The return of 2024 Golden Boot winner Tarryn Aiken has forced Sydney Roosters coach John Strange to reshuffle his star-studded backline for Saturday’s Magic Round clash with Wests Tigers.
Aiken, who last year won almost every honour on offer including a premiership with the Roosters, and Eels forward Kennedy Cherrington will make their first NRLW appearances of the season in Magic Round after being injured in Origin.
Raiders playmaker Zehara Temara also returns after missing last weekend’s trip to North Queensland with a hamstring injury, along with Warriors halfback Emily Curtain (hip) and Broncos sensation Shalom Sauaso (sternum).
The Dragons have rushed new recruit Tyra Ekepati into their side at fullback for Sunday’s match against Kennedy’s Eels after losing Teagan Berry to suspension and Kasey Reh due to concussion protocols.
Aiken injured her AC joint while helping Queensland avoid an Origin series cleansweep by winning Game III in Newcastle on May 30 and Strange has taken a conservative approach with his star playmaker.
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2024 Golden Boot Winner: Tarryn Aiken
The Jillaroos halfback, who won the Karyn Murphy Medal in last year’s NRLW grand final, returns with the Roosters top of the table and the only unbeaten team in the competition.
As a result, Jocelyn Kelleher moves from halfback to five-eighth, Corban Baxter from five-eighth to fullback, Brydie Parker from fullback to the wing and Mia Wood from the wing to the interchange.Â
“We didn’t want to rush her back until she was 100%, so hopefully she will be back in the side and that will add another quality player,” Strange said.
“She has been training really hard coming back from her shoulder injury, so cardio is no problem. She has been working really hard with our performance staff so she will be ready to go.” Â
Maroons utility Tavarna Papali’i has also been named on an extended bench for the Roosters after recovering from a jaw injury.
Meanwhile, the Eels welcome back Cherrington for her first NRLW appearance since overcoming a knee injury sustained while playing Origin for the Blues.Â
The firebrand forward suffered a posterior cruciate ligament tear in the first half of Origin III, delaying her return for Parramatta after missing the end of last season with a knee injury. She has been named on the bench.
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The Eels face a Dragons outfit hit by injuries to Reh and centres Bobbi Law (appendix) and Indie Bostock (finger) as well as Berry’s two-match suspension.
Ekepati, who represented NSW U19s this year alongside Reh and Bostock, makes her NRLW debut at fullback after joining the Dragons from the Roosters this week.
Elsewhere, Temara has been named at halfback for the Raiders in Sunday’s Magic Round clash with the Knights after being a late withdrawal last weekend agaisnt the Cowboys.
The Broncos welcome back Sauaso on the bench for Saturday night’s clash with the Sharks after the teen star’s recovery from a sternum injury.
 Cronulla has also been bolstered by the return of prop Jacinta Carter (HIA protocols) but have lost forwards Brooke Anderson, Stephanie Faulkner (both HIAs) and Jaydika Tafua (suspension).