Roosters, Eels set to open 2022 NRLW season

Defending premiers Sydney Roosters will start their title defence against the Eels on August 20 after the 2022 NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership draw was released on Friday.

The jam-packed schedule, which will run alongside the final rounds of the NRL Telstra Premiership and finals series, includes primetime Sunday night football, two club double-headers and a standalone triple-header at Central Coast Stadium.

A new-look Roosters will take on Parramatta, who they defeated by a field goal in March, before clashing with the Broncos in a semi-final rematch in round two at Redcliffe's Moreton Daily Stadium, which hosted the 2021 NRLW grand final. 

The Tricolours have lost several players from last season's premiership campaign including captain Corban Baxter (pregnancy) and Newcastle-bound forwards Hannah Southwell, Yasmin Clydsdale and Olivia Higgins.

They have recruited Sam Bremner, Titans pair Destiny Brill, Shaniah Power and former Knight Jayme Fressard in return while Chante Temara, younger sister of Zahara, has also signed with the club after a broken hand earlier this year.

In arguably the match of the opening round, Brisbane will travel to McDonald Jones Stadium to take on the Knights, who will be bolstered by former Broncos stars Millie Boyle and Tamika Upton.

Newcastle, who have undergone the competition's biggest squad overhaul since their season ended in March, will host the Broncos before clashes against the Titans, Eels, Roosters and Dragons. 

St George Illawarra and Gold Coast will open their campaigns at WIN Stadium on August 21 in their own semi-final rematch. 

The Dragons, who were last season's runners-up, will meet the Eels in round two before coming up against the Roosters in a grand final rematch at Leichhardt Oval on September 4. 

The Titans, under new coach Karyn Murphy, will clash against the Broncos in the Queensland derby in round three at Moreton Daily Stadium. 

In other key draw highlights;

• The Titans and Knights will be part of a double-header with the men's sides on August 28 at Cbus Super Stadium
• The date and time of all three round four fixtures are still to be confirmed in order to align with men's finals matches
• A standalone NRLW triple header will take place at Central Coast Stadium on September 18 to finish the regular season

The 2022 NRL Telstra Women's Premiership will be the fifth season since its inception in 2018. 

Current champions the Roosters took out the 2021 competition after its postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Previous winners before that were the Broncos, who won three-straight titles. 

NRLW clubs have locked in 22 of their 24-player squads with the remaining two players required to be signed by August 1. Squads will begin pre-season training from mid-July.

To see the full 2022 NRLW draw, click here.