m restart after a Raider got a hand to the ball.

Kickoff: We're underway on a perfect afternoon in Canberra in what is set to be a cracking clash between two undefeated sides. There appeared to be some concern over Roosters centre Jessica Sergis in the warm-up, but she has taken the field.

Late Mail

Raiders: English international Hollie-Mae Dodd has been ruled out after suffering a concussion last weekend, with Ellie Brander coming on to the bench for an NRLW debut. No other changes for Canberra as they chase a third-straight victory. 

Roosters: No further changes were made on game day after outside back Keighley Simpson dropped out in the 24-hour squad update due to injury. Mia Wood joins the bench and Taneisha Gray is the replacement player. Lock Olivia Kernick will play her 50th NRLW game while John Strange will become the first person to coach 50 NRLW matches.