The 2022 NRLW season kicks off with a clash between two sides who went toe-to-toe in the 2021 campaign, with the Roosters aiming to get their title defence off to the best possible start.
A Zahara Temara field goal was all that separated them the last time they met, and that 19-18 victory turned out to be a season-defining one for the Roosters who went on to claim a finals spot ahead of the Eels on points differential, en route to winning their maiden Premiership.
A couple of the key figures from this rivalry will be missing, headlined by fullbacks Corban Baxter (pregnancy) and Botille Vette-Welsh (knee), but a host of new faces will add plenty of excitement for both sides.
Parramatta won their only match at CommBank Stadium last season, 24-14 over the Titans, while the Roosters didn’t play at the venue in the 2021 season.
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The Rundown
Team news
Eels: The Eels are 1-17 with no late changes. Former New Zealand Sevens star Gayle Broughton is the new fullback at Parramatta, replacing the injured Botille Vette-Welsh, and will make her NRLW debut. AFLW convert Brooke Walker gets first shot at the No.6 jersey, while off-season signing Vanessa Foliaki and co-captain Simaima Taufa both start in the forward pack.
Roosters: The Roosters are 1-17 with no late changes. Veteran fullback Samantha Bremner is back after a couple of years out due to pregnancy, joining a talented backline which includes New South Wales star Jessica Sergis and skipper Isabelle Kelly. After making her Test debut for Tonga earlier this year, Kalosipani Hopoate will play her first NRLW game off the bench.
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Player to watch: Isabelle Kelly
The newly-announced Roosters skipper comes off a brilliant 2021 NRLW campaign, and earlier this year was recognised as the best player in the Women’s State of Origin match as well. Across seven appearances for the Tricolours last season Kelly averaged five tackle breaks, while her average of 60 post-contact metres per match was bettered only by Millie Boyle.
Stat attack
The Eels were among the best defensive units in the competition last year and missed the second-fewest tackles (23.2 per game on average), ranking them behind only the Dragons (21.9 per game on average). They’ll be tested in that area this weekend, with the Roosters having averaged 26 tackle breaks per game last year.
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