The Sharks experienced another twist in the rollercoaster ride that is an NRLW season last week in suffering a last-minute defeat, while the Roosters returned to winning ways in commanding fashion.
Having had the thrill of a victory in their Round 1 debut, the empty feeling of being blanked by the Wests Tigers in Round 2, Tony Herman’s led for all but the final minute and half of their clash against the Gold Coast in a heartbreaking 10-8 loss.
Goalkicking would have made a difference, with Taylor Preston missing both attempts to convert her side’s two tries, but the Sharks were otherwise superior in almost all of the key stat categories and completed all but seven of their 38 sets.
It was a different story for the Roosters when they opened Round 3 with a 30-0 drubbing of the Dragons, in which they broke 65 tackle and made 10 line breaks in a dominant performance with ball in hand.
Coming after a shock loss to the Raiders a week earlier, it improves the Tricolours to a 2-1 record which has them back up in third position heading into Round 4.
Match: Sharks v Roosters
Round 4 -
home Team
Sharks
9th Position
away Team
Roosters
1st Position
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Team News
Sharks: A change on game day sees Quincy Dodd shift to the bench with Brooke Anderson starting at hooker and Chloe Saunders at lock. Emma Tonegato shifted to fullback on Saturday with Maddie Studdon called up to start at five-eighth after Jada Taylor was ruled out with an ankle injury. Holli Wheeler is listed to start after making a return from a knee injury last week. Annessa Biddle moves to the centres to accommodate for Andie Robinson's return to the wing and Cassie Staples to 18th player.
Roosters: No changes for the Roosters on game day. Kalosipani Hopoate comes onto the interchange bench in place of Mya Hill-Moana, who remains sidelined with a head knock. Mia Wood is the 18th player.
Match: Sharks v Roosters
Round 4 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Roosters
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sharks is number 6 Emma TonegatoFullback for Roosters is number 1 Corban Baxter
-
Winger for Sharks is number 2 Kiana TakairangiWinger for Roosters is number 2 Brydie Parker
-
Centre for Sharks is number 3 Tiana PenitaniCentre for Roosters is number 3 Jessica Sergis
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Centre for Sharks is number 4 Annessa BiddleCentre for Roosters is number 4 Isabelle Kelly
-
Winger for Sharks is number 5 Andie RobinsonWinger for Roosters is number 5 Jayme Fressard
-
Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 18 Maddie StuddonFive-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Tarryn Aiken
-
Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Tayla PrestonHalfback for Roosters is number 7 Jocelyn Kelleher
Forwards
-
Prop for Sharks is number 8 Ellie JohnstonProp for Roosters is number 8 Millie Elliott
-
Hooker for Sharks is number 13 Brooke AndersonHooker for Roosters is number 9 Keeley Davis
-
Prop for Sharks is number 10 Holli WheelerProp for Roosters is number 10 Teuila Fotu-Moala
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Talei Holmes2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Amelia Pasikala
-
2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Vanessa Foliaki2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Olivia Kernick
-
Lock for Sharks is number 17 Chloe SaundersLock for Roosters is number 13 Keilee Joseph
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 9 Quincy DoddInterchange for Roosters is number 14 Shawden Burton
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Sereana NaitokatokaInterchange for Roosters is number 15 Grace Hamilton
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Harata ButlerInterchange for Roosters is number 16 Otesa Pule
-
Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Tegan DymockInterchange for Roosters is number 22 Pani Hopoate
Reserves
-
Replacement for Sharks is number 22 Cassie StaplesReplacement for Roosters is number 18 Mia Wood
Match Officials
- Referee: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Todd Smith
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Roosters’ 65 tackle breaks last week accounted for more than half of their competition-high total of 124.
- This week sees the two best post-contact runners in the NRLW right now clash, with Sharks back Annessa Biddle (94.3 per game average) last week moving past Roosters prop Millie Boyle (88.7 per game average).
- Sharks lock Brooke Anderson sits third in missed tackles in 2023 with 17 and equal-second for penalties conceded with four.
