VibeBlog

North Queensland fans cheered on Johnathan Thurston for more than a decade, but this time they felt the wrath of a different ‘JT’ as Jada Taylor made a triumphant return from injury to guide the Sharks to a big 40-12 win in Townsville.

Taylor hadn’t played since Round 1 because of an ankle injury but her return sparked Cronulla’s attack into life with the Sharks scoring more points on Saturday than they did in the previous three games combined.

The Sharks exploded out of the blocks with the first four tries of the game but it was Taylor who produced the play of the day when she sliced through and broke Fran Goldthorp’s ankles with a vicious step to score in the second half.

The young gun also set up Quincy Dodd on the back of some fancy footwork to seal the result to go with her 106 metres and six tackle busts.

“Jada at the back gave us a bit more talk and more calmness, so the girls presented some good footy today,” Sharks coach Tony Herman said.

The NRLW newcomers are now 2-0 with Taylor in the side, with the Sharks looking so much more potent with her at the back and Emma Tonegato running riot at five-eighth on the left edge.

Tonegato scored a try on the back of some strong carries from Ellie Johnston who barged over to open the scoring in the first minute, with the Sharks denied the highest score in NRLW history when rookie Georgia Ravics put a foot in touch before she scored her second.

HOUSE OF HORRORS

The Cowboys have had some terrific moments in their inaugural season, but their fans are still waiting for them to fire at home after their second heavy defeat at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Two weeks after they were thumped 40-12 by Brisbane, the Cowboys again struggled defensively with their very young squad unable to keep up with a team full of attacking weapons.

Their for and against is a massive issue with only four rounds to go, with the finals already looking unlikely unless they can drastically turn things around.

“I’m actually speechless with how they’ve trained and prepared all week to then dish that up,” Cowboys coach Ben Jeffries said, describing the performance as “embarrassing” and “unacceptable”.

“When you get beaten at home by that scoreline, I don’t think they were ready to play.”

INJURY HEARTBREAK

There were distressing scenes midway through the second half when Cowboys winger Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly stayed down in agony with a left knee injury.

The winger was in tears and had to be carried from the field after the knee appeared to buckle without any contact.

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The Dragons have pulled off the most dramatic win of the season after they scored two tries in the final three minutes to stun the Wests Tigers 20-16 at CommBank Stadium.

Heading into the contest with just one win under their belt, it looked like St George Illawarra was set for another heartbreaking loss when star fullback Teagan Berry was denied a try in the 65th minute with an almost identical play to what happened last week when she was controversially penalised for a double movement.

But the setback meant little as Zali Hopkins pounced on a Tigers error to score a minute later, before a penalty allowed them to get downfield from the next set where they shifted the ball to the left for Margot Vella to seal the win after they were down 16-6 at the break.

“This is what we work for,” Vella said.

“We have to dig in, we have to hold in there and then we know the results will come.

“We weren’t setting up for golden point because we knew the try was coming.”

Dragons coach Jamie Soward has been frustrated at times this season but he was so happy on Saturday that he almost cracked a CommBank Stadium window when he banged it during the celebrations.

TIGERS THROW IT AWAY

This was the second week in a row the Tigers conceded a try at the death to lose a game they had dominated, after they watched the Cowboys strike late to beat them back in Round 4.

The Tigers were in complete control at half-time after they crossed for three tries, including one to former Dragon Kezie Apps who became the first forward in NRLW history to score a try in four consecutive games.

But they failed to fire a shot in the second half, with Najvada George spending 10 minutes in the sin bin for a professional foul.

“We’ll have to go back to the drawing board again and fix up our second halves,” Apps said.

“We always seem to kill ourselves so hopefully we can work out a way to stay in the grind and stay on top.”

BOBBI’S LAW

The Dragons are sweating on the fitness of premiership-winning centre Bobbi Law who limped off with a hamstring injury in the first half.

The former Knight hurt herself as she crossed for St George Illawarra’s first try and will now be sent for scans to see just how bad the injury is.

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A stunning Tarryn Aiken chip and chase has helped the Roosters stay atop the NRLW ladder after the competition favourites flexed their muscles with a commanding 30-8 win over the Titans.

You’re splitting hairs when trying to decide who the best player in the NRLW is at the moment, but Aiken just has that something special about her which she’s brought to the Roosters after a successful stint in Brisbane.

The representative five-eighth threw a great pass to set up a try for Jayme Fressard, but it was a bit of individual brilliance just before half-time that broke the game wide open when she sliced through, chipped the fullback and forced the ball down to make it 16-4.

The Roosters added three more tries in the second half, but coach John Strange will be most pleased with their defence after they scrambled late to protect their line.

GOLD STARTS TO FADE

The Titans started the season with three thrilling wins, but their spot in the top four is in serious jeopardy after they slumped to their second heavy defeat in as many weeks.

Their attack remains a real concern with the Titans still yet to crack 20 points in a game this season, with their best opportunities on Saturday coming from kicks.

They did have a couple of tries disallowed late, while they’re also sweating on the fitness of winger Emily Bass who came off with a right arm injury.

GONE IN 70 SECONDS

A day after the Eels wasted their captain’s challenge in the opening set of their NRL game against the Roosters, the Titans put in their entry for worst review of the year after just 70 seconds on Saturday afternoon.

There have been some bad challenges over the years but Jessika Elliston might just be in the hall of fame after claiming she hadn’t lost the ball.

Unfortunately for the Titans prop, it took just one replay to prove her wrong.

To make matters worse, the Roosters scored from the scrum when skipper Corban Baxter raced 70 metres to finish off a classy set play.

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