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ABC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Parramatta Eels defeat Cronulla Sharks 18-16 in NRLW round one
Revenge was sweet for Parramatta as they delivered a home defeat for Cronulla by 18-16 to kick off their 2025 NRLW season in style. The scoreline was the same when the Sharks pipped the Eels in their last meeting, in round two last year. It also kept Parramatta's strong away record intact, now five away wins in a row. Eels coach Steve Georgallis said there was a definite "fire in the belly" among his players from last year's disappointing fifth placing, missing the finals by one spot. "We thought we had the team to make the finals and we probably looked back at that Cronulla game we should have won," he said. "As a coach, that gave us some impetus towards this week to give them a bit of fire in the belly and get up for the game." Attacking kicks by halfback Rachael Pearson, darting runs by Maroons player Rory Owen, and brick-wall defence by forwards led by Elsie Albert and Chloe Jackson set up the win. Jackson was also a force in attack, scoring two tries. Cronulla had 13 players in their side who took part in last year's grand final defeat to the Sydney Roosters,compared to an Eels outfit containing five NRLW debutants. But the Eels high completion rate of 87 per cent and lower error rate — seven to the Sharks's 11 — proved the difference. "Our grit, our try-line defence … we never gave up," Georgallis said. "We worked so hard for each other and that's one of the traits from last year I'm so happy they've brought through to this playing group." The Eels were straight onto the job, scoring two tries in their first two forays inside the Sharks 20-metre zone, which helped set up a 12-6 half-time lead. Second rower Jackson fell on the ball over the line after a Pearson kick ricocheted off the goal-post pad, then six minutes later Pearson chipped ahead for herself and scored in the 13th minute. Pearson's two conversions had Parramatta sitting pretty at 12-0. Sharks captain Tiana Penitani Gray said her side's defence wasn't up to scratch. "And we let them in early with yardage penalties and early errors. They built momentum off those opportunities," she said. "It wasn't our style of footy that first half with our low completions." The home side's first try took 28 minutes after several scoring opportunities ended unhappily. After a good bust from lock Brooke Anderson against her old club, interchange prop Filomina Hanisi barged over under the posts. The conversion by Georgia Hannaway put the Sharks back in the hunt (12-6). Hanisi had the worst of starts to the second half, hurting her left knee in a tackle and having to be helped off the field by trainers. She will have scans. However, the Sharks were next to score, taking advantage of injured Eel Taneka Todhunter in back-play. Cronulla kept advancing towards the line and utility Nakia Davis-Welsh made a darting 10-metre solo run to the line. Five minutes later and despite some valiant Eels goal-line defence once again, hooker Quincy Dodd darted through from dummy-half to give Cronulla the lead for the first time (16-14) in the match. It didn't last long before Jackson grabbed her second, burrowing through Cronulla defenders. Parramatta nearly added to their score when winger Zali Fay went for a dash down the touchline but fullback Emma Verran caught her in cover defence a metre out from the line. AAP
Daily Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
NRLW Parramatta Eels defeat Cronulla Sharks 18-16
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRLW. Followed categories will be added to My News. Parramatta just missed finals in 2024 but they've burst out of the blocks in 2025 with an 18-16 upset victory over last year's grand finalists Cronulla in the NRLW season opener on Thursday night. The Eels are the youngest side in the competition and had five players making their NRLW debut against Cronulla, but they were clinical from the outset. Parramatta completed at 93 per cent in the first half as a kicking masterclass from halfback Rachael Pearson had the hosts on the back foot. Cronulla had several chances to win it late at Shark Park but the visitors' goal line defence stood tall all night and proved the difference. 'We're stoked. We had heaps of trust in our debutants, so we went into the game confident and they pulled through,' Parramatta centre Rory Owen said. 'The coaches will be ecstatic, we had a big focus on defence and I think we really showed we've been focused at training.' SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 03: Rachael Pearson of the Eels celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the round one NRLW match between the Cronulla Sharks and Parramatta Eels at Sharks Stadium on July 03, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by) It was a thrilling contest between two genuine premiership contenders this season but it was a night to forget for the officials. They missed three blatant forward passes before one was finally picked up in the dying minutes that ended the Sharks' chances of snatching a late victory. PERFECT PEARSON Eels halfback Rachael Pearson booted the Sharks off the park in a dominant first half. Pearson set up the opening try with a grubber into the posts that caught Sharks duo Georgia Hannaway and Emma Verran napping as Chloe Jackson pounced to score first points of the NRLW season. Pearson also set up the second try with another grubber but this time for herself as she caught out Verran again and regathered to score a simple try. The Parramatta No. 7 should have had a third try assist off her boot but Martha Mataele couldn't reel in a chip to the corner. On the stroke of halftime, Pearson threw a dummy and sliced through before putting through a kick that should have seen prop Elsie Albert score but she couldn't finish. Pearson's general play kicking was also on point as she kept Cronulla's back three on the back foot all night. BATTLE OF THE FULLBACKS All eyes were on the match up between fullbacks Emma Verran and Abbi Church heading into this clash and it was the latter who got the better of her NSW teammate. Emma Verran. Picture:Abbi Church. Picture:Eels No.1 Church looked dangerous every time she touched the ball and ran for 123 metres from 14 carries and also set up a try. Verran endured a horror first half, letting in two tries and making two errors. But the former Dally M Medal winner showed her class in the second stanza with some dangerous runs and epic defence. Verran helped set up the Sharks' go-ahead try in the 49th minute and then made a try-saver on Zali Fay with just seven minutes left to keep her side in the game. She finished with 140 run metres from 14 carries. 'We were in it but unfortunately couldn't hold on,' Verran said. 'When we had the ball in the first half we looked dangerous and the message at halftime was go back through the middle and we did that and I thought we had them there but it just slipped through our fingers.'
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Parramatta Eels defeat Cronulla Sharks 18-16 in NRLW season opener
Parramatta just missed finals in 2024 but they've burst out of the blocks in 2025 with an 18-16 upset victory over last year's grand finalists Cronulla in the NRLW season opener on Thursday night. The Eels are the youngest side in the competition and had five players making their NRLW debut against Cronulla, but they were clinical from the outset. Parramatta completed at 93 per cent in the first half as a kicking masterclass from halfback Rachael Pearson had the hosts on the back foot. Cronulla had several chances to win it late at Shark Park but the visitors' goal line defence stood tall all night and proved the difference. 'We're stoked. We had heaps of trust in our debutants, so we went into the game confident and they pulled through,' Parramatta centre Rory Owen said. 'The coaches will be ecstatic, we had a big focus on defence and I think we really showed we've been focused at training.' It was a thrilling contest between two genuine premiership contenders this season but it was a night to forget for the officials. They missed three blatant forward passes before one was finally picked up in the dying minutes that ended the Sharks' chances of snatching a late victory. Eels halfback Rachael Pearson booted the Sharks off the park in a dominant first half. Pearson set up the opening try with a grubber into the posts that caught Sharks duo Georgia Hannaway and Emma Verran napping as Chloe Jackson pounced to score first points of the NRLW season. Pearson also set up the second try with another grubber but this time for herself as she caught out Verran again and regathered to score a simple try. Pearson catches them napping and kicks for herself ðŸ'¥ Telstra Moment of the Match. â€' NRLW (@NRLWomens) July 3, 2025 The Parramatta No. 7 should have had a third try assist off her boot but Martha Mataele couldn't reel in a chip to the corner. On the stroke of halftime, Pearson threw a dummy and sliced through before putting through a kick that should have seen prop Elsie Albert score but she couldn't finish. Pearson's general play kicking was also on point as she kept Cronulla's back three on the back foot all night. BATTLE OF THE FULLBACKS All eyes were on the match up between fullbacks Emma Verran and Abbi Church heading into this clash and it was the latter who got the better of her NSW teammate. Eels No.1 Church looked dangerous every time she touched the ball and ran for 123 metres from 14 carries and also set up a try. Verran endured a horror first half, letting in two tries and making two errors. But the former Dally M Medal winner showed her class in the second stanza with some dangerous runs and epic defence. Verran helped set up the Sharks' go-ahead try in the 49th minute and then made a try-saver on Zali Fay with just seven minutes left to keep her side in the game. She finished with 140 run metres from 14 carries. 'We were in it but unfortunately couldn't hold on,' Verran said. 'When we had the ball in the first half we looked dangerous and the message at halftime was go back through the middle and we did that and I thought we had them there but it just slipped through our fingers.'
