# 2021 NRL Women's season

The 2021 NRLW premiership was the fourth professional season of Women's rugby league in Australia. The season was planned to start in August 2021, postponed to October 2021 and further postponed to 2022 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The competition was held from February to April 2022, with the 2022 NRL Women's season later commencing in August 2022.

## Teams

For the first time there will be three new teams in the competition: the Parramatta Eels, Gold Coast Titans and Newcastle Knights will all join the competition, while the New Zealand Warriors will be in recess for this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teams for the Round 1 matches on Sunday, February 27 were announced on February 22, 2022.
| Club | Season | Head coach | Captain(s) |
| Brisbane Broncos | 4th season | Kelvin Wright | Ali Brigginshaw |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | 4th season | Jamie Soward | Kezie Apps |
| Sydney Roosters | 4th season | John Strange | Corban Baxter |
| Newcastle Knights | 1st season | Casey Bromilow | Romy Teitzel |
| Parramatta Eels | 1st season | Dean Widders | Simaima Taufa |
| Gold Coast Titans | 1st season | Jamie Feeney | Brittany Breayley-Nati |

## Win/loss table

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | SF | GF |
| Brisbane Broncos | SYD +16 | NEW +18 | SGI +4 | GCT −2 | PAR +34 | SYD −6 | |
| Gold Coast Titans | SGI −8 | SYD +10 | PAR −10 | BRI +2 | NEW +4 | SGI −6 | |
| Newcastle Knights | PAR −1 | BRI −18 | SYD −16 | SGI −36 | GCT −4 | | |
| Parramatta Eels | NEW +1 | SGI −10 | GCT +10 | SYD −1 | BRI −34 | | |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | GCT +8 | PAR +10 | BRI −4 | NEW +36 | SYD +6 | GCT +6 | SYD −12 |
| Sydney Roosters | BRI −16 | GCT −10 | NEW +16 | PAR +1 | SGI −6 | BRI +6 | SGI +12 |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | SF | GF |
Bold – Home game Italics – Game played at neutral venue Opponent for round listed above margin

## Home and away season

* Note all games are played in 2022 NOT 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic * All times AEDT Source:

### Round 1

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referees | Attendance | Reports |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | 20 – 12 | Gold Coast Titans | Sunday, 27 February, 12:00 pm | McDonald Jones Stadium | Karra-Lee Nolan | 2,615 | |
| Sydney Roosters | 4 – 20 | Brisbane Broncos | Sunday 27 February, 1:50 pm | McDonald Jones Stadium | Belinda Sharpe | 3,847 | |
| Newcastle Knights | 12 – 13 | Parramatta Eels | Sunday 27 February, 3:40 pm | McDonald Jones Stadium | Kasey Badger | 5,049 | |

### Round 2

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referees | Attendance | Reports |
| Newcastle Knights | 10 – 28 | Brisbane Broncos | Sunday, 6 March, 12:00 pm | WIN Stadium | Kasey Badger | 1,036 | |
| Sydney Roosters | 16 – 26 | Gold Coast Titans | Sunday, 6 March, 1:50 pm | WIN Stadium | Karra-Lee Nolan | 1,278 | |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | 10 – 0 | Parramatta Eels | Sunday, 6 March, 3:40 pm | WIN Stadium | Belinda Sharpe | 2,079 | |

### Round 3

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referees | Attendance | Reports |
| Sydney Roosters | 28 – 12 | Newcastle Knights | Saturday, 12 March, 1:00 pm | Sydney Cricket Ground | Karra-Lee Nolan | | |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | 18 – 22 | Brisbane Broncos | Sunday, 13 March, 12:00 pm | CommBank Stadium | Belinda Sharpe | | |
| Parramatta Eels | 24 – 14 | Gold Coast Titans | Sunday, 13 March, 1:45 pm | CommBank Stadium | Kasey Badger | | |

### Round 4

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referees | Attendance | Reports |
| Gold Coast Titans | 28 – 26 | Brisbane Broncos | Saturday, 19 March, 1:00 pm | Cbus Super Stadium | Belinda Sharpe | | |
| Parramatta Eels | 18 – 19 | Sydney Roosters | Sunday, 20 March, 12:00 pm | McDonald Jones Stadium | Kasey Badger | | |
| Newcastle Knights | 4 – 40 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Sunday, 20 March, 1:45 pm | McDonald Jones Stadium | Karra-Lee Nolan | | |

### Round 5

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referees | Attendance | Reports |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | 16 – 10 | Sydney Roosters | Saturday, 26 March, 1:00 pm | Netstrata Jubilee Stadium | Belinda Sharpe | 1,023 | |
| Gold Coast Titans | 14 – 10 | Newcastle Knights | Sunday, 27 March, 12:00 pm | Suncorp Stadium | Karra-Lee Nolan | | |
| Brisbane Broncos | 38 – 4 | Parramatta Eels | Sunday, 27 March, 1:45 pm | Suncorp Stadium | Kasey Badger | | |

### Ladder

2021 NRL Women's season :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Brisbane Broncos | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 134 | 64 | +70 | 8 |
| 2 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 104 | 48 | +56 | 8 |
| 3 | Gold Coast Titans | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 94 | 96 | −2 | 6 |
| 4 | Sydney Roosters | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 77 | 92 | −15 | 4 |
| 5 | Parramatta Eels | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 59 | 93 | −34 | 4 |
| 6 | Newcastle Knights | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 48 | 123 | −75 | 0 |

### Ladder progression

* Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top four.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
| | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 1 | Brisbane Broncos | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| 2 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| 3 | Gold Coast Titans | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 4 | Sydney Roosters | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Parramatta Eels | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 6 | Newcastle Knights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Finals series

On 25 March 2022 it was announced that both NRLW semi-finals will be held at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, 3 April 2022. At the conclusion of Round 5 on 27 March the semi-finalists, match-ups and playing order were all confirmed.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time (Local) | Venue | Referee | Crowd | Reports |
| SEMI Finals ||||||||
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 – 18 | Gold Coast Titans | Sunday, 3 April 2022, 12.00pm | Leichhardt Oval | Kasey Badger | 1,734 | |
| Brisbane Broncos | 16 – 22 | Sydney Roosters | Sunday, 3 April 2022, 1.45pm | Leichhardt Oval | Belinda Sharpe | 2,124 | |

### Grand Final

* Sunday, April 10, 2022. 1.30 PM
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | 4 – 16 | Sydney Roosters |
| Tries: 1 Madison Bartlett Goals: nil | 1st: 4-0 2nd: 0-16 Reports | Tries: 3 Yasmin Meakes Isabelle Kelly Olivia Higgins Goals: 2 Zahara Temara 2 |
* Moreton Daily Stadium Attendance: 7,855
* Karyn Murphy Medal: Sarah Togatuki Referee: Belinda Sharpe

## Team of the Week

At the conclusion of each round, the media department of the NRL announce a team of the week. Thirteen players — equivalent to the number of players on the field for one team — are named.
| Jersey | Position | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Semi-finals |
| 1 | Fullback | Botille Vette-Welsh | Tamika Upton | Botille Vette-Welsh | Emma Tonegato | Emma Tonegato | Emma Tonegato |
| 2 | Wing | Teagan Berry | Katelyn Vaha'akolo | Hagiga Mosby | Karina Brown | Madison Bartlett | Leianne Tufuga |
| 3 | Centre | Jessica Sergis | Amy Turner | Tiana Penitani | Evania Pelite | Shenae Ciesiolka | Jessica Sergis |
| 4 | Centre | Tiana Penitani | Shenae Ciesiolka | Isabelle Kelly | Jaime Chapman | Isabelle Kelly | Isabelle Kelly |
| 5 | Wing | Emily Bass | Madison Bartlett | Brydie Parker | Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell | Hagiga Mosby | Julia Robinson |
| 6 | Five-eighth | Tarryn Aiken | Tarryn Aiken | Tarryn Aiken | Taliah Fuimaono | Taliah Fuimaono | Zahara Temara |
| 7 | Halfback | Rachael Pearson | Rachael Pearson | Maddie Studdon | Kimiora Breayley-Nati | Ali Brigginshaw | Raecene McGregor |
| 8 | Prop | Millie Boyle | Millie Boyle | Elsie Albert | Mya Hill-Moana | Millie Boyle | Millie Boyle |
| 9 | Hooker | Keeley Davis | Brittany Breayley-Nati | Lauren Brown | Lauren Brown | Olivia Higgins | Keeley Davis |
| 10 | Prop | Phoebe Desmond | Elsie Albert | Annetta Nu'uausala | Steph Hancock | Sarah Togatuki | Steph Hancock |
| 11 | Second-row | Olivia Kernick | Tazmin Gray | Olivia Kernick | Kaitlyn Phillips | Kody House | Keilee Joseph |
| 12 | Second-row | Amber Hall | Shaylee Bent | Shaylee Bent | Shaniah Power | Amber Hall | Amber Hall |
| 13 | Lock | Simaima Taufa | Destiny Brill | Destiny Brill | Hannah Southwell | Jessika Elliston | Jocelyn Kelleher |

## Dream Team

In the week between the Semi-finals and Grand Final, the Rugby League Players Association announced a Dream Team. The team was selected by the players, who each cast one vote for each position.
| Jersey | Position | Player |
| 1 | Fullback | Emma Tonegato |
| 2 | Wing | Karina Brown |
| 3 | Centre | Jaime Chapman |
| 4 | Centre | Shenae Ciesiolka |
| 5 | Wing | Teagan Berry |
| 6 | Fullback | Taliah Fuimaono |
| 7 | Halfback | Rachael Pearson |
| 8 | Prop | Elsie Albert |
| 9 | Hooker | Lauren Brown |
| 10 | Prop | Millie Boyle |
| 11 | Second-row | Amber Hall |
| 12 | Second-row | Shaniah Power |
| 13 | Lock | Destiny Brill |

## Individual awards
### Dally M Medal Awards Night

The following awards were presented at the Dally M Medal Awards ceremony in Brisbane on the night of 7 April 2022.
Dally M Medal Player of the Year: Tied
* Millie Boyle ( Brisbane Broncos); and
* Emma Tonegato ( St George Illawarra Dragons)
Captain of the Year: Brittany Breayley-Nati ( Gold Coast Titans)
Coach of the Year: Jamie Soward ( St George Illawarra Dragons)
Try of the Year: Shaniah Power for Gold Coast Titans versus Brisbane Broncos (19 March 2022).
Tackle of the Year: Emma Tonegato for St George Illawarra Dragons on Jessica Sergis of the Sydney Roosters (26 March 2022).

### Grand Final Day Awards

The following awards were presented at Redcliffe, Queensland on Grand Final day, 10 April 2022.
Veronica White Medal: Karina Brown ( Gold Coast Titans)
Karyn Murphy Medal Player of the Match: Sarah Togatuki ( Sydney Roosters)

### RLPA Players' Champion Awards

The following awards were voted for by NRLW players at the end of the season.
The Players' Champion: Emma Tonegato ( St George Illawarra Dragons)
Rookie of the Year: Destiny Brill ( Gold Coast Titans)
Dennis Tutty Award: Ali Brigginshaw ( Brisbane Broncos)

### Statistical Awards

Highest Point Scorer in Regular-season: Lauren Brown ( Brisbane Broncos) 34 (17 g)
Top Try Scorers in Regular-season: 4 — Madison Bartlett ( St George Illawarra Dragons), Emily Bass ( Brisbane Broncos), Teagan Berry ( St George Illawarra Dragons), Shenae Ciesiolka ( Brisbane Broncos), and Hagiga Mosby ( Brisbane Broncos).
Highest Point Scorer across the Full Season: Lauren Brown ( Brisbane Broncos) 38 (19 g)
Top Try Scorer across the Full Season: Madison Bartlett ( St George Illawarra Dragons) 6

### Club Awards

| Award | Knights | Eels | Titans | Broncos | Dragons | Roosters |
| Player of the Year | Annetta Nu'uausala | Botille Vette-Welsh | Jessika Elliston | Millie Boyle | Tied. Elsie Albert & Emma Tonegato | Isabelle Kelly |
| Player's Player | Annetta Nu'uausala | Simaima Taufa | — | Lauren Brown | — | Sarah Togatuki |
| Highest Point Scorer | Romy Teitzel 8 (2t) Kirra Dibb 8 (4 g) | Maddie Studdon 19 (1t 7 g 1fg) | Steph Hancock 16 (4t) Jasmine Peters 16 (4t) | Lauren Brown 38 (19 g) | Rachael Pearson 28 (1t 12 g) | Zahara Temara 21 (10 g 1fg) |
| Top Try Scorer | Romy Teitzel 2 | Abbi Church 2 Tiana Penitani 2 Christian Pio 2 | Steph Hancock 4 Jasmine Peters 4 | Emily Bass 4 Shenae Ciesiolka 4 Hagiga Mosby 4 | Madison Bartlett 6 | Isabelle Kelly 4 |
| Coaches Award | — | Shirley Mailangi | — | Julia Robinson | Shaylee Bent | — |
| Community Award | — | Simaima Taufa | Karina Brown | Tallisha Harden | — | Jocelyn Kelleher |
| Rookie of the Year | — | — | — | Emily Bass | — | Olivia Kernick |
| Try of the Year | — | — | — | Shenae Ciesiolka | — | Isabelle Kelly |
| Back of the Year | — | — | — | Shenae Ciesiolka | — | — |
| Forward of the Year | — | — | — | Millie Boyle | — | — |

## Players
### Brisbane Broncos

The team was coached by Kelvin Wright. Jumper numbers in the table below are those assigned to be used in the Semi-finals.
Notes:
* Amy Turner was selected in the 2007 Australian Jillaroos team that played two Test Matches against New Zealand Māori women's rugby league team, however, the lists of players that took the field in those matches are yet to be confirmed by the contributor to this page.
* Nakita Sao played for Wests Panthers and later North Sydney in the 2021 state competitions of, respectively, Queensland and New South Wales.
* Nakita Sao also played for Wests Panthers ( 4 m 1t) in the Queensland's Under 19 club matches in 2021.
* In 2021, Sara Sautia played for Canterbury Bulldogs ( 8 m 2t) played in Tarsha Gale Cup Under 19 matches in New South Wales and subsequently played for Wests Panthers in the senior state competition in Queensland.

### Gold Coast Titans

The team was coached by Jamie Feeney. Jumper numbers in the table are those assigned to be used in the Semi-finals.
Notes:
* Crystal Tamarua has played three matches for the Cook Islands and four matches for the Kiwi Ferns.
* Cobie-Jane Morgan was selected in the 2015 New South Wales women's rugby league team.
* The following players participated in Queensland's Under 19 club tournament in 2021: Destiny Brill (West Panthers 4 m 2t), Jetaya Faifua (Burleigh Bears 4 m 1t ), April Ngatupuna (Wests Panthers 4 m 4t), Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell (Burleigh Bears 4 m 4t ), Jasmine Peters (Mackay 1 m 2t), Tiana Raftstrand-Smith (Burleigh Bears 1 m 2t)
* In 2021, Georgia Hale played in both Queensland and NSW state senior competitions for, respectively, the Tweed Head Seagulls ( 7 m 1t) and North Sydney Bears ( 4 m).

### Newcastle Knights

The team was coached by Casey Bromilow. Jumper numbers in the table are those assigned to be used in Round 5.
Notes:
* Caitlan Johnston was injured in the first match and did not play again in the season.
* Maitua Feterika has played one match for the Samoa women's national rugby league team in 2011 and, subsequently, eleven matches for the Kiwi Ferns.
* Kayla Romaniuk ( 6 m) and Kyra Simon ( 6 m) played for Newcastle in the 2021 Tarsha Gale Cup for Under 21s.

### Parramatta Eels

The team was coached by Dean Widders. Jumper numbers in the table are those to be used in Round 5.
Notes:
* Maddie Studdon kicked a field goal in the Round 1 match of the 2021 NRLW season.
* Therese Aiton played for Queensland in 2008 (in one or both of two matches that year) and for Papua New Guinea in 2018 (in a trial against the Brisbane Broncos and against the Prime Minister's XIII) and in 2019 (a Test Match against Fiji).
* In 2021, Fatafehi Hanisi played for St George ( 11 m 2t) in the Tarsha Gale Cup for Under 19s.
* Tess Stains played for Riverina and for NSW Country Origin in 2021. In 2019, Staines played for the Prime Minister's XIII.

### St. George Illawarra Dragons

The team was coached by Jamie Soward.Jumper numbers in the table are those assigned to be used in the Grand Final.
Notes:
* Natassja Purontakanen (Second-row) from Valleys (9 m 1t) was signed to play in the delayed 2021 season but was injured during pre-season training and did not play.
* Emma Tonegato was selected for the New South Wales women's rugby league team in 2012 and 2013, however, the lists of players that took the field in those matches are yet to be confirmed by the contributor to this page.
* In 2021, Teagan Berry ( 9 m 11t), Keele Browne 8 m 3t), and Chantel Tugaga ( 7 m 2t) played for Illawarra in the Tarsha Gale Cup for Under 19s.
* In 2021, Tegan Dymock played for Cronulla ( 1 m) in the Tarsha Gale Cup for Under 19s.

### Sydney Roosters

The premiership winning team was coached by John Strange.Jumper numbers in the table are those that were used in the Grand Final.
Notes:
* Zahara Temara kicked a field goal in the Round 4 match of the 2021 NRLW season.
* Brydie Parker was selected in the extended squad of the New South Wales women's rugby league team in 2020 and 2021, but did not play in either match.
* In 2021, Keilee Joseph ( 8 m 3t), Otesa Pule ( 11 m 10t) and Taneka Todhunter ( 11 m 6t) played for the Indigenous Academy Sydney Roosters in the Tarsha Gale Cup for Under 19s.