NRLW 2022: Newcastle Knights, Parramatta Eels, match preview

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 26 Feb 2022, 03:50 PM

Two new NRLW teams go head-to-head in the third leg of Sunday's triple-header, with the Knights hosting the Eels at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The Knights are brimming with local talent as well as a huge eight-player Kiwi Ferns test contingent, but overall boast the fewest NRLW caps of any of the six sides this year, with 45.

The Eels (63 caps) are also relatively low on experience and representative honours outside a few marquee signings but boast some exciting up-and-comers and are coached by club legend Dean Widders.

No doubt each side will be desperate to kick off their NRLW existence with a win.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Sunday 27 Feb

Full Time

Knights

Eels

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Highlights Latest

The rundown

Team news

Knights: Last year's BHP Premiership player of the year Romy Teitzel will captain the Knights in her first game for the club. The competition newcomers have named a powerful squad which includes her North Queensland Gold Stars team-mate Tahlulah Tillett at halfback alongside exciting Kiwi Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly in the No.6.

Veteran Krystal Rota packs down at hooker alongside Caitlan Johnston, who is 15 years her junior, and former Warrior Annetta Nu'uausala, the younger sister of Frank-Paul Nu'auasala who played NRL with the Roosters and Raiders.

There is plenty of experience on the bench with NSW and Australian rep Kirra Dibb and four-Test Kiwi Fern Charlotte Scanlan.

Ngatokutoru Arakua, Chantelle Graham, Kararaina Wira-Kohu and Paige Parker were omitted from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Eels: Fullback Botille Vette-Welsh plus props Kennedy Cherrington and Tommaya Kelly-Sines are coming off mighty efforts in the recent All Stars clash while hooker Nita Maynard and centre Jocephy Daniels also acquitted themselves well.

Centre Tiana Penitani, halfback Maddie Studdon, winger Rikeya Horne, bench prop Filomina Hanisi and lock and captain Simaima Taufa are the other big-name recruits.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Sunday 27 Feb

Full Time

Knights

Eels

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Romy Teitzel

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Botille Vette-Welsh
Winger for Knights is number 2 Katelyn Vaha'akolo

Winger for Eels is number 2 Taina Naividi
Centre for Knights is number 3 Jayme Fressard

Centre for Eels is number 3 Tiana Penitani
Centre for Knights is number 4 Bobbi Law

Centre for Eels is number 4 Jocephy Daniels
Winger for Knights is number 5 Katie Green

Winger for Eels is number 5 Rikeya Horne
Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly

Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Sereana Naitokatoka
Halfback for Knights is number 7 Tahlulah Tillett

Halfback for Eels is number 7 Maddie Studdon

Forwards

Prop for Knights is number 8 Caitlan Johnston

Prop for Eels is number 8 Kennedy Cherrington
Hooker for Knights is number 9 Krystal Rota

Hooker for Eels is number 9 Nita Maynard
Prop for Knights is number 10 Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala

Prop for Eels is number 10 Tommaya Kelly-Sines
2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Rangimarie Edwards-Bruce

2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Jade Etherden
2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Georgia Page

2nd Row for Eels is number 20 Ellie Johnston
Lock for Knights is number 13 Charntay Poko

Lock for Eels is number 13 Simaima Taufa

Interchange

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Emma Manzelmann

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Seli Mailangi
Interchange for Knights is number 15 Charlotte Scanlan

Interchange for Eels is number 15 Abbi Church
Interchange for Knights is number 16 Phoebe Desmond

Interchange for Eels is number 16 Therese Aiton
Interchange for Knights is number 17 Kirra Dibb

Interchange for Eels is number 17 Filomina Hanisi

Reserves

Reserve for Knights is number 18 Maitua Feterika

Reserve for Eels is number 18 Christine Pauli

Match Officials

Referee: Kasey Badger
Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated: 12/19/2023 9:04:45 PM

Key match-up

Romy Teitzel v Botille Vette-Welsh: Teitzel captains the Knights after departing Brisbane looking for greater opportunity while Vette-Welsh is a leader for both the Maori All Stars and the Eels. A north Queenslander and daughter of former Cowboy Craig Teitzel, Romy was player of the year in last year's BHP Premiership. Vette-Welsh was close to the best player in a beaten side in the All Stars, setting up both her team's tries.

Stat attack

Eels props dominated the stats sheet in All Stars: Cherrington topped the tackles for Maori with 27 and had the second-most metres with 129 while busting the most tackles (five) in the match. Meanwhile Kelly-Sines had the equal-most busts for Indigenous All Stars with four and was one of just four forwards in the match to maintain a 100% tackle efficiency.