NRLW Round 1 Match Preview: Red V set for awaited season opener

Author: Joel Beatton
Timestamp: Fri 26 Jul 2024, 10:57 AM

The Dragons will meet the Titans on Sunday, July 28th at WIN Stadium, Wollongong in Round 1 of the 2024 Telstra Women's Premiership.

Jamie Soward's squad open their campaign versus last year's Grand Finalists the Titans on home soil.

They will be on show in the lead-up to the NRL squad's clash against the Panthers with the club celebrating Heritage Round looking back on 25 Years of the St George Illawarra Dragons.

KEY TIMINGS

Date: Sunday, July 28th
Gates Open: 11:30am
NRLW: 12:00pm
NRL: 2:00pm
Where: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Watch: Kayo & Foxtel (+ 9Go! & 9Now for NRLW)

Kasey Reh, Bronte Wilson, and Maatuleio Fotu-Moala have all been named to make their NRLW debuts.

Reh and Wilson both graduate from the Steelers' Tarsha Gale Cup premiership side whilst Fotu-Moala debuts having made a name for herself across the ditch.

A Western Suburbs Red Devils junior, Reh captained the Steelers to an impressive Grand Final win taking home Player of the Series honours in the process.

The 18-year-old was then rewarded with selection for Under 19s Country before skippering the Under 19s Blues to State of Origin victory.

Wilson – who becomes just the second player in NRLW history to be granted an age exemption to make her debut – played her juniors with Collegians Wollongong.

She scored a decisive try in the Steelers' Grand Final win before backing up the effort with a four-pointer in NSW's Under 19s State of Origin win.

Born and raised in South Auckland, Fotu-Moala began her rugby league journey as an 18-year-old at the Ōtāhuhu Leopards before stints at the Ponsonby Ponies and Howick Hornets.

She made her international debut for Tonga against the Kiwi Ferns in 2022 before representing her nation again at the South Pacific Games the following year.

Keele Browne, Bobbi Law, Alexis Tauaneai and Sara Sautia have all been named in the 17 after having their 2023 campaigns cut short by injury.

Offseason recruit Steph Hancock has been named on the interchange for her first appearance as a Dragon since 2020.

Ella Koster (shoulder) is unavailable for the Red V along with Tyla King who finds herself in Paris representing New Zealand at the Olympic Games.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Sunday 28 Jul

Full Time

Dragons

Titans

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Teagan Berry

Fullback for Titans is number 1 Evania Pelite
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Maatuleio Fotu-Moala

Winger for Titans is number 2 Karina Brown
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Keele Browne

Centre for Titans is number 3 Jaime Chapman
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Bobbi Law

Centre for Titans is number 4 Niall Williams-Guthrie
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Margot Vella

Winger for Titans is number 5 Emily Bass
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Zali Hopkins

Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Taliah Fuimaono
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Raecene McGregor

Halfback for Titans is number 7 Lauren Brown

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa

Prop for Titans is number 8 Shannon Mato
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Sophie Clancy

Hooker for Titans is number 9 Brittany Breayley-Nati
Prop for Dragons is number 17 Steph Hancock

Prop for Titans is number 10 Jessika Elliston
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Shenai Lendill

2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Zara Canfield
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Charlotte Basham

2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Shaylee Bent
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Alexis Tauaneai

Lock for Titans is number 13 Georgia Hale

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 10 Jamilee Bright

Interchange for Titans is number 14 Lily-Rose Kolc
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Kasey Reh

Interchange for Titans is number 15 Rilee Jorgensen
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Sara Sautia

Interchange for Titans is number 16 Dannii Perese
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Bronte Wilson

Interchange for Titans is number 17 Laikha Clarke

Reserves

Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Kimberley Hunt

Reserve for Titans is number 18 Georgia Grey

Match Officials

Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 8/3/2024 4:21:55 AM

Lily-Rose Kolc has been named to make her NRLW debut off the interchange for the visitors whilst Rilee Jorgensen, Emily Bass, and Taliah Fuimaono have shaken off injury concerns for the season opener.

They have also named the same forward pack that took on the Knights in last year's Grand Final.

The Dragons have beaten the Titans three times from four clashes with their last meeting at WIN Stadium resulting in a 26-12 win in Round 1, 2022.

Try-scoring ace Teagan Berry has scored an extraordinary eight tries from her four clashes against the Titans including an historic four-try haul in Round 6 last year.