The Sharks all but put the pin in the Dragons' finals balloon with a close 16-8 win in a nail-biting local derby at PointsBet Stadium on Thursday night.
The Dragons needed the win to stay in touch with the NRLW top-four. The loss now has both teams stranded on six points – still one win outside the top four with only one round left.
Other results over the weekend might see both clubs miss the chance to play finals football in 2023.
Two tries in the final 13 minutes for the Sharks allowed Tony Herman’s women to put their noses well in front when for most of the game the result had been on a knife edge.
First one of the hardest workers of the night – Sharks captain Tiana Penitani – scored a well-earned try. Then newly-crowned NSW Origin Player of the Year Emma Tonegato made a bust up the middle with winger Cassie Staples scoring off the ensuing play.
The night didn’t start well for the Dragons. Forward Sophie Clancy rolled her ankle in warm-up and was forced out, bringing in 18th player Macie Carlile.
The first points came in the 19th minute when Sharks utility Brooke Anderson bounced off two would-be tacklers, spun around to plant the ball.
Brooke Anderson Try
But the Dragons answered four minutes before half-time, when Sharks winger Georgia Ravics spilled the ball in the in-goal with Tyla Nathan-Wong there to pounce on the mistake. Raecene McGregor missed the sideline conversion to give the Sharks a slim 6-4 lead at the break.
Momentum was seemingly with Jamie Soward’s team as they led the penalty county 6-3, had an 86 percent completion rate and were just ahead on possession (52 percent).
The Sharks were by no means out of the hunt by having the only two line-breaks of the game and leading tackle-busts 16-3.
The grind was back on in the second half, both teams going set for set.
The breakthrough came with winger Cortez Te Pou finishing off a right-edge move through Teagan Berry and Shenai Lendill. It put the Dragons ahead 8-6 for the first time in the match.
But in this arm wrestle of a game, the Sharks grabbed it back when an Tonegato cut-out pass found the feet of winger Cassie Staples. The ricochet backwards was picked up by Tiana Penitani to score 10-8.
The Sharks had the final say with their two quick tries.
Match: Sharks v Dragons
Round 8 -
home Team
Sharks
7th Position
away Team
Dragons
6th Position
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Match Snapshot
- The Sharks and Dragons women have finally opened their own chapter on one of rugby league’s most intense local derby. The Cronulla-Sutherland men’s team has played St George Illawarra 52 times (winning 28 of those) so the Sharks are now off and running 1-0.
- Brooke Anderson was placed on report in the 27th minute for an alleged high tackle on Teagan Berry.
Penitani shakes the Shire
- As the Sharks pressed the line in the 48th minute, it was 13 on 11 as two Dragons – winger Cortez Te Pou and prop Tara McGrath-West – were down injured. But the Dragons defence held strong – just minutes later they scored themselves.
- Four of the Sharks back five ran over 110 metres with centre Annessa Biddle topping the charts with 14 runs for 194 metres
What They Said
NRLW Press Conference: Sharks v Dragons - Round 8, 2023
"I thought we played really tough. They had a lot of ball, they completed really high and we had to defend for long periods. I thought the girls kept coming. We kept turning up and working hard for one another. A lesser side than us could have fallen away... so we're very proud with how we played." – Sharks coach Tony Herman
Sharks: Round 8
"We tried hard. There's just so many factors we had to get right tonight. It was in our hands at 8-6 and we didn't come up with our best set, attacking wise. There's a lot of excuses there. We were courageous tonight but we just didn't have the special juice left in the tank after what's been a rough five weeks for us. We're young, learning, and understanding what it takes to win each week." – Dragons coach Jamie Soward
Dragons: Round 8
Play of the Game
Dragons winger Cortez Te Pou had received treatment by a trainer for a leg injury but three minutes later she gratefully accepted the last pass along the St George Illawarra backline to score untouched in the right corner.
Cortez Te Pou Try
What's Next
The last round in the regular competition for 2023 lies ahead for both teams. Cronulla skipper Tiana Penitani will lead the Sharks against her old club Parramatta next Sunday (17 September) at the double-header at GIO Stadium in Canberra. The Dragons are at home at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday 16 September to host the Broncos.
