Match Report | NRLW Rd 5 v Dragons

Follow all the NRLW Magic Round Day 1 action on NRL.com's live blog.

NRLW Magic Round from Geohex Park, Wagga Wagga

Raiders v Cowboys

69th min: The Raiders have given up the ball and we head to the scrum, but referee Kasey Badger judges the Cowboys aren't making the effort to pack the scrum properly and when the scrum clock goes, the Raiders get the penalty.

68th min: The Raiders do a great job to keep out the Cowboys, who are throwing everything at the 'local' favourites in a bid to secure their first win. A cross-field kick goes towards Margot Vella, who knocks the ball back to Bree Chester, but she's locked up.

66th min: Sheridan Gallagher has put another one down. Rosie Kelly puts a ball up high on last tackle and while Gallagher makes the grab, she senses an offload opportunity 10m out from her own line but fumbles it in the process and the Cowboys are on the attack again.

62nd min: The Cowboys have found the lead here at Geohex Park! They go to their trusty left side once again a few plays after a Raiders error in the own end and the ball finds Margot Vella once again, but this time she steps off her left and comes against the grain, beating everyone to slip through and score. Rosie Kelly has a had a great day with the boot and slots this one from 10m from the touch line. Cowboys 18-16.

60th min: Oh so close! On the back of two high tackle penalties to march them into the attacking zone, the Cowboys looked to have gone over again through Margot Vella, but the cover defence does enough to hold her up and force the Cowboys winger's foot into touch.

Injury update: Charlize Lloyd-Phillips has passed her HIA and will return.

56th min: Here come the Cowboys! Margot Vella has switched wings in the wake of Charlize Lloyd-Phillips leaving the field and she is in position to take advantage from a simple shift left and she crosses the line, improving the position in the process. It came after Sheridan Gallagher spilled a bomb under pressure from three Cowboys chasers. Rosie Kelly sneaks the ball over for the conversion to close the gap to four points. Raiders lead 16-12.

NRLW Magic Round Day 1 crowd: 7142

50th min: The Cowboys are on the board! Charlize Lloyd-Phillips gets it down in the corner on the back of a slick move down their left, with the ball going through the hands of Rosie Kelly and the offload from Abigail Roache eventually finding Lloyd-Phillips for the fingertip put-down. Replays show Sheridan Gallagher contacted the tryscorer high and the Cowboys are awarded a possible eight-point try. Rosie Kelly misses the conversion from the sideline, but slots through the penalty shot from in front. Lloyd-Phillips leaves the field for HIA. Raiders lead 16-6.

47th min: Sheridan Gallagher is just too strong and scores under the sticks. A spread of the ball from left to right get a bit scrappy with it hitting the turf, but in some smart work, Krystal Blackwell scoops it up for Gallagher who schemes across the field, spots a gap and swerves off her left, beating a couple of tackles to slam it down. It's an easy conversion for Zahara Temara. Raiders 16-0.

 

43rd min: Fran Goldthorp is having a great stint at fullback for the Cowboys, proving solid with her positional play to field the Raiders last tackle kicks and get her side out of trouble.

38th min: Grace Kukutai gets over! There wasn't much happening when she picked up an errant pass, but she fended off Mackenzie Weale to accelerate through a hole and run 20m to score. Earlier, the Cowboys had received a penalty that should have taken them deep on attack, but Weale was the one who spilled the ball off the tap restart. Zahara Temara converts the try from adjacent the posts. Raiders 10-0.

Half-time: A gritty half of footy comes to an end in Wagga Wagga with the local favourites the Raiders leading 4-0. Both teams had ample opportunities on attack with ill-discipline a feature from both sides. But for the most part, each team has been able to defend its errors in multiple sets on their own line. The game opened up slightly late in the half and it was the Raiders taking the advantage with a sole try to Elise Simpson.

34th min: The Raiders go close once again but the pass doesn't stick! They like their chances down the left edge and Isabella Waterman gets an offload away but this time Elise Simpson can't hold on and the Cowboys survive.

31st min: The try drought is over! Raiders centre Isabella Waterman feeds wingers Elise Simpson for the try, stepping inside the defence of Jasmine Peters to get across the stripe. It came on the back of another penalty on their own line from the Cowboys. The conversion is unsuccessful. Raiders 4-0.

28th min: Alisha Ford is over for the Cowboys but can't hold on to it! The interchange hooker spots a gap off a quick play the ball but the Raiders defence does enough.

24th min: The Raiders can't take advantage of the field position after a forward pass from Chante Temara to Grace Kemp, who is slammed in a strong tackle from Mackenzie Weale.

23rd min: The Cowboys have invited the Raiders into their half after a miscommunication on last tackle results in the changeover 40m out from their own line.

19th min: There's plenty of attacking opportunities for both sides but no one can break through. The Cowboys had their turn on the back of a tackle ruck penalty in their own end, but centre Abigail Roache was claimed on last for the changeover.

15th min: This time it's the Raiders holding out the Cowboys in repeated sets on their own line. A Krystal Blackwell error on half way and a few penalties put the Cowboys right on attack and Essay Banu crossed the line and was held up, but the Raiders are doing enough.

10th min: The Cowboys are giving away repeat penalties on their own line holding down in the play-the-ball but the tactic proves the right one for them as they force an error from Krystal Blackwell in the Raiders fourth straight set on attack.

7th min: The Cowboys get their first chance to attack but on the last, the attempted cross field kick from Tallara Bamblett skews off the side of her boot and avoid everyone to bounce over the sideline.

3rd min: The Raiders are winning the field position battle and get the first opportunity to attack, but Krystal Blackwell puts a bit too much heat on a grubber kick on last tackle and it goes dead in goal.

Late Mail

Raiders: The Raiders are 1-18 from the squad named on Tuesday, with Hollie Mae-Dodd to start in the back row after making a successful return from concussion last week. The English international will replace the suspended Jordyn Preston. Isabella Waterman is set to replace Bobbi Law in the centres. Winger Elise Simpson has scored eight tries in her last nine NRLW games. 

Cowboys: Ashley Marsters comes into the starting line-up in a swap with Lily Dick in the only game day change for the Cowboys. Abigail Roache takes her place in the centres after falling short of an early comeback from a knee injury last week. The Kiwi Fern's return has triggered a reshuffle, with Fran Goldthorpe shifting to fullback and Margot Vella moving to wing. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith makes her return from a hamstring injury and will come off the bench in her first game of the season. Kayla Jackson remains as the replacement player.

Dragons v Roosters

Media conferences

 

Full-time: The Roosters have finished strongly to record a 30-point win over the Dragons.

68th min: It's a Magic Round hat-trick for Jess Sergis! The spiral bomb from Jocelyn Kelleher is spilled backwards by Teagen Berry and Sergis gets her foot to the ball and she seems to have the ball on a string as it bounces perfectly for her to gather in and score. Kelleher is successful with the conversion attempt. Roosters 38-8.

66th min: It's all unravelling for the Dragons, with Shenae Ciesiolka making an error, the ball falling the Isabelle Kelly who weaves her way through the Dragons and runs away to score under the posts. Jocelyn Kelleher converts. Roosters 32-8.

64th min: Taina Naividi gets her try! Or does she? After coming close on a few occasions, Corban Baxter unselfishly floats a pass over to Naividi a try on return to NRLW from an ACL injury, but the Bunker finds Jasmin Strange obstructed a defender in the lead-up. 

Injury update: A blow for the Dragons with Kasey Reh going off for a HIA after a strong tackle from Sariah Paki.

61st min: The pressure is building on the Dragons and Taina Naividi grounds the ball in goal but the referee finds Jess Sergis knocked the ball on in an aerial contest in the lead up.

58th min: The Roosters extend their lead once again through Jess Sergis. After getting into the attacking zone due to a Dragons error, the Roosters go close on multiple occasions and on last play the ball Corban Baxter opts to run it, going deep into the line and throwing a short ball to Sergis running a brave line. Jocelyn Kelleher converts the try from right in front to eclipse 300 career points. Roosters 26-8.

54th min: Play stops for Dragons centre Shenae Ciesiolka to get treatment after a knee-on-knee collision with Roosters winger Jayme Fressard. She gets strapped up and stays on the field.

51st min: Roosters interchange forward Rima Butler has her sights on the try line after Olivia Kernick puts her into space on half way, but the pass is ruled forward.

47th min: The Dragons have hit back after a brilliant individual effort from Tahlia O'Brien. She received a great cutout pass from Zali Hopkins to get into space and fools everyone including her teammates with a big dummy to her winger and O'Brein steps off her left to record her first NRLW career try. No luck on the conversion attempt from Jayme Millard. Roosters lead 20-8.

Injury update: Tyra Ekapati has been ruled out due to a failed HIA.

45th min: The Roosters march into the Dragons' half and go close to scoring on a couple of occasions, but the last tackle kick from Keeley Nizza goes dead.

42nd min: The Roosters make the error in the set after points to put the Dragons on the attack. After a nifty step puts Kasey Reh through a half-gap, she offloads to Teagen Berry, but then Berry's offload is called forward.

39th min: So much space for the Roosters and they're over. A few plays on the back of an error from the Dragons, the Roosters send it from the right wing to the left wing, going through the hands with block plays until the ball finds Isabelle Kelly, who takes on and fends off one defenders before handing off to Jayme Fressard to score in the corner. Jocelyn Kelleher has had her struggles with the boot today but nails this one from the sideline, sending it straight over the black dot. Roosters 20-4.

Half-time: The Roosters take a 10-point lead into half-time after making more of the opportunities in the opening stanza. The 14-4 scoreline arguably flatters the Chooks, as the Dragons showed plenty of energy and one of their better halves of the season, having a try disallowed in the process. The Roosters were a bit scrappy early but found their form late in the half thanks to an outstanding contribution from interchange forwards Aliyah Nasio and Amber Hall. The Dragons will also need to improve their discipline after a number of penalties invited the Roosters to attack their line.

34th min: They're over again! The Roosters are putting their stamp on this one, with Jocelyn Kelleher receiving the ball with momentum, going deep into the line and sneaking a pass to Jasmin Strange in behind a Dragons defender to extend the lead. Kelleher finds her range with the boot, riding the breeze to sneak the conversion inside the upright. Roosters 14-4.

29th min: The Roosters have turned the tide and scored! Who else but Jess Sergis, going over untouched thanks to the quick hands of Corban Baxter. The Roosters enjoyed several repeat sets to build the pressure and earn the rewards. Jocelyn Kelleher can't covert from 10m to the right of the posts. Roosters 8-4.

25th min: Are the Dragons over again? A last tackle kick causes all sorts of problem for the Roosters and Teagan Berry claims the try after getting there first. Replays show she knocked it on, however, and the Chooks survive.

23rd min: Taliah Fuimaono has got the Dragons on the board! On the back of the momentum from a Kasey Reh long kick that forced the error from Jayme Fressard trying to prevent the ball going for a 40/30, Fuimaono just takes it on from dummy half and uses her strength to fight off three Roosters defenders to ground the ball. Jayme Millard misses the conversion attempt. Scores level 4-4.

19th min: The Dragons are looking lively with the ball in hand, making in-roads from their own half to get into attacking position. The momentum switches after a Kasey Reh bomb is allowed to bounce but goes dead.

14th min: The Dragons do an excellent job on defence once again. Jess Sergis looked to have had the ball in space but instead tried to put her winger Taina Naividi over, although the Dragons cover defence was there to force the error as Naividi passed forward trying to flick the ball back in before being bundled into touch.

12th min: The Dragons are over the line after Maria Paseka leapt high to catch a cross-field kick but the Roosters defence does incredibly well to get around her and save the try.

8th min: The Roosters get another chance on attack on the back of a penalty to get out of yardage, but halfback Corban Baxter puts it down just as they looked like breaking open the Dragons.

4th min: The Roosters are in for their first as Keeley Nizza dives over from dummy half. The Dragons should have been on the attack at the other end, but handed over possession when Teagan Berry failed to find touch after the Dragons received a penalty. A repeat set for the Roosters proved too much for the Dragons defence to manage. Jocelyn Kelleher misses the conversion. Roosters 4-0.

Berry didn't find touch, offside penaly after rough bounce

Kickoff: The Dragons kick off to get us underway for Game 2 of NRLW Magic Round.

Late Mail

Dragons: The Dragons are 1-17 with no late changes. Maria Paseka is on track to return from a hamstring injury and will line up on the wing. The youngster's comeback will prompt a minor reshuffle, with Tyra Ekepati to start at centre and Tahlia O'Brien shifting to the interchange. Amelia Huakau is set to start at prop in place of Maddison Mulhall, who injured her ACL last week, while Lavinia Kitai and Ahlivia Ingram are the new faces on the bench. Charis Toli is the 18th player.

Roosters: The Roosters are 1-17 with no late changes. Tarryn Aiken's return from a shoulder injury is on hold for another week. Fijian winger Taina Naividi is back for her first match of the season after recovering from an ACL tear suffered on the eve of last year's grand final. Mia Wood is the 18th player.

Numbers Game

• The Dragons have been outscored by a combined 66-8 in their last two games.
• The Roosters have won their last five games against the Dragons.
• Dragons fullback Teagan Berry has scored seven tries in her last seven NRLW games.
• Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly has scored seven tries in her last six games against the Dragons.

 

Sharks v Wests Tigers

Media conferences

Full-time: The Tigers have continued their impressive start to the 2026 season as they open Magic Round with a 12-point win. After winning just one game in 2025 and claiming the wooden spoon, the Tigers are 3-2 after five rounds and looking every bit a finals team.

69 min: Dummy half Salma Nour throws the big dummy and gets past Caitlan Johnston-Green to ice the Tigers' third win of the season. Raecene McGregor converts to give her 18 points for the day. Tigers 32-20

68 min: Jaydika Tafua is penalised for crowding in the play-the-ball and the Tigers work the ball upfield and look to close it out.

67 min: Chantay Kiria-Ratu tries to grubber through the line on the last tackle but Holli Wheeler traps and scraps and shuts it down.

63 min: A monster high ball from Chantay Kiria-Ratu is put down by Lily Rogan but the ball goes backwards and Caitlin Turnbull is on hand to tidy up.

61 min: Quincy Dodd takes off out of dummy half from her own 30m line and charges into the back field before picking up Jada Taylor who has too much speed for the cover defence. Chantay Kiria-Ratu converts. Tigers 26-20

58 min: More class from Raecene McGregor as she chips the ball into the in-goal and the perfectly weighted kick is taken on the full by Namoe Gesa. With McGregor's conversion the Tigers are out by 12. Tigers 26-14

54 min: A poor offload by Christian Pio is picked off by Caitlan Johnston-Green and the Sharks are off the hook.

52 min: A one-on-one steal by Holli Wheeler allows the Tigers to come out of their own end.

50 min: The Sharks go right where Chantay Kiria-Ratu finds Jada Taylor who delivers a pinpoint pass for Georgia Ravics to score in the corner. Emily Bass raced in off the wing but Taylor picked her off easily and put her winger away. Kiria-Ratu fails to convert. Tigers 20-14

46 min: A double strike for the Tigers as Raecene McGregor's bomb is taken by Harmony Crichton who gets the ball to Kezie Apps and on to Emily Bass who gets over in the corner. Tigers 20-10

43 min: If we thought Raecene McGregor's first try was good, the second one is even better! A couple of dummies and some elite footwork to get past Ellie Johnston and Jada Taylor and the Tigers hit the front. McGregor converts. Tigers 16-10

43 min: Tegan Dymock is penalised for a high shot on Sarah Togatuki.

40 min: The Sharks continue to defend their tryline as Ellie Johnston tidies up a Raecene McGregor grubber and we have another line dropout.

37 min: Another error by the Sharks, this time by Tiana Penitani Gray, and the Tigers are inside the red zone again. Raecene McGregor earns her side a repeat set with a pinpoint grubber which is cleaned up by Jada Taylor.

36 min: The Sharks make a mistake straight from the kick-off through Chantay Kiria-Ratu and throw away their captain's challenge.

Rae gun: Tigers halfback Raecene McGregor has already broken the club record for most points in a season (32) and continued her fine form with a try and a goal to go with three tackle breaks, 59 run metres and a line break.

Half-time: It's all square in the opening game of Magic Round in glorious conditions in Wagga Wagga. Possession was evenly split and both sides came up with a number of errors with the Sharks making eight and the Tigers five.

35 min: Faythe Manera is sent for a HIA after a head clash.

35 min: The Sharks are penalised for a strip as Kezie Apps tries to get an offload away in traffic. The Sharks challenge the call and come up trumps. The bunker rules Apps wasn't in control of the offload and had made the error.

33 min: Lily Rogan is back in the action and cops a high shot from Georgia Ravics.

28 min: Kezie Apps can't make the catch on the kick-off and the Sharks get a chance to hit straight back.

27 min: A superb solo try from Raecene McGregor as she dummies her way through the line and steps past Jada Taylor to grab the Tigers' second try. McGregor converts her own try and we are all locked up. 10-10

26 min: Losana Lutu grubbers from close to the line and Madison Higgins-Ashby can't control the pick-up. Tigers scrum.

23 min: Quincy Dodd jumps out of dummy half and picks up a rampaging Caitlan Johnston-Green who goes straight between two defenders to score. Chantay Kiria-Ratu converts. Sharks 10-4

18 min: Lily Rogan races up on Jada Taylor and comes off the worse for wear. She leaves the field with what looks to be a leg injury.

16 min: Chantay Kiria-Ratu goes high, Holli Wheeler makes contact with the kicking leg and goes on report. Penalty Sharks. Wheeler goes to the bin and the Sharks have a one-player advantage.

14 min: Salma Nour goes close but the Sharks muscle up on the goal line and she puts it down.

13 min: Cassie Staples' tough opening to the game continues as she spills a bomb and the Tigers are hot on attack again.

10 min: The Tigers hit back as Raecene McGregor puts the ball on a dime for Emily Bass to take the ball on the full and score wide out. McGregor's conversion goes under the crossbar. 4-4

9 min: Caitlan Johnston-Green brings the ball back from the kick-off and is met front-on in strong defence by Kezie Apps who forces the error.

7 min: The Sharks strike first after Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Madison Ashby combine to put Georgia Ravics over in the right-hand corner. Kiria-Ratu can't land the extras. Sharks 4-0

6 min: A good shot by Tiana Penitani Gray forces an error from the Tigers.

5 min: Cassie Staples is penalised for lingering in the tackle too long and the Tigers are inside the red zone again.

2 min: A floating bomb by Raecene McGregor is put down by Cassie Staples and the Tigers get an early shot at points.

Late Mail

Sharks: No further game day changes after Tiana Penitani Gray came into the team on Friday in her return from a quad injury. Penitani Gray replaces Annessa Biddle in the centres, who succumbs to a leg injury suffered last week. Rhiannon Byers also came on to the bench in Friday's update in place of Jacinta Carter. Hooker Quincy Dodd and Penitani Gray will each play their 50th NRLW match on Saturday. 

Wests Tigers: Five-eighth Losana Lutu moves from the reserves to five-eighth, with Faythe Manera shifting to the interchange. Shenai Lendill has also dropped back to the bench, with Harmony Crichton to start at centre. The other change will see Christian Pio come into the starting side at prop and Shaniece Monschau revert to the interchange. Tyla Amiatu also joins the bench in jersey No.22.

Numbers Game

• The Sharks are chasing back-to-back wins for the first time in 2026
• Wests Tigers have won two of their three games against the Sharks
• Sharks duo Quincy Dodd and Tiana Penitani Gray will play their 50th NRLW game.
• Halfback Raecene McGregor requires five points to break the Tigers’ season point scoring record.