A record-breaking attacking display powered the Cowboys to a convincing 42-14 win over the Dragons, with North Queensland now looming as a real threat to the top teams as they prepare for their first finals campaign.
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Saturday’s result continued their resurgence in 2025 with the Cowboys posting their highest ever NRLW score and chalking up their seventh victory of the year, having won a combined six games in their first two seasons.
It sets up a cracking Queensland derby against the Broncos next week, with the Cowboys winning four of their past five and bouncing back swiftly from last week’s shutout loss to competition favourites the Roosters.
Fran Goldthorp got them going with an 80-metre intercept try against the run of play before Emma Manzelmann took control of the contest with two big plays in the space of three minutes to put her side in total control.
The dynamic dummy-half darted through and dodged the Dragons defence to score before she turned provider to set up Lillian Yarrow from close range.
But it was an effort later in the first half that really stole the show as she chased down the electric Teagan Berry who picked up a kick in her own in-goal and ran 80 metres before Manzelmann reeled her in and forced a pass.
Manzelmann then doubled down on the effort and made the next tackle, only for Ella Koster to barge over from dummy-half to score, but it was a wonderful chase from the Cowboys veteran who will be a problem for rivals in the finals.
The Dragons had no answers for the Cowboys around the ruck with Alisha Foord coming on to replace Manzelmann, with the fresh legs helping her seal it with a try from close range.
BERRY GOOD
It’s time for Berry to start earning more rep jerseys after the flashy fullback produced another masterclass with ball in hand.
The competition’s all-time leading try-scorer bagged a double, had four line-breaks and ran for a mind-blowing 274 metres as she played a lone hand for a Dragons side that won’t be playing finals footy this year.
Berry stepped off her left to get the Dragons on the board, backed up a short ball to score from near halfway and came up with a great cover tackle in the second half, only for the Cowboys to cross one play later.
She is an attacking phenom who deserves to be playing in rep teams, with the Dragons needing to find weapons to help her out.
Francesca Goldthorp scored an 80-metre intercept.Source: Getty Images
AIKEN STARS AS ROOSTERS KEEP STREAK ALIVE
Tarryn Aiken proved the difference as the Roosters continued their perfect start to 2025 by defeating Canberra 26-14 at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
Needing a win to keep their slim finals hopes alive, the Raiders took the game to their more fancied opponents and were coming home with a wet sail when Elise Simpson’s try made it 20-14 with seven minutes remaining.
Enter Aiken, who scored the match-winning try five minutes later when she darted through the heart of the Raiders’ defence to touch down under the sticks.
It was the perfect ending for the Jillaroos star, who had already set up three tries before grabbing one herself.
After a torrid opening 20 minutes, Aiken laid on the first score of the game with a perfect short ball for Jasmin Strange.
Isabella Waterman struck back for the Raiders when she scored off Sereana Naitokatoka’s bomb four minutes later, but Aiken extended the home side’s lead in the 40th minute when her cut-out pass found an unmarked Mia Wood.
Aiken then picked up from where she left off during the second term, creating the overlap that enabled Jessica Sergis to score two minutes after the break.
Jasmine Strange scores a try.Source: Getty Images
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Trailing 16-8, the Green Machine got back in striking distance when Zahara Temara grounded her own kick millimetres inside the dead-ball line in the 46th minute, and while Wood’s second looked to have sealed the deal in the 53rd, Simpson set up a nail-biting finish when she barged over from close range.
DISCIPLINE AN ISSUE FOR ROOSTERS
While the Roosters were worthy winners, coach John Strange would be slightly concerned by their ill-discipline, which allowed the Raiders to hang in longer than they should have.
The ladder leaders conceded six penalties across the 70 minutes and finished the match with a mediocre 67% completion rate. Prop Macie Carlile was also put on report for a dangerous tackle on Mackenzie Wiki.
COME BACK, KELLY!
The Roosters really seemed to miss inspirational skipper Isabelle Kelly, who sat out the game after sustaining an oral fracture the previous weekend against the Cowboys.
A strong running centre, Kelly provides plenty of punch out wide, and her teammates struggled to break the Raiders’ line in her absence.
Best of NRLW Westpac Red Zone: Round 9 | 01:54