Sharks get the job done in NZ

Forward momentum: Sarah Togatuki never stopped trying for the Tigers and came up with 126 run metres and 21 tackles while Makenzie Weale was superb for the Cowboys with 133 run metres and 32 tackles. 

Full-time: The Cowboys have now won five of their past six matches on the back of the NRLW's best defence and an array of attacking weapons including Jakiya Whitfeld (17 runs for 156 metres) and Fran Goldthorp (16 runs for 140 metres).

68 min: Ana Malupo heads for the corner but Kezie Apps comes up with a desperation tackle to deny her a try.

66 min: Lily Rogan leaves the field for a HIA after copping some high contact in a tackle. 

64 min: Kirra Dibb throws a pinpoint long ball to Jakiya Whitfeld who slices through to score as the Cowboys ice their sixth win of the season to climb to third on the ladder. Dibb converts. Cowboys 30-8.

63 min: Tigers prop Amelia Huakau is placed on report for a trip.

61 min: Faythe Manera's bomb is taken on the full in the in goal by Jakiya Whitfeld as the Cowboys continue to hold firm.

58 min: The Cowboys again show why they are the best defensive side in the NRLW by holding out another set from close range.

56 min: Ana Malupo can't handle a bomb and the Tigers get another shot inside the Red Zone with Faythe Manera finishing the set with a grubber which the Cowboys knock on.

53 min: Cowboys prop Lily Peacock is placed on report for a crusher tackle.

52 min: Some strong online defence from the Tigers and Ruby Fifita cleans up a Kirra Dibb grubber at the end of the set as the home side comes away.

47 min: Krystal Blackwell delivers a perfectly timed pass for Jasmine Peters to cross for her 11th try as a Cowboy and the 15th of her career. Kirra Dibb continues her perfect night with the boot as she makes it 4/4 conversions. Cowboys 24-8.

44 min: The Tigers go to the air through Faythe Manera and Bree Chester comes up with an error on the catch.

41 min: Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua is helped from the field with a leg injury after she was hurt trying to stop China Polata from scoring.

40 min: A great moment for China Polata in her first game back from an ACL injury as she powers onto a Tahlulah Tillett pass and crosses for the Cowboys' third try. Kirra Dibb converts. Cowboys 18-6.

39 min: A forward pass call against Chelsea Savill has the Tigers under pressure early in the half. 

Half-time: The Tigers had 54 per cent of possession and completed at 83 per cent but lacked polish on their last-tackle plays while the Cowboys hung tough in defence with Makenzie Weale and Bree Chester coming up with 50 tackles between them.

31 min: The Tigers come up with a try to Lily Rogan after a Faythe Manera bomb is tapped back and several players handle including Ruby Fifita, Chelsea Savill, Caitlin Turnbull and Portia Bourke. Cowboys 12-8.

29 min: Another poor end to a set for the Tigers with Jetaya Faifua kicking the ball straight to Emma Manzelmann who cleans up easily.

26 min: Faythe Manera puts in a grubber for the Tigers but it rolls too long and over the dead ball line to hand the Cowboys a seven-tackle set.

23 min: The Tigers swing the ball to the right side but Ana Malupo comes up with a strong cover tackle to bundle Rebecca Pollard into touch.

21 min: Jakiya Whitfeld slips an offload to Krystal Blackwell who has open space in front of her but the referee calls the pass forward.

16 min: Kirra Dibb dummies her way through the line to score a solo special to extend the Cowboys' lead. Dibb converts her own try. Cowboys 12-4.

13 min: Pihuka Berryman-Duff gets into dummy half and carries three defenders over the tryline to grab the Tigers' first. Cowboys 6-4.

8 min: Emma Manzelmann takes off from dummy half 40 metres out from the line and slides between two forwards before stepping around Caitlin Turnbull to score under the posts. Kirra Dibb converts. Cowboys 6-0.

5 min: The Tigers throw in a captain's challenge after Sarah Togatuki is called for a strip and they come up trumps with the bunker ruling a Cowboys knock on.

3 min: Some slick attack from the Cowboys but Ana Malupo is dragged down just short and the Tigers hang on.

Late Mail

Wests Tigers: New recruit Ruby Fifita will make her NRLW debut from the interchange bench after Tiana-Lee Thorne was ruled out due to illness. Fifita, the sister of Titans star Jojo Fifita, was signed after impressing at the Harvey Norman Rising Talent Invitational in Newcastle. Lily Rogan moves from the centres to the wing in place of Thorne, with Portia Bourke set to start at centre. Jade Fonua is elevated from the interchange bench to start in the back-row. Evie McGrath is the 18th player.

Cowboys: A late change with Abigail Roach ruled out and Ana Malupo called into the starting side in the centres. Lillian Yarrow has been elevated into the starting side in the second row, with China Polata to make her return from an ACL injury from the bench. Makenzie Weale returns from a broken finger to start at prop, moving Essay Banu back to the bench. The Cowboys have won four of their past five games.

Warriors v Sharks at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

Post game

Post match press conferences

Sharks 

Warriors

Full-time: The Sharks overcome a dogged Warriors outfit to secure the two points in Hamilton with a 22-16 win. Fullback Emma Verran was again one of the stand-out performers, crossing for two crucial tries. Trailing 10-6 at the break, they were able to fight back to firstly draw level, before pulling away. In a close game, there was no surprise the possession finished at 50 percent each, with the Sharks completing at 21/30, with the Warriors at 20/30. Other strong performers for the visitors included Georgia Hannaway who impressed outside of her usual role in the halves, with her running game at hooker producing two try assists. 

67th min: The Sharks look to have wrapped up this game with a late try to Faulkner who has returned from her HIA. Once again, the decision of Hannaway to run pays off, eating up metres as she approaches the line before passing to her prop who crashes over under the posts. Kiria-Ratu slots it from in front and it's 22-14. 

61st min: Warriors halfback Emma Paki is told to get off the field for a HIA and won't have enough time left to get back even if she passes. 

59th min: Wetere goes over on the right wing for her second try of the afternoon. The Warriors still had only 12 on the field, but the return of Butler has made an impact, with her direct runs helps get her team in good position. Starting in the middle of the field, the Warriors produce some quick passes to their outside for their winger to score. Maliepo can't convert from the sideline and the Sharks have their noses in front 16-14. 

56th min: The Sharks lose their captain's challenge after Hannaway loses control of the ball at dummy half. 

54th min: Cassie Staples puts the Sharks further in front, running in over in the left side. The Sharks capitalise on their extra numbers in the middle, with Hannaway again helping start an attacking run with her darts from dummy half. The Sharks attack through their left with some good passing, finishing with their winger running to the line. Kiria-Ratu's conversion attempt swings just underneath the cross-bar and it's 16-10 to Cronulla. 

50th min: The Sharks hit the front again from the resulting penalty, with Kiria-Ratu slotting over a penalty goal for a 12-10 lead. 

49th min: Laishon Albert-Jones is sent to the sin bin for a shoulder charge on Stephanie Faulkner.

40th min: From the resulting scrum, the Sharks hit back, with fullback Verran getting a double, pushing through three defenders running from the back of the scrum. Kiria-Ratu's conversion attempt is unsuccessful and it's locked at 10-10.  

40th min: The Warriors lose their captain's challenge early in the second half, with winger Wetere ruled to have knocked on.

Injury update - Tyla King did not return to the field after failing her HIA.

Half-time: The Warriors have things around to head into the sheds with a 10-6 advantage at the break. After being on the back foot early, they end the first half with 54 percent of the possession, but are behind on other key stats areas, with a 60 percent completion rate compared to a similarly poor 61 percent to the Sharks. They have also made one more error (8-7), but have only given away one penalty to three. They can thank their goal-line defence early in the half that they were not further behind when the Sharks were enjoying the better of the attacking opportunities. A close game at the break with plenty to play for. 

29th min: Warriors hit the lead, with a try on their opposite wing, with Tyra Wetere going over. The home side played some direct footy, going straight, with Butler again instrumental, before swinging the ball firstly to the left and then out to the right to score. Maliepo slots this one from the right touchline and it's 10-6. 

25th min: Payton Takimoana cements her spot at the top of the try scorers list, going over for the first of the afternoon for the home side. The Warriors get a scrum feed in their attacking zone and swing the ball out to their left for their winger to score. Patricia Maliepo can't convert and it remains 6-4. The go-forward for the Warriors has received a boost with the inclusion of Harata Butler into the fray, with the experience forward producing a number of offloads to help get her side back on the front foot. 

Injury alert - Sharks five-eighth Tyla King comes from the field for a HIA, collected by friendly fire when she was trying to making a tackle. She stayed on for three more sets, but was called off by the independent doctor. Her removal from the field sees Jada Taylor make her long-awaited return to the field. 

12th min: After an error in their own half, the Warriors give the Sharks a sniff and they take it. Hannaway, playing hooker for this game, has taken a run first mentality into her role and scoots away, finding a trailing Emma Verran to pass to on the inside and she streaks away to score. Chantay Kiria-Ratu adds the extras for a 6-0 lead early. 

10th min: No score yet, but some entertaining play so far with the Warriors producing some strong goal-line defence to prevent the Sharks from capitalising on their advantages with the ball. 

Kick off: The visiting Sharks have the first use of the ball, collecting a short kick off. 

Late Mail

Warriors: No further game day changes after prop Metanoia Fotu-Moala was ruled out with a hamstring injury on Saturday. Ashlee Matapo will start the game at prop and Kalyn Takitimu-Cook joins the bench on NRLW debut. Captain Apii Nicholls returns from a pectoral injury at fullback and Patricia Maliepo is back from a calf injury at five-eighth. Emmanita Paki moves from fullback to halfback and Lydia Turua-Quedley from halfback to her usual role at hooker. 

Sharks: Plenty of late changes on game day, with some stars returning. After completing her recovery from an ACL injury, speedster Jada Taylor will play her first game since Round 2 last season after being elevated to the interchange at the expense of front-rower Jacinta Carter, who has dropped out of the squad. Second-rower Rhiannon Byers (pectoral) has been cleared to return in another massive boost. She will take her place in the starting side, pushing Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu to the bench and Nakia Davis-Welsh to 18th woman. Manilita Takapautolo has also moved to the bench. Tyla King is the new five-eighth, with Georgia Hannaway moving to hooker. Brooke Anderson slots into lock, with  Talei Holmes shifting to the second row. Earlier, Kiwi centre Annessa Biddle faces an extended period on the sideline with a shoulder injury so Grace-Lee Weekes has been named in the No.4 jersey. Jaydika Tafua who has a broken finger was not named to play. 

Knights v Broncos at McDonald Jones Stadium

Post match

Post match press conferences

Knights 

Broncos

Full-time: After a poor start where they trailed 10-0, the Broncos locked in a top two spot with a dominant second half performance. Mele Hufanga scored to get the Broncos on the board and it was a to-and-fro affair with Georgia Roche getting over with a nice play - but that was the end of the joy for the Knights. Brisbane clawed their way back into the game and stole the lead after the half-time siren then never let up, scoring five tries to nil in the second half to run out 46-16 winners. The Knights fight wasn't helped with Kayla Romaniuk sent to the sin bin for a period as well, with the Broncos scoring a number of tries in that time.

Power players: Broncos young gun Shalom Sauaso scored a try and ran for 236 metres while perennial high performer Julia Robinson also scored a try on her way to 212 metres and produced two try assists. Former Knight Tamika Upton was also a handful, scoring a try and producing two try assists. 

67th min: The Knights forget the golden rule of rugby league to play to the whistle and are again made to pay. After an error at the play-the-ball, the Knights stop, but Broncos centre Julia Robinson does not. She scoops up the ball and runs away to score yet another Brisbane try. Teitzel converts and it's now out to 46-16. 

60th min: All one way traffic after the break, with the Broncos galloping away to a big score. Another error turns the ball over in favour of the Broncos, with Teitzel the one to run in this try, catching a ball from Upton that goes across the face of two other players as she runs towards the try line. Teitzel can't convert her own and it's 40-16. 

57th min: Maddick brushes off an ill effects of the tackle from Romaniuk to go over for her second try of the afternoon and Brisbane's seventh of the game. Teitzel converts and it's 36-16. 

Sin bin alert -  Hard-working Newcastle lock Romaniuk is sent to the sin bin for a hip drop tackle on Maddick.

50th min: The Broncos are on a roll and now have now scored the last four tries of the game, with Upton the latest to cross for her side after making a line break. Teitzel converts for a 30-16 lead. 

39th min: A try either side of the half-time break for the Broncos, with Lauren Dam going over to give her side a commanding lead. Teitzel converts and it's 24-16 now to the Broncos. A couple of errors and penalties from the Knights again proved costly in the lead-up, with the home side also burning a captain's challenge. 

Halftime: The Broncos go into the break with am 18-16 lead, turning around an early deficit to fightback and get in front just as the siren was sounding. 

35th min: The Broncos have turned this game around and now lead, with Hayley Maddick going over on the right win as the siren sounds. Again they capitalise on possession from a penalty, with the attacking players from the Broncos including Ali Brigginshaw and Upton Broncos involved in getting the ball out to the open right. Teitzel's conversion just misses and it's 18-16 to the Broncos. 

33rd min: Back-to-back for the Broncos with winger Kerri Johnson going over this time, after Hufanga set her up with a strong run to the line. Teitzel misses the kick and it remains 16-14. 

30th min: Broncos hit back with talent youngster Sauaso running in to score. That try had been brewing for a while after the Knights turned over the ball on the first tackle in their attacking 10, with Tess Staines dragged over the sideline. With their possession, the Broncos were able to work their way down field to build momentum, with some clever dummy half play from Destiny Brill finding Sauaso. Teitzel converts for 16-10.

24th min: The Knights are in again. They use the penalty and Tayla Predebon gets her team on the front foot with a massive forward's run, brought down just before the line by Upton. However, the Broncos can't hold them out and Georgia Roche is able to run through to add to her team's tally. Southwell converts for a 16-4 lead. 

A few issues for the NRL Judiciary to take a look at in recent plays, with Tiana Davison put on report earlier for a dangerous tackle in the lead up to Brisbane's first try. From the kick off, the Broncos concede a penalty with the ball, with Shalom Sauaso put on report for putting her 'bumper' arm up too high and into the throat of Viena Tinao.

21st min: A couple of back-to-back sets for the Broncos, off the back of another seven-tackle set as well, and Brisbane capitalise with Mele Hufanga diving over to score their first of the day. Romy Teitzel can't convert and it's 10-4 to the Knights.

16th min: The Knights make Brisbane pay and double up on their tries, with Tiana Davison going out on the left-hand side this time, with lock Kayla Romanek charging towards the posts, getting a nice short ball away to her prop to score. Southwell slots this attempt for an early 10-0 lead. 

15th min: Brisbane thought they had hit straight back with former Knight Upton scoring after chasing through on a kick from dummy half from Jada Ferguson. However, after initially being awarded, the Bunker overrules, with Upton deemed to have knocked on in her attempt to ground the ball. Despite the no try, it was some good lead-up play from the Broncos, who got their chance to attack after a kick from Southwell was too heavy, giving the visitors a seven-tackle set. 

10th min: First points of the afternoon goes to the home side with Sheridan Gallagher holding her shape, getting a wide ball out to the right from fullback Bo Vette Welsh and running over in the corner to score. Southwell's conversion attempt hits the post and is waved away. Knights lead 4-0. 

6th min: Bit of concern with Broncos fullback Tamika Upton stopped in her tracks - but it's an accidental finger in her eye which she shakes off and is able to play on. 

Kick off: First use of the ball to the visitors, with the Broncos taking the ball up against the Knights in another milestone game, with Chelsea Lenarduzzi featuring in her 50th match. 

Late Mail 

Knights: A late change on game day with Tenika Willison not named to play due to a leg injury. Evah McEwan moves into the centres, with Jules Kirkpatrick coming from the bench to start in the second row. Joeli Morris joins the bench, with Lilly-Ann White the new replacement player. Earlier, Bo Vette-Welsh was named at fullback after being a late withdrawal last week against the Roosters, suffering a knee injury during the warm-up. "Happy that she made the call [to pull out] and she is fit and ready to go this week," coach Ben Jeffries said on Thursday. On the bench, Viena Tinao comes in for Simone Karpani, who is facing 2-4 weeks out with a calf strain. The Knights have won 13 of their last 15 games at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Broncos: Prop Brianna Clark returns from suspension and will start, moving Keilee Joseph back to lock and young gun Shalom Sauaso to the bench. Forward Chelsea Lenarduzzi will come from the bench in her milestone 50th NRLW match. No changes on game day, with with Azalleyah Maaka the 18th player.