A dazzling display by Emma Tonegato and Teagan Berry led the Dragons to an emphatic season opener at WIN Stadium on Sunday, claiming a 26-12 victory over Gold Coast.
The reigning grand finalists picked up where they left off last season with superior kicking and game management handing the Red V the perfect start to their 2022 campaign.
After both sides struggled with completion rates in the beginning of the match it was reigning Dally M Medallist Tonegato who opened the scoring for the home side in the 11th minute of the match.
Emma Tonegato is straight back into it
The star fullback continued her flying start when she broke the Titans defence to find rookie Andie Robinson, who crossed the line in the right corner to score on debut.
Robinson opens her NRLW account
Come the 29th minute and Dragons had a third for the day when playmaker Taliah Fuimaono danced around Gold Coast defence to send Berry over for for her sixth NRLW try.
Some classy lead-up play by Titans skipper Brittany Breayley-Nati finished off by Stephanie Hancock opened the door for the visitors to post their first try seconds before the half-time siren.
The Dragons produced some crisp attack in the second half but two tries were denied by desperate defence by Gold Coast.
But flying-finisher Teagan Berry capped a magnificent game when she used her speed and evasive skills to run the ball the length of the field 19 minutes to play.
Berry nice!
Dragons then put the finishing touches on the victory when centre Page McGregor crossed the stripe to make it 26-6 in the 56th minute.
With only three minutes to go Hancock barged over the stripe to bag her second try of the day to make it 26-12.
Match Snapshot
- Dragons winger Teagan Berry has scored seven tries in nine NRLW games.
- St George Illawarra forward Shaylee Bent worked herself to a standstill in defence for the Dragons with 25 tackles.
- Titans lock Georgia Hale was placed on report in the 23rd minute for a dangerous tackle on Dragons centre Keele Browne.
- 20-year-old Andie Robinson scored for the Dragons on her NRLW debut.
- St George Illawarra covered a large amount of distance with Teagan Berry (180 metres), Emma Tonegato (187 metres) Holli Wheeler (149 metres) and Kezie Apps (116).
- Dragons' halfback Rachael Pearson continually turned the Titans pack around with 279 kick-metres throughout the match.
- Titans centre Evania Pelite showed her power with 147 run metres and four tackle breaks for the Titans.
- Titans hooker Brittany Breayley-Nati continually stood up in defence, chalking up 39 tackles for the visitors.
Play of the Game
After she was denied a try earlier in the second-half, it was 20-year-old flyer Teagan Berry who cemented the win for Jamie Soward's side, finishing off a long-range footrace to extend the home side's lead to 14. The Port-Macquarie product capped a sizzling Round 1 performance with two tries, 187 run-metres and two tackle breaks.
Berry's running wild
What's Next
The Dragons will meet the Eels at Commbank Stadium next week. They'll be hoping for a repeat of Round 2 last season when they kept Parramatta scoreless with a 10-0 win.
The Titans will enjoy a home game against the Knights in Round 2 before a local derby clash against heavyweights Brisbane at Moreton Daily Stadium on September 3.