NRLW Team of the Week: Round 2

The Roosters continued their dominant start to the 2022 season with a big win over the Broncos, while the Dragons and Knights had to fight hard for narrow victories in round 2.

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• NRLW Round 2 Wrap-up

A handful of players from the round 1 Team of the Work have made it again, while there are some new faces as well who impressed last weekend. 

Here is the NRLW Team of the week for Round 2.

1. Tamika Upton (Knights)

Put in a tireless shift at the back which included 23 runs with the ball, more than any other player on the field, resulting in 241 metres gained. The two-time Premiership winner backed up nicely to score Newcastle’s third try, which ended up being the difference in a 16-12 victory.

2. Teagan Berry (Dragons)

Earns a place in the Team of the Week for the second week in a row after causing huge issues for Parra’s edge defence on her side of the field with her elusive running, which saw her break the line on three occasions, one of which led to a try, Made 136 metres in yardage.

3. Tiana Penitani (Eels)

Burned the Dragons defence for a 40-metre try in the first half and then set another one up off a near carbon copy move minutes later. Ran for more metres than any other player on the park. The NSW representative delivered big time at both centre, and for the final eight minutes of the game fullback. 

4. Evania Pelite (Titans)

Caused issues all game for Newcastle with her powerful running, which saw her make 87 post-contact metres on a night when she ran for 223 in total. Very tidy in defence too with 14 tackles and some nice reads to close down Newcastle set plays.

5. Julia Robinson (Broncos)

Went looking for work when the going got tough and finished up making more metres than any other Bronco (201). Set up Brisbane’s first try with a nice kick defusal and 50-metre return.

6. Tarryn Aiken (Broncos)

Seemed to be involved in everything at Suncorp Stadium and at one stage looked like dragging her side back into the contest. Finished with two tries, but it could have been three if not for a desperate tackle in the first half, and stopped Jessica Sergis from scoring with a brilliant tackle of her own.  

7. Raecene McGregor (Roosters)

As the game hung in the balance late in the first half it was the Kiwi Ferns playmaker who got things going for the Roosters by setting up long-range tries for Olivia Kernick and Samantha Bremner. Caused big issues with her running, breaking the line twice and finishing with 168 metres, and brought her teammates into the game well.

8. Shannon Mato (Titans)

The Maroons rep was a pillar of strength for the Titans and their only forward who ran for over 100 metres. Mato made 81 post-contact metres and had 30 tackles without a single miss. 

9. Destiny Brill (Roosters)

A constant menace around the ruck who caught the Broncos napping to score the first try of the game. Averaged a touch over 10 metres gained on each of her six carries and broke six tackles.

10. Sarah Togatuki (Roosters)

Failed to finish the last nine minutes of the game due to a rib issue, but she’d already done the damage by that point. Laid a solid platform alongside her front-row partner Mya Hill-Moana and carried the ball for 125 metres.

11. Kezie Apps (Dragons)

Back in her customary position in the second row after helping fill a gap in the middle in round 1. Was dangerous whenever she carted the ball up and had a team-high six tackle busts. Busy in defence too with 30 tackles across her 57 minutes on the field.

12. Olivia Kernick (Roosters)

Her double in round 2 means she has now scored an impressive six tries in nine NRLW games. Outside of her tries, she had a busy day on her edge, making a team-high 26 tackles along with putting her hand up for 13 carries.

13. Holli Wheeler (Dragons)

Played all but six minutes in the middle and had the most tackles (31) and second-most carries (15) for the Dragons. Another who makes it in the Team of the Week for round 2 after doing so in round 1 as well. 

14. Emma Manzelmann (Knights)

Delivered outstanding impact off the bench, carving through the defence from dummy-half to score a try before setting up Tamika Upton with a long-range break later on. Changed the tempo of the game at a crucial point and even when she wasn’t making breaks, she was putting the Titans on the backfoot.

15. Tayla Predebon (Knights)

In conjunction with Manzelmann, she changed the game when she came on at the 21-minute mark. Powered through for 143 metres, the second-highest tally by a Newcastle forward on the night and delivered a good late offload in the lead up to Newcastle’s third try.  

16. Keilee Joseph (Roosters)

Part of a dominant Roosters middle unit who wore Brisbane down with a series of strong carries. In close to an hour on the park she racked up 136 run metres and 25 tackles.

17. Chelsea Lenarduzzi (Broncos)

Brisbane’s best forward who went toe-to-toe with the Roosters' pack during her stints in the middle. Carried the ball 17 times – more than any other forward on the field for either side – and delivered 148 run metres.