NRLW Match Preview: Round 5 v Tigers

Author: Zoe Filetti Sharks Reporter
Timestamp: Fri 31 Jul 2026, 11:50 AM

A few changes for the Sharks ahead of their Magic Round clash against the Tigers in Wagga Wagga tomorrow morning.

Rhiannon Byers (shoulder) and Tiana Penitani Gray (quad) have come into the team after proving their fitness, with Annessa Biddle and Jacinta Carter dropping out.

Biddle was forced from the field with a leg injury in Cronulla’s 22-10 win over the Raiders in Canberra last Saturday.

That was the Sharks' first win of their 2026 campaign as they aim to turn their season around and hopefully march back into the NRLW finals.

They won’t be lacking motivation tomorrow, with captain Penitani Gray and recent stand-in captain Quincy Dodd both set to bring up their 50th NRLW games.

“They are two incredible players and great leaders of our club, and it’s special that they get to bring up this milestone together,” coach Tony Herman said.

Dodd came through the Cronulla-Caringbah juniors before winning the Tarsha Gale Cup with the Sharks in 2018. Since then, the 26-year-old has done it all. Representing the Jillaroos, NSW Blues, captained the Indigenous All Stars and been signed as the Sharks' first NRLW player. Her teammates and coach have nothing but praise for Cronulla's number 9.

“She tells an awesome story about being a nine-year-old girl, watching footy up on the hill … thinking that this wouldn’t be for her, and now you see her playing for the Sharks and playing 50 games, it’s such a tribute to her character,” Herman expressed.

Penitani Gray was the youngest person to play for Australia in Rugby 7s, before a move to rugby league that saw her dominate the sport. The Sharks’ inaugural NRLW captain has represented the Blues, Tonga and Jillaroos. She's an inspiration on and off the field and is admired as one of the leading voices for women's rugby league.

“Tiana’s an integral part of the team; she has been since our first season. She's an amazing leader and an amazing captain and the girls will want to do her and Quincy proud tomorrow,” Herman shared.

From being the closing game of the inaugural Magic Round in 2025, to now opening the event in 2026, Herman is eager for his squad to add to the spectacle for the fans who have travelled far and wide.

“It’s a great event, the girls get a lot out of it, get to see the other teams, the supporters, the setups around the stadium, we’re really looking forward to it,” Herman added.

Cronulla have to be on their A game, as they face a muscled-up Tigers outfit who have proved threatening this season.

Wests have beaten the Eels and Cowboys so far but fallen heavily to the Broncos and Roosters in recent weeks.

The Tigers 2 wins have them in 8th on the NRLW ladder, with the Sharks in 9th after winning just the once so far.

Cronulla's for and against is only -14 compared to the Tigers -42, which means a win for the Sharks should move them up a few places on the ladder.

Their only meeting of 2025 saw Cronulla end up as 20-16 victors, their first win over the Tigers since entering the NRLW.

Guided by the halfbacks of both sides, Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor will be pivotal in the opening clash, with every point vital.

The Sharks and Tigers tussle kicks off at 11:40am tomorrow morning at Geohex Park in Wagga Wagga.

See the 24-hour team list below.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Saturday 1 Aug

1:35 am

Sharks

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 Jada Taylor

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Caitlin Turnbull
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Cassie Staples

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Emily Bass
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Madison Higgins-Ashby

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Namoe Gesa
Centre for Sharks is number 22 Tiana Penitani Gray

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Shenai Lendill
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Georgia Ravics

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Lily Rogan
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Georgia Hannaway

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Faythe Manera
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Chantay Kiria-Ratu

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Raecene McGregor

Forwards

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Ellie Johnston

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Sarah Togatuki
Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Quincy Dodd

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Salma Nour
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Caitlan Johnston-Green

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Shaniece Monschau
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Manilita Takapautolo

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Kezie Apps
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 China Polata

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Shaylee Bent
Lock for Sharks is number 13 Najvada George

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Holli Wheeler

Interchange

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Christian Pio
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Tegan Dymock

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Harmony Crichton
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Jaydika Tafua

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 20 Leah Ollerton
Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Rhiannon Byers

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 22 Tyla Amiatu

Reserves

Replacement for Sharks is number 21 Filomina Hanisi

Replacement for Wests Tigers is number 17 Brooke Talataina
Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Koffi Brookfield

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Losana Lutu