As it happened: Pearson powers Eels to first-up win

No substitute for experience: Sharks fullback Emma Verran and Eels prop Elsie Albert were in the thick of the action all night. Verran had 19 runs for 196 metres and broke six tackles while the ageless Albert ran for 140 metres and made 23 tackles.

Full-time: The Eels have opened the 2025 season with an upset win in enemy territory. Halfback Rachael Pearson (14 runs for 108 metres, one try and one try assist) and back-rower Chloe Jackson (98 run metres, five tackle breaks, two tries) were superb for the Eels, who dug deep in defence to repel the Sharks on several occasions on the goal line. Centre Rory Owen also stood tall for the Eels with 176 run metres and nine tackle breaks.

69 min: The Sharks have a shot at stealing victory but a forward pass call against Quincy Dodd brings the move unstuck.

63 min: The Eels create space for Zali Fay down the left wing but Emma Verran comes across in classic cover defence to shut her down.

62 min: Sharks bench forward Manilita Takapautolo is placed on report for a hip drop tackle.

57 min: Sharks centre Annessa Biddle leaves the field in a deal of pain with severe cramp but she will return to the action.

56 min: Rory Owen goes close after another swerving run and Chloe Jackson jumps into dummy half and forces her way over for her second try. Rachael Pearson misses the conversion. Eels 18-16.

54 min: Sharks back-rower Talei Holmes is placed on report for dangerous contact for a hip drop style tackle on Abbi Church.

53 min: Quincy Dodd gets into the back field and looks certain to cross for a double but Rory Owen runs her down with a great chase.

49 min: The Sharks hit the front for the first time when Quncy Dodd darts out of dummy half to score and Georgia Hannaway converts. Sharks 16-14.

48 min: Chantay Kiria-Ratu grubbers into the in goal and Zali Fay cleans up but the Eels are forced to drop the ball out and hand the Sharks more possession.

44 min: Nakia Davis-Welsh comes up with a line break and an offload to put the Sharks on the attack and in the next set she takes an inside pass off Chantay Kiria-Ratu and slices through for a four-pointer. Georgia Hannaway fails to convert. Eels 14-10.

38 min: The Eels add a penalty goal through Rachael Pearson after Sharks prop Jacinta Carter was pinged for a slow peel. Eels 14-6.

36 min: Filomina Hanisi is assisted from the field by two Sharks trainers after injuring his knee in a tackle.

Half-time: The Eels completed 14 of 15 sets at 93 per cent and came up with three line breaks to set up their lead. Fullback Abbi Church and winger Martha Mataele had eight tackle breaks between them for the Eels while Emma Verran racked up 101 run metres for the Sharks.

35 min: A frantic finish to the opening stanza as Rachael Pearson breaks the line and kicks ahead before the ball bounces back into the arms of Elsie Albert, who is tackled just short of the line. Pearson then kicks again for the corner but Martha Mataele can't regather and we head to the break at 12-6.

29 min: On the back of a run of possession the Sharks hit back when interchange forward Filomina Hanisi crashes over from close range for her first NRLW try. Georgia Hannaway lands the conversion from in front. Eels 12-6.

25 min: Talei Holmes gets across the line but the Eels defence does a great job to hold her up and roll her onto her back.

23 min: The Eels have dominated possession and almost come up with a third try when Rachael Pearson kicks cross field for Martha Mataele but the winger can't quite reel it in.

14 min: A sensational solo try to Rachael Pearson extends the lead for the Eels as the playmaker grubbers for herself and regathers to score under the sticks. Eels 12-0.

12 min: Sharks back-rower Rhiannon Byers comes up with an error with her team inside the Red Zone.

8 min: The Eels strike first through 20-year-old Chloe Jackson after a Rachael Pearson grubber hit the upright and bobbled around before the back-rower forced it. Pearson converts for a 6-0 Eels lead.

6 min: Sharks five-eighth Georgia Hannaway kicks out on the full and the Eels go on the attack.

4 min: A mistake by Sharks prop Jacinta Carter allows the Eels to come out of danger.

3 min: The Sharks launch the first raid and Chantay Kiria-Ratu grubbers into the in-goal to earn a repeat set.

 

Late Mail

The Sharks are 1-17 with no late changes. NSW star Emma Verran lines up at fullback as she returns from a procedure to remove a melanoma in her back. Tiana Penitani Gray and young gun Annessa Biddle will start in the centres, with Georgia Hannaway partnering with former Titan Chantay Kiria-Ratu in the halves. Forward Jaydika Tafua will make her NRLW debut from the bench. 

NSW Under 19s Origin rep Tess McWilliams has come into the Eels' starting side an hour before kick-off with Breanna Eales dropping out due to injury. Mahalia Murphy was named in the reserves on Tuesday as she recovers from a hamstring injury but dropped out of the squad in the 24-hour update as the Eels take a cautious approach with the skipper's return. She is targeting the Round 3 clash against the Raiders for a comeback.

Numbers Game

• The Sharks have won both games against the Eels (2023 and 2024).
• The Eels won four of their five away games in 2024.
• Sharks prop Ellie Johnston has scored three tries in two games against the Eels.
• The Sharks have 13 members of last year's beaten grand final squad on deck tonight.