NRL.com Wrap | Knights smash Cowboys to keep finals hopes alive

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Full-time: A dominant win for the Knights, securing a 40-6 win, with winger Mercedez Taulelei-Siala getting a hat-trick. Centre Tenika Willison was a standout at centre, scoring a try and setting up a number of others with some strong runs and good passing. 

69th min: One more try for the Knights before full-time, with Willison again involved in the set-up, helping get her halfback Georgia Roche over the line. Dibb converts to give her side a 40-6 lead.

68th min: Mercedez Taulelei-Siala is denied a fourth after she is forced over the sideline by some committed Cowboys defence. 

66th min: Another quick try from the Knights, with Mercedez Taulelei-Siala over for her hat-trick, with good work from Willison again helping set this one up. Kirra Dibb's conversion for the far left is successful for a 34-6 lead. 

64th min: A nice play from a scrum sees Tenika Willison get over for another Knights try. The Māori All Stars representative has been one of the best on the field all game and is rewarded for her efforts with a four-pointer after another strong run through defenders. Kirra Dibb converts against for a 28-6 lead. 

46th min: Knights rookie Charley Lahmert has her first NRLW try in her second game after making her debut last week. Showing smarts at the tryline, she gets the ball over from dummy half. Kirra Dibb converts and the lead goes out to 22-6. 

38th min: Injury alert - Cowboys winger Kayla Jackson comes from the field for a HIA.

37th min: Cowboys do well to keep the Knights out after an impressive line break from Sidney Taylor. However, while she fends her way away from multiple defenders, she can't get a pass away and the home side hold her out. 

Half-time: The Knights take a 16-6 lead into the break after an eventful first half. Newcastle have had the better of the possession with 61 percent and have completed at 77 percent (14/18), while the Cowboys have also had a strong completion rate of 85 percent (12/14). Knights winger Mercedez Taulelei-Siala has a double in the opening half. 

28th min: A first half double for Mercedez Taulelei-Siala who puts the visitors further in front with a try that looked a lot like her first, coming off the back of some strong runs from the Newcastle forward pack to put their team in attacking position. Kirra Dibb slots this one for a 16-6 lead. 

20th min: A try for the Cowboys, with Jasmine Peters showing plenty of strength of her own, taking a number of Knights defenders with her over the line to just dot the ball down. Rosie Kelly converts and the score narrows to 10-6. 

18th min: Injury alert - Tallisha Harden comes off with a reported dislocated finger, but Alisha Foord has been cleared from her HIA and will come to the field in her place. 

15th min: A quick follow-up try from the Knights with good lead-up work and strength from Tenika Willison setting up Lucy Spain to run away to score. Kirra Dibb's conversion attempt is successful this time for a 10-0 lead.

12th min: The Cowboys can't deny her a second time however and Mercedez Taulelei-Siala makes no mistake is over on the left for the opening points of the game. The Cowboys gave up a penalty in their own end and Newcastle went about their work, moving the ball from right to left, stretching the Cowboys. Kirra Dibb can't convert and the Knights lead 4-0. 

5th min: Mercedez Taulelei-Siala is denied the opening try for the Knights after some good Cowboys defence on their right edge takes the opposing winger out of bounds. Score remains 0-0. 

4th min: Alisha Foord comes from the field for the Cowboys with a Category 2 head knock. 

Kick off: The Cowboys kick off and the Knights have the first use of the ball. 

Match preview 

Late Mail

Cowboys: More changes on game day, with winger Charlize Lloyd-Phillips, a combat rescue specialist in the Australian Defence Force, to miss the clash after she was released by the club to complete a Tactical Rope and Rescue Operator course. Kayla Jackson returns to the line up in her place. Lyrech Mara comes on to the bench. Earlier, prop Essay Banu was ruled out on Friday. Lily Dick comes into the starting side and Kayla Jackson joins the interchange.  

Knights: No changes on game day. Lucy Spain will line up at fullback in No.17 with Lily-Ann White dropping to the reserves on Friday. Simone Karpani has been added to the bench in No.20. Fane Finau has been promoted from 18th player last week to start in the second row, swapping roles with Jules Kirkpatrick. "Fane was moved back to New South Wales Women's Premiership to work on a couple of things and she played really well on the weekend," coach Ben Jeffries said of the switch. "We pulled her off with about 20 minutes to go in that game, so she'd done enough and she's been elevated into our pack this week."

Roosters v Sharks at Allianz Stadium

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Roosters 

Sharks

Full-time: The Roosters get it done again to remain undefeated this season with a 36-8 win. Both Brydie Parker and Jess Sergis got a double in the win. Despite the result, coach John Strange will no doubt have plenty he will want his squad to work on, with the team making too many errors - 14 in total - and guilty of some poor discipline where they gave away nine penalties. The Sharks however put up a strong fight, but were again struck with a further injury blow, with forward Rhiannon Byers unable to finish the game. 

65th min: No long to wait for the home side though to add to their tally, with Jessica Sergis getting her double. Kelleher's attempt to convert misses and it's 36-8. 

61st min: A no-to the Roosters, with Millie Elliott deemed to have lost the ball over the line.

55th: A good hit-back from the Sharks, with skipper Tiana Penitani Gray running on to a ball at the line and hard into the defence, able to spin her way and fight over the line to get the ball down. Kiria-Ratu is unable to convert meaning scores remain 32-8. 

42nd min: Bang-bang for the Roosters with Jess Sergis the latest to score. The Roosters go from one side of the field to the other with Tarryn Aiken guiding the show. The ball goes out to the right, Parker runs and pops a ball back inside and the centre is over. Kelleher converts this one for 32-4.

40th min: More points for the Roosters, but this time out on the left edge with Mia Wood going over for the Tri Colours. Kelleher can't convert this one and it's 26-4.

40th min: Sharks forward Rhiannon Byers comes from the field with a suspected knee injury.

37th min: A quick double for Brydie Parker, scoring for the Roosters not long after coming out for the second half. Set up by some switched-on dummy half play by Naividi who ran in behind the ruck before some enterprising offloads see the ball go out to the right wing. Kelleher can't convert this time so it's 22-4 to the Roosters. 

Half-time: The Roosters take an 18-4 lead to the sheds. While they are in front, they will be wanting to clean up a few areas, namely their discipline. The injury-depleted Sharks have shown spirit, but also have to improve their execution if they are to mount an upset. 

34th min: The visitors are unable to mount any pressure and give up an intercept try after a pass out to the left from Madison Ashby dips late on Tiana Penitani Gray, causing her to kick it ahead into the arms of Brydie Parker who streaks almost the length of the field to put the Roosters further in front. Kelleher converts her third and it's 18-4.

31st min: First points for the Sharks, with Jada Taylor showcasing her speed after running on to a clever kick from Chantay Kiria-Ratu. In the lead-up, the Roosters had been uncharacteristically poor with their disciple, with multiple errors and penalties invited the Sharks into the contest. Kiria-Ratu can't convert so the score stays 12-4. 

16th min: Roosters forward Aliyah Nasio is over for another try for the Roosters, running on to a short ball at the line and powering her way through defenders to touch the ball down. Kelleher converts again to push the lead out to 12-0. 

13th min: Millie Elliott is off the field for a HIA.

6th min: A 'almost' try to the Roosters after Jess Sergis does well to bat the ball back into the in-goal before it goes dead to allow milestone woman Brydie Parker the opportunity to get the ball down. However, the Bunker takes a long look at the lead up and spots the Millie Elliott knock on as players from both sides attempted to bring down a Tarryn Aiken bomb. Score remains 6-0 to the Roosters. 

3rd min: Early points to the Roosters, with Taina Naividi going over on the left corner after the home side shift the ball out to the their edge with some nice passing. Jocelyn Kelleher converts from the sideline for a 6-0 lead.

Kick off: The Roosters kick off and the Sharks have the first chance with the ball. 

Match preview

Late Mail

Roosters: Jayme Fressard has been ruled out, replaced by Taina Naividi, while Mia Wood has joined the interchange in the only game day changes for the Roosters. Rima Butler returns via the bench after sitting out last week with the NRL's concussion protocols, shifting Taneisha Gray to 18th player. Millie Elliott has been named to start at prop like she was last week, moving Aliyah Nasio back to the bench, despite a late switch last week. 

Sharks: No further game day changes for the Sharks. There was more injury drama for the Sharks on Friday with hooker Quincy Dodd ruled out after suffering a broken arm against the Eels while Origin rep Georgia Hannaway is a late out after initially being named to return from an ankle injury. China Polata joins the starting side at centre and Madison Ashby slides to five-eighth while Koffi Brookfield is the new hooker. Tegan Dymock will start at lock and Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu will come from the bench. With Ellie Johnston suspended, Caitlan Johnston-Green will start at prop and Filomina Hanisi comes onto the bench. Olivia Herman will make her NRLW debut off the bench.

Titans v Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium

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Raiders

Titans

Full-time: The Titans have done enough to walk away with 26-20 win at home to solidify second position on the NRLW ladder.

70 min: The Raiders save their best for last and Mackenzie Wiki has a hat-trick with one of the tries of year! As the siren sounds at Cbus Super Stadium, the play starts in the hands of Sheridan Gallagher, who gets an offload away to Chante Temara. The No.9 goes for a scurry and throws a cutout left to Isabella Waterman, who cuts back and finds a pass to Zahara Temara. There's acres of space on the right side now and Temara put the ball on the toe, over the top to Wiki who snares it and puts it down to make the scoreline much more respectable. Zahara Temara gets the conversion. Titans lead 26-20

70 min: A consolation try for the Raiders with a skilful putdown from Raiders winger Mackenzie Wiki despite the attention of Georgia Grey in cover defence. Zahara Temara misses with the conversion attempt. Titans lead 26-14

Injury update: Destiny Mino-Sinapati heads off the field for a HIA.

68 min: Lily Patston is off to the sin bin for a professional foul after holding down Krystal Blackwell for too long after a long break when she swooped on a Lauren Brown error. Takoda Thompson earlier prevented a try with an ankle tap on Blackwell on the run, which gave Patston time to make the grounding tackle.

Injury update: Raiders winger Elise Simpson is in a fair bit of pain clutching her right ankle after a strong tackle from Phoenix-Raine Hippi. Simpson is carried off the field in the arms of the trainers.

64 min: The Raiders are making plenty of metres and are consistently getting in position for attacking sets. Krystal Blackwell tries a cross field kick this time and Titans centre Phoenix-Raine Hippi flies above them to catch it arms outstretched above her head.

59 min: The Raiders have gone up a gear trying to find a way through and Mackenzie Wiki gets over. The Titans have been physical and tough to crack in defence, but on a shift right it takes some fantastic work from Leianne Tufuga to draw in two defenders and get a pass away as late as she could to give her winger the space. Zahara Temara hits the post with the conversion attempt. Titans lead 26-10 

52 min: You can't keep the Titans down for long today and Destiny Mino-Sinapati now has a double. Who else but Lauren Brown is at the centre of this one after the forwards rolled up the field. Brown, on the left, digs deep into line and throws a cutout over the top for Mino-Sinapati to score in the corner. The No.7 hits the post with the conversion attempt. Titans 26-6

48 min: Great defence from the Titans. The Raiders are enjoying their best run of possession of the match and threaten to line on several occasions, but the last tackle play lets them down as Lili Boyle opts to run the ball and while she gets an offload away, the following scramble results in an error and the Lauren Brown jumps on the loose ball, receiving a penalty when the ball is stripped after held.

44 min: The Raiders get the chance to hit right back after finding touch from the kickoff. They put together an upbeat set, which ends with a Sheridan Gallagher grubber kick back across her body into the centre of the field. It has too much power and goes dead to give the Titans a seven tackle set.

42 min: The Titans have picked up where they left off after half-time and have extended their lead with a second try to Georgia Grey. Indie Bostock put her side in strong position after finding her way through out of yardage down the right side and passing to Phoenix-Raine Hippi, who is tackled on the 30m line. Two plays later, Lauren Brown is going left and shows it inside to Evania Isa'ako before popping it to Grey, who finds open space, takes on Raiders fullback Sheridan Gallagher and just fights through the tackle to slam it down. The only thing Brown seems to be struggling with today is the goalkicking, and this attempt is wide. Titans 22-6

37 min: A huge first set of the half from the Titans, as Sienna Lofipo goes straight through the attempted Raiders defence and gets to the fullback Sheridan Gallagher, who does the job. A couple of plays later, Lauren Brown puts up the bomb and Teagan Levi takes it, but falls to ground and it tackled for the changeover. Levi gets up clutching her leg but continues on.

Half-time: The Titans enjoy a 12-point lead at half-time after a late flurry at Cbus Super Stadium. The Raiders opened the scoring but gave up their advantage through errors and penalties to the benefit of the home side. The momentum snowballed for the Titans, who scored three tries in the final seven minutes of the half to give the Raiders a tough ask if they're to come back on th second stanza.

35 min: Unbelievable finish! Georgia Gray, who received a short pass from Evania Isa'ako to break the line, gets the ball down with both arms outstretched under the attention of Raiders five-eighth Krystal Blackwell. It's another tough assignment for Lauren Brown from out wide and she can't add the extras. Titans 18-6

33 min: Oh what beautiful ball playing from Sienna Lofipo to set up a try for Ivania Lolesio. The Titans lock shows great tempo as she receives the ball on the left of the posts, drifts across the other side, shows it once, twice, straightens and pops a short pass to Lolesio on an angled run back inside and she scored under the posts. Lauren Brown adds the two points. Titans 14-6

29 min: Welcome back Destiny Mino-Sinapati! The Titans winger gets over on the back of Lily Kolc getting pulled down inches before the try line in centre field. Georgia Hale fires it out from dummy half to Lauren Brown, who taps it on quickly and the ball bounces in the arms of the Maroons representative, who cuts back inside and carries a defender over to score. It's her first NRLW game since being injured in Round 1. Brown can't convert this one. Titans 8-6

25 min: The Raiders put a great set together from their own end after strong charges from interchange forwards Grace Kukutai and Grace Kemp. Sheridan Gallagher is given all the time in the world to make a decision on last tackle and looks threatening when she decides to run it, only to run into Evania Isa'ako who shuts the play down with excellent first contact. 

22 min: The Titans immediately get another chance after the Raiders kick out on full. On a shift to the left, Evania Isa'ako attempts a cutout pass to her winger but Raiders backrower Hollie-Mae Dodd sticks out a hand and intercepts the ball and is run down on half way.

20 min: The Titans are on the board through Phoenix-Raine Hippi. One-on-one she's too strong for Raiders halfback Zahara Temara off a scrum the Titans received when Elise Simpson spilled a giant Lauren Brown bomb at the back. Brown can't convert to level it up. Raiders lead 6-4

16 min: The Titans go close after a fantastic passage of play from Lauren Brown. After a tough set, she launches a huge kick to Raiders in-goal, forcing Elise Simpson to scramble to get out. The Raiders get off their line with a penalty, but they don't get far with an error from Chloe Saunders 30m out from their own line. In the next set, Brown dummies, dummies, breaks the line and attempts a pass to support, which is knocked down by the Raiders and ultimately dead, but in the chaos a Titan got her hand to the ball and it comes away for a 20m restart.

12 min: The Raiders have the opener! Elise Simpson scores the try but much of the credit should go to Isabella Waterman, who leapt high over Titans winger Indie Bostock to mark a Zahara Temara bomb, landed on her back and the presence of mind to chest pass it to her winger for the try. Temara converts from out wide. Raiders 6-0 

10 min: The two teams are going set for set waiting for the other to crack. Neither the Raiders or Titans are giving an inch, completing their sets and defending stoutly.

5 min: The Titans march down the field on the back of a penalty. After failing to find a way through in the early tackles on the following set, the Titans try a shift to the right and find it just as hard as the Raiders did at the other end, with Indie Bostock making an error under pressure on going over the sideline. Earlier Teagan Levi showed she was up for the contest after a powerful tackle.

2 min: The Raiders get a golden chance to attack after Titans fullback Lily Patston spilled a bomb off the back of the visitors' first set. The Raiders spread it wide right and Mackenzie Wiki is bundled into touch after great defence from the Titans.

Kickoff: This huge top four contest is underway with the Raiders getting first use of the ball.

Late Mail

Titans: No further changes for the Titans after star centre Jaime Chapman was ruled out on Friday with a calf injury. "Chappo picked up a bit of an injury in last week's game and she's not quite right so we'll rest her this week," coach Karyn Murphy said. Georgia Gray moves into the centres and Destiny Mino-Sinapati joins the starting side on the wing. Teagan Levi has been cleared of any ankle concern and will partner with Lauren Brown in the halves. Captain Georgia Hale, named at hooker, will play her 50th game for the club. 

Raiders: No changes to the line-up in the 90 minute squad update. Hollie-Mae Dodd will start in place of Charlotte Basham, who failed her HIA last week. Lili Boyle is the new face on the bench after coach Darrin Borthwick said she impressed for Mounties. "I feel Lily will contribute to our pack as well, so very happy for Lil and she has been very patient and she deserves her opportunity this weekend." Evie McGrath has been named as 18th player.