The latest chapter in a budding NRLW rivalry was penned on Thursday night as Cronulla fell to Parramatta 18-16 in an absorbing season-opening encounter at Sharks Stadium.
The scoreline was the same as when the teams met last season, however the Sharks were on the wrong end this time despite a gutsy effort after losing prop Filomina Hanisi (knee) and centre Annessa Biddle (cramp) in the second half.
After trailing 12-6 at the break following a Hanisi try, Cronulla rallied in the second half with utility Nakia Davis-Welsh and hooker Quincy Dodd crossing the stripe. The Sharks briefly led, but Parramatta finished strongest to claim the spoils.
Match: Sharks v Eels
Round 1 -
home Team
Sharks
7th Position
away Team
Eels
6th Position
Venue: Sharks Stadium, Sydney
Halfback Chantay Kiria-Ratu, on Sharks debut after switching from the Titans, impressed with her powerful boot. Fullback Emma Verran racked up almost 200 metres and second-rower Talei Holmes made 38 tackles in game-high efforts, while debutante Jaydika Tafua achieved a dream after playing the final 15 minutes.
Cronulla looked sharp early, applying pressure through a line break from edge forward Rhiannon Byers, but it was the Eels who struck first in the seventh minute. A pinpoint grubber from halfback Rachael Pearson struck the goalpost and forced a Sharks error, allowing forward Chloe Jackson to swoop upon the scraps.
The boot of Pearson came up trumps again in the 13th minute as the crafty No.7 toed the ball ahead for herself to touch down under the sticks.
Despite the scoreline, the Sharks continued to pepper the Eels. After being denied several times by desperate defence or poor execution, Cronulla secured a well-earned try as Hanisi powered over for her first NRLW four-pointer.
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Filomina Hanisi Try
Ecstasy turned to agony for Hanisi shortly after half-time when the forward was carried off the field with a knee injury. Cronulla's troubles were compounded as the Eels extended their lead to 14-6 with a Pearson penalty goal moments later.
Undeterred, the Sharks responded via the lively Davis-Welsh in the 44th minute. After sparking a break with a clever offload to five-eighth Georgia Hannaway, Davis-Welsh accelerated through the line in a brilliant solo effort.
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Nakia Davis-Welsh Try
The hosts kept their foot on the pedal by forcing a dropout before crafty dummy-half Dodd levelled the scores by burrowing over from close range. Hannaway nailed a simple conversion to put Cronulla ahead for the first time.
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Quincy Dodd Try
Dodd was poised to collect a quickfire double as she set sail for the try-line after backing up a scything run from the explosive Verran, but a sensational one-on-one tackle cut down the diminutive No.9 metres short.
It proved to be a match-turning moment, with the Eels advancing downfield after regaining the ball and stealing back the lead courtesy of another Jackson try.
Pearson missed the goal, leaving the game in the balance, but strike centre Biddle left the field with severe cramp in another blow to the Sharks.
With the match on a knife's edge, Parramatta found the energy to repeatedly ward off Cronulla while exploiting space down their left edge. Parramatta centre Rory Owen was a particular standout, using her speed and guile to great effect.
Benefiting from a nine-day turnaround, the Sharks will regroup and head to the nation's capital for a match against the Raiders at GIO Stadium next Saturday.
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NRLW Round 1 Press Conference