2022 NRLWahine Round Rua Preview
NRLWahine round two is headlined by an almighty Kiwi-NRL match up between defending champions Roosters and Broncos, plus Gayle Broughton faces off against the classy Emma Tonegato. Broncos were defeated by Knights in the first round and while Broncos will be fizzing to bounce back, Roosters are now a wahine force.
Amber Hall is one of two low key NRLWahine who have to be highlighted among the best Aussies. Despite a loss vs Knights, Hall played all 70 minutes with 14 runs for 125m @ 8.93m/run, a linebreak assist, three offloads and 25 tackles @ 100 percent. Everyone else in the Broncos starting forward pack missed at least two tackles and when that mahi is packaged with legendary attacking wrinkles; Hall is the best edge forward in the league.
Hall was first in offloads for the past two seasons, now leading the league for offloads again. Hall has been top-five for post contract metres in four seasons, now second this season.
Amy Turner, Nita Maynard and Crystal Tamarua feature alongside Hall to face Roosters. Leaianne Tufuga, Raecene McGregor and Mya Hill-Moana are named again for Roosters. McGregor is right there with Hall as an elite NRLWahine talent as she's a key figure for Aotearoa Kiwi Ferns, has won championships with two different teams and there is clear development in her mahi.
In leaving Broncos for Roosters, McGregor had the most kicking metres, try assists and run metres of her four NRLW seasons. That resulted in a championship earlier this year and McGregor started this season with two try assists, 279 kicking metres and 98 run metres against Eels. That mahi might not appear every week but McGregor might be leaping deeper into the pocket of elite halves right before a World Cup.
McGregor and her Roosters comrades dismantled Eels, handing Broughton her first loss of NRLW. Broughton's running game is an obvious weapon and opposition halves must be cautious to not kick directly at Broughton. Instincts and intuition will take more time to shine in NRLW which will be evident in how Broughton pops up outside of structure.
Broughton's Eels take on Dragons and Tonegato is the benchmark for NRLW fullbacks, offering an enticing match up against Eels. Dragons are a high quality team and Page McGregor plays her role in that, which may also influence the direct match up between Broughton and Tonegato. There is only so much Broughton can do if her forwards are being dominated and Eels are missing 52 tackles.
Titans vs Knights finishes this round and Stephens-Daly seems to have a wing spot locked up for Knights, alongside Kiwi Fern Kiana Takairangi on the other wing. Titans have named most of their NRLWahine with Apii Nicholls, Madison Bartlett, Kimiora Breayley-Nati, Georgia Hale and Hailee-Jay Maunsell in the 17.
Maunsell earned a Kiwi Ferns squad call up from her work on the wing earlier this year and her spot has now been taken by Bartlett, perhaps creating a shift in positions for Maunsell. After not playing last round, Maunsell is on the bench and she may get minutes as a forward or she is merely there for outside back cover.
Titans were defeated by Dragons last round and hopefully the team with the deepest NRLWahine crew doesn't struggle this season. The quality of veterans in the Titans should lead some kind of bounce back against Knights.
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