NRLW Sunday: Knights lock up third; Warriors sign off in style

Berry Berry good: The Dragons fullback came up with 178 run metres and a runaway try just before half-time to remind everyone of her talents. Throw in two line breaks and two tackle breaks and you have a fine afternoon's work for Berry, who was ably supported by Keele Brown (16 runs for 137 metres).

Full-time: The Knights will finish the season in third place on the back of their 30-22 comeback victory. Jesse Southwell has equalled her club record for most points in a season (78) while Yasmin Clydsdale was immense in her milestone game.

68 min: Georgia Roche nudges a grubber into the in goal and Keighley Simpson gets through to ground the ball just inside the dead ball line. That's a hat-trick on debut for the 18th player, who becomes just the second player to score a hat-trick on NRLW debut. Knights 30-22.

65 min: The Dragons create space on the left but Tahlia O'Brien comes up with a simple error and the opportunity is lost.

63 min: Sara Sautia powers over from close range for her first NRLW try as the Dragons ensure a grandstand finish. Knights 26-22.

62 min: Knights centre Tenika Willison is placed on report for high contact on Maria Paseka, who leaves the field for a HIA.

56 min: The fairytale continues for Keighley Simpson as she makes it a double courtesy of a pass over the top from Yasmin Clydsdale, who is having a blinder in her 50th career game. Jesse Southwell nails the conversion from touch. Knights 26-16.

54 min: The Dragons get a scrum 10 metres out and Kasey Reh is hit hard by Yasmin Clydsdale and the Knights make a long range break after scooping up the loose ball.

52 min: Lily-Ann White loses the ball in a tackle. The Knights fire in a captain's challenge but the ruling stands and the challenge is lost.

51 min: Hannah Southwell is placed on report for a high tackle.

49 min: Yasmin Clydsdale pushes into space on the left edge and delivers for Georgia Roche who puts on a huge sidestep and goes over to make it back-to-back tries for the Knights after the break. Jesse Southwell converts. Knights 20-16.

45 min: Tenika Willison delivers the final pass for Keighley Simpson to score on NRLW debut. Simpson was 18th player for the Knights and had only been on the field for a matter of minutes after coming into the game following two failed HIAs. Dragons 16-14.

40 min: The Knights' 18th player Keighley Simpson takes the field.

39 min: A penalty against Sheridan Gallagher for a high tackle brings the Dragons out of danger.

37 min: On the back of a penalty for a leg lift by Sara Sautia the Knights go on the attack.

Half-time: The Dragons completed at just 66 per cent but still take a handy eight-point lead to the sheds on the back of a powerhouse display from Madison Mulhall and some trademark brilliance from Teagan Berry (142 run metres, 2 line breaks).

35 min: An error from Keele Brown gives the Knights the chance to hit back and that's exactly what they do with Sheridan Gallagher taking the final pass from Shanice Parker to score wide out. Dragons 16-8.

34 min: Knights winger Mercedez Taulelei-Siala leaves the field for a HIA. She fails the assessment.

32 min: A solo special from Teagan Berry as she takes the ball 15 metres out from her own tryline and gets outside Jesse Southwell before evading a cover tackle from Lily-Ann White and sprinting away to open up a big lead her side. Dragons 16-4.

29 min: Keele Browne is penalised for taking Sheridan Gallagher out in the air on a kick contest but the Dragons successfully launch a captain's challenge. The bunker rules Browne always had her eyes on the ball.

26 min: Kasey Reh goes to the right edge where Tyra Ekepati attracts two defenders and delivers a great offload for Maria Paseka to dive over in the corner. Jayme Millard misses the conversion. Dragons 10-4.

21 min: Tori Shipton goes close for the Dragons and on the ensuing play it's Bronte Wilson who surges over from close range for her first NRLW try. The NSW Under 19s Origin rep showed great strength to get the ball down despite three Knights defenders trying to hold her up. Jayme Millard converts. Dragons 6-4.

20 min: Jesse Southwell comes up with an error on the halfway line to hand the Dragons a chance to hit back.

18 min: A special moment for Knights winger Mercedez Taulelei-Siala who goes over in the corner after Yasmin Clydsdale and Jesse Southwell combined on the inside to put her over. Jesse Southwell misses the conversion. Knights 4-0.

14 min: The Southwell sisters lock horns as Jesse goes to the line and is hit hard by Hannah who is penalised for late contact.

13 min: Trinity Tauaneai picks up a low pass but then fires a bullet pass that is way too hard for Kasey Reh who puts it down.

10 min: Jesse Southwell grubbers from close range and Zali Hopkins does well to cover up and dive back into the field of play.

7 min: Knights forward Simone Karpani leaves the field for a HIA after a head clash with Trinity Tauaneai. She fails the HIA and is unable to return.

6 min: A touch of class from Jesse Southwell as she nails a 40-30 to put the Knights on the attack.

4 min: A deft grubber by Kasey Reh forces Sheridan Gallagher to clean it up and the Red V reload from the dropout but Jayme Millard comes up with an error.

2 min: An early error from the Knights hands the Dragons a chance and Madison Mulhall gets over the stripe but can't get the ball down.

Late Mail

Knights: A late change for the Knights with prop Tayla Predebon replaced by Simone Karpani in the starting side with Grace Giampino coming onto the bench. Yasmin Clydsdale becomes the sixth player to feature in 50 NRLW games when she leads the Knights out. A head knock to Botille Vette Welsh has seen Lilly-Ann White move to fullback, with Mercedez Taulelei-Siala in line for her NRLW debut. Newcastle can earn a home semi-final with a victory in the final regular season game of the year. 

Dragons: Tyra Ekepati comes in at centre in jersey No.18 in place of Indie Bostock, who will remain in the squad as 18th player. The loss of Ella Koster (head knock) sees Hannah Southwell shift to the second row for the clash against younger sister Jesse. Trinity Tauaneai will start at lock, with Sara Sautia returning to the interchange after missing last week's game due to illness. 

Numbers Game

• The Knights have won three of their last four games against the Dragons.
• The Dragons have won only one of their last seven games.
• Knights winger Sheridan Gallagher has scored seven tries in her last seven games.
• Dragons fullback Teagan Berry has scored seven tries in five games against the Knights.
• Knights captain Yasmin Clydsdale will make her 50th NRLW appearance.

 

Wests Tigers v Warriors at Campbelltown Sports Stadium

The Butler did it: Warriors powerhouse Harata Butler showed the way with 17 runs for 174 metres in 42 minutes of game time. The former Cowboy averaged in excess of 100m per game in 2025 and showed why she has been a Maori All Stars rep and also played one Test for the Kiwis.

Prolific Payton: Only Broncos superstar Tamika Upton (18) has more tries this season than 22-year-old Warriors flyer Payton Takimoana, who signed off with a double to take her season tally to 15 tries. Takimoana ran for 108 metres and had five tackle breaks to put an exclamation mark on a superb season.

Full-time: The Warriors finish their return NRLW season on a high with an eight-try romp at Campbelltown. The Warriors will finish eighth on the ladder with four wins and plenty of impetus to take into the 2026 season.

66 min: A short ball from Lydia Turua-Quedley on the right edge puts Kaiyah Atai over for her first NRLW try as the Warriors continue to pile on the points. Apii Nicholls pilots her fifth conversion of the day. Warriors 44-6. 

63 min: The Tigers can't recover quickly enough and they concede again as Emmanita Paki sends a long ball to tryscoring machine Payton Takimoana to complete her double. This is now the Warriors' highest ever score in the NRLW. Apii Nicholls can't convert. Warriors 38-6.

62 min: Tyra Wetere snaffles an intercept and goes 80 metres but Emily Bass refuses to give up on the chase and reels her in 10 metres out.

58 min: Warriors forward vana Lauitiiti is placed on report for making late contact on the kicker.

57 min: Lydia Turua-Quedley puts in a grubber from close range but Harmony Crichton does well to gather the ball and get back into the field of play.

53 min: Razzle dazzle from the Warriors as Avery-Rose Carmont explodes out of dummy half and picks up Emmanita Paki who offloads to Shakira Baker and the back-rower delivers to Payton Takimoana who crosses for her 14th try of the season. Warriors 34-6.

48 min: The Tigers sweep the ball to the right and Evie McGrath heads for the corner but a strong cover tackle from Lavinia Tauhalaliku denies her.

47 min: Faythe Manera dabs the ball into the in goal and Apii Nicholls tidies it up. The Tigers reload from the line dropout.

44 min: Evie McGrath puts the ball down coming out of yardage but the Warriors return the favour with a sloppy play the ball as the heat starts to take its toll on both sides.

40 min: Brilliance from Apii Nicholls as she grubbers into the in goal and chases through to score the Warriors' fifth try of the day. The fullback fails to convert her own try. Warriors 28-6.

39 min: A penalty against the Tigers for a strip puts them under early pressure.

Bass hits ton: Wests Tigers centre Emily Bass had plenty of good moments during the opening term with 101 run metres, four tackle breaks and a line break.

Half-time: The Warriors dominated possession (59 per cent to 41) and completed 15 of 18 sets to shut the Tigers out of the game until the final minute of the half. Laishon Albert-Jones ran riot with two tries, four tackle breaks 76 run metres while Shakira Baker and Lydia Turua-Quedley both had four tackle breaks.

35 min: Faythe Manera goes to the line from 10 metres out and slices her way through to get the home side on the board. Emily Bass converts. Warriors 24-6.

34 min: The Tigers get a result from the kick-off when the Warriors can't make the catch and the ball rolls into touch.

32 min: Tigers interchange forward Iemaima Etuale is penalised and placed on report for a hair pull Ivana Lauitiiti so Apii Nicholls steps up and nails her fourth goal of the day. Warriors 24-0.

29 min: The Warriors go fast out of dummy half and Emmanita Paki drops the ball off to Shakira Baker who can't be stopped from close range. Apii Nicholls hits the conversion sweetly. Warriors 22-0.

26 min: A fifth error for the Tigers as Jetaya Faifua is crunched by Laishon Albert-Jones and loses the ball as she gets to her feet to play it.

22 min: Tyra Wetere crosses in the corner after slick hands from Lydia Turua-Quedley, Apii Nicholls and Tysha Ikenasio. Warriors 16-0.

16 min: The Warriors go to the air and Evie McGrath comes up with a cold drop to put the Tigers under more pressure but the Warriors come up with an error early in the count through Lydia Turua-Quedley.

13 min: On the back of a 40-30 from Lydia Turua-Quedley the Warriors strike again when Laishon Albert-Jones uses his power to get over for a second try. That's the second career double for Albert-Jones to go with her double for the Knights in Round 4, 2024. The conversion from Apii Nicholls make it 12-0.

9 min: The Tigers create space on the right and Emily Bass grubbers ahead but Apii Nicholls gets across to cover it up.

8 min: The Warriors threaten again but a dropped ball by Lavinia Kitai allows the Tigers to come away from their own end.

6 min: Laishon Albert-Jones gets into dummy half five metres out and goes to the line, hits and spins and powers over for the game's opening try and her first of the season. Apii Nicholls adds the extras. Warriors 6-0.

4 min: A mistake by Salma Nour at dummy half hands the Warriors an early shot at points inside the Red Zone.

1 min: Warriors prop Lavinia Kitai is penalised and placed on report for a high shot.

Late Mail

Wests Tigers: No further game day changes after back-rower Portia Bourke dropped out of the side on Saturday. Tara Reinke will start at lock and Iemaima Etuale joins the bench. In his final game in charge, Brett Kimmorley has turned to Evie McGrath to replace Caitlin Turnbull (head knock) at fullback. Salma Nour is set to start at hooker, while back-rower Montana Clifford is preparing for her first game since Round 6. Jessikah Reeves is 18th player.

Warriors: The Warriors are 1-17 with no late changes for the final game of their comeback NRLW season. Tysha Ikenasio and Laishon Albert-Jones have come straight back into the side in their return from suspension but star playmaker Patricia Maliepo is out with a hamstring injury. Lydia Turua-Quedley will line up at halfback, with Emmanita Paki shifting to five-eighth. Maarire Puketapu has also been ruled out after suffering a head knock last week. Makayla Eli is the 18th player.

Numbers Game

• Wests Tigers have lost all three games at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
• Warriors centre Payton Takimoana has scored seven tries in her last four games in Australia.
• The Tigers have kicked only seven goals from 20 attempts this season.
• Warriors winger Tyra Wetere has scored four tries in her last four games.
• Wests Tigers captain Kezie Apps will play her 40th NRLW game.