NRL.com Wrap | Knights defeated in NRLW nailbiter

35 min: The Warriors go coast to coast off the kick off! The visitors are inside their own end but some crafty ball playing from Nicholls creates space for Paki who sprints 60m downfield to score. Patricia Maliepo's conversion is wide. Warriors 16-12.

33 min: Emmanita Paki turns Waaka inside and the centre hits the gap to expose a flat footed Wests tigers defence and cross the line. Warriors 16-8.

32 min: Shaniece Monschau is penalised for crowding the play the ball and the Warriors get a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit before half time.

29 min: Back-to-back penalties from the Tigers give the Warriors a much-needed opportunity with the football. Broughton sends the ball right and Stacey Waaka shows great skill to draw in her defenders and send Tysha Ikenasio diving over in the corner.

26 min: The Tigers continue to build pressure and pepper the Warriors' line but this time the visitors' defence holds firm with veteran halfback Gayle Broughton pushing Namoe Gesa into touch.

22 min: Left side strong side! The Tigers once again are gifted a repeat set on their attacking line and McGregor double pumps at the line for Lutu who sends a basketball style pass out to Rogan for a double. Tigers 16-0.

18 min: The Tigers work their way down the length of the field thanks to the 20m tap and seven-tackle set. Lutu goes right and Shaniece Monschau sends a long ball over for Lilly Rogan to score in the left corner. Tigers 12-0.

15 min: A Tigers error hands the Warriors an opportunity in the attacking zone. Apii Nicholls grubbers for the in-goal but the ball rolls dead.

12 min: The Tigers capitalise with Caitlin Turnbull superbly taking a Raecene McGregor high ball in the in-goal to post the opening points of the match. Tigers 6-0.

9 min: More ill-discipline from the Warriors hands the Tigers more field position before earning a repeat set with the Warriors knocking the ball into touch on the last tackle.

6 min: An early opportunity to post points goes begging for Wests Tigers. The home side earn a repeat set in their attacking zone but Christian Pio puts down a short ball from dummy half.

5 min: It's a shaky start for the Warriors, conceding three back-to-back penalties in the opening five minutes of the match.

 

Late Mail

Wests Tigers: No further changes on game day after Salma Nour and Harmony Crichton were omitted from the squad on Saturday prompting a reshuffle. Winger Kayla Henderson and hooker Leah Ollerton will make their NRLW debuts. Captain Kezie Apps is also out due to a leg injury in a big blow for the Tigers, who will also be without winger Emily Bass (calf). Portia Bourke will replace Apps in the back row. Holli Wheeler is straight back in as lock in her return from suspension, with Shaniece Monschau shifting to prop.

Warriors: No late changes for the Warriors. Second-rower Matekino Gray was pushing to feature in her first game of the season after recovering from a foot injury but dropped out of the squad on Saturday along with Natalia Hickling and Lavinia Tauhalaliku. Samoa captain Annetta-Claudia Nuuausala is back on deck and set to start at prop after missing the past two games.

Knights v Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium

Full-time: The Raiders have announced themselves as genuine finals contenders having now toppled the reigning premier Broncos and now Newcastle. The Knights led for 60 minutes of the match, losing Sidney Taylor to the sin-bin for a hip-drop tackle proved costly for the competition heavyweights.

69 min: Canberra earn a repeat set on their attacking line and Holyman ices the comeback victory, crashing her way past Spain and Kaprani from close range. Raiders 25-18.

67 min: Raiders are on the attack and Temara slots a field goal from 15m out to put her side back in front with three minutes to play. Raiders 19-18.

64 min: Roche goes to the line and dummies out the back to Spain before finding Willison short who powers her way to the line. Dibb misses the conversion and the scoreboard is locked 18-18.

63 min: Dibb goes for the short kick off and Newcastle have the football. 

61 min: Canberra steal the lead! On the back of a strong run by Simaima Taufa, Chanté Temara sends a cut out pass from dummy half and Sophie Holyman crashes over. Raiders 18-14.

61 min: Raiders have all the momentum, going the length of the field from the kick off and forcing a line dropout.

58 min: Canberra go back-to-back! A great team try with Temara, Gallagher and Waterman combining to send Simpson over for a double. Another miss from the sideline from Temara. Knights 14-12.

54 min: Canberra finally capitalise on their one-player advantage. Sending the ball right to Tufuga who draws in two defenders and finds Wiki unmarked in the corner. Temara's kick hits the posts. Knights 14-8.

54 min: Newcastle burn their captain's challenge after they review a knock on from Kirkpatrick in the ruck.

49 min: Canberra are on the attack but fail to capitalise with Simpson going into touch.

48 min: The Knights go down to 12 players with Sidney Taylor sin binned for a hip drop tackle on Gallagher.

45 min: The two sides are trading penalties and gifting opportunities and this time it's the Raiders on the attack but Waterman loses the ball over the line.

43 min: The Knights swing the ball left to send Mercedez Taulelei-Siala over untouched. Leianne Tufuga is placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Roche in the same play. Knights 14-4.

42 min: The Knights build pressure and earn a repeat set after Grace Kemp fumbles a fifth tackle kick.

41 min: Newcastle work their way out of their own end with Hollie-Mae Dodd pinned for a dangerous tackle.

40 min: The Raiders get a piggyback downfield after Grace Giampino is penalised for a slow peel in the ruck. Temara puts Jordyn Preston into space but Spain comes up with a superb cover tackle to pull the backrower up inches short of the line.

Half-time: The Knights take just a six-point lead to the break despite having 58% of possession. The Raiders completed at just 53 per cent and came up with eight errors. 

34 min: Newcastle have an opportunity to extend their leading before half-time but Jules Kirkpatrick puts down a ball from Roche.

33 min: The Raiders hand the ball straight back to Newcastle with Blackwell throwing a wayward pass to Charlotte Basham out of dummy half.

31 min: Canberra get a golden opportunity before the break with repeat sets in Knights' territory. Temara takes it down the short side and some slick hands from Isabella Waterman finds Eise Simpson in the corner. Knights 10-4.

26 min: Gallagher is placed on report for a trip but escapes the sin bin.

16 min: Newcastle go right off the scrum and Dibb finds Lucy Spain who sends Shanice Parker over in the corner. Knights 10-0. 

16 min: Another uncharacteristic error from Gallagher, knocking down a Georgia Roche high ball and the Knights have a scrum 10m out.

12 min: The referee rules a Knights knock on from an offload. Newcastle are quick to use their captain's challenge and are successful with replays showing a touch from Canberra. A golden opportunity goes begging with Knights knocking the ball down in the next set.

9 min: A penalty against Simon Karpani for a flop tackle hands the Raiders an opportunity in their attacking zone and Krystal Blackwell goes high on the last but the kick is wide. 

6 min: Raiders first opportunity with the football is short lived with Mackenzie Wiki knocking on a loose pass from Zahara Temara.

3 min: A penalty in the ruck hands Knight a repeat set in their attacking zone and Kirra Dibb shows her class with a show-and-go to power over the line and bag the opening try. Knights 6-0.

1 min: Newcastle have an opportunity to post some early points with Sheridan Gallagher knocking on a fifth tackle kick.

 

Late Mail 

Knights: The Knights remain 1-17 on game day. Simone Karpani has been named at prop, with Amelia Pasikala on the bench. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala has been named on the wing but could shift to the back row as was the case last week. 

Raiders: No late changes for the Raiders as they look to build on last week's upset win over the Broncos. Darrin Borthwick has named the same 17 as Canberra chase their first win over the Knights. Winger Elise Simpson has scored 10 tries in her last 11 games.

Numbers Game

• The Knights have won all three games against the Raiders.
• The Raiders failed to score in their only previous visit to McDonald Jones Stadium (2025).
• The Knights have won their last four games at McDonald Jones Stadium.
• Raiders winger Elise Simpson has scored 10 tries in her last 11 games.

Cowboys v Sharks at Queensland Country Bank Stadium