The Dragons have kept their finals hopes alive with a dominant 48-16 win over the North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday.
Halves pairing Racene McGregor and Tyla Nathan-Wong helped steer the Red V home in what was a must-win match for the Dragons, who now sit just one win outside the top four.
The visitors struck early after a brilliant sideline dash from Teagan Berry handed the Dragons field position and winger Taylor Mapusua capitalised, crossing out-wide in the fifth minute.
After a mountain of possession, the Cowboys were able to hit back when skipper Kirra Dibb lofted a pass to winger Krystal Blackwell to score her first NRLW try. A sideline conversion from Dibb was the difference between the two sides with 11 minutes gone.
The Dragons took back the lead in the 22nd minute when Zali Hopkins cut out two players to find Margot Vella from dummy-half. Skipper McGregor added the extras from the sideline to make it 10-6.
Zali Hopkins Try
It was only six minutes later the Dragons extended their lead when the Red V ran it on the last tackle and found back rower Madison Mulhall charging onto the ball to score.
With all the momentum, the Dragons marched downfield in the next set and stand-in centre Ella Koster found space from close range to make it 22-6.
Interchange forward Maddison Weatherall was next on the Red V scoresheet with a barnstorming crash-over try to extend the lead 28-6 at the break.
Six minutes into the second half, Cowboys fullback Francesca Goldthorp beat five players to score a brilliant individual try after an inspiring defensive tackle from Sera Koroi gifted the home side possession.
Francesca Goldthorp Try
Cowboys halves Dibb and Tahlulah Tillett were growing in confidence as the game went on and set up Vitalina Naikore to cross in the corner with a spectacular put-down to reduce the deficit 28-16 with 20 left to play.
A great kick from McGregor forced a line drop-out and in the following set Mapusua scored her second for the afternoon, giving the Dragons some breathing room heading into the final 15 minutes of the match.
With nine minutes to play, McGregor and Berry combined off a kick to see the fullback cross for her 10th try in 2023, taking the score out to 42-16.
Zali Hopkins was then rewarded for a dominant game with a try in the 64th minute for the Dragons.
On the full-time siren Shenai Lendill scored off a backline play to record her first try in the NRLW, taking the final score to 48-16.
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Match Snapshot
- Dragons centre Cheynoah Amone left the field after suffering a head knock in the 7th minute and did not return after failing her HIA.
- St George Illawarra lock Alexis Tauaneai left the field with a lower body injury in the 31st minute.
- Dragons 18th player Macie Carlile was activated in the 41st minute.
- Teagan Berry has scored 10 tries in seven matches in 2023.
- Dragons forward Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa ran for 206 metres and 76 post contact metres in 47 minutes for the Dragons.
- Cowboys forward Makenzie Weale was sent to the sin bin and placed on report in the 31st minute.
- This was the Dragons highest scoring match and equal highest in NRLW history.
- 2974 was the official crowd attendance at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Play of the Game
With the Cowboys starting the second half strong and making a fast comeback, Dragons skipper McGregor forced a line drop-out and a slick backline play in the following set saw Mapusua score her second to put the Dragons in firm control.
Taylor Mapusua Try
What They Said
"It’s been a tough month, a couple of one-point losses. We finished with 15 and I was happy for the girls, they needed that reward. Yesterday there was a sense within the group when we got on the plane that we were going to win, you saw that by the effort and the tries scored." - Dragons coach Jamie Soward
Dragons: Round 7
"Three in a row (losses) up here, not good. That’s the story of our year so far, we go in and out of games when we have momentum, we struggle to keep it and when you’ve got the momentum you’ve got to keep it. Our resilience at the moment isn’t great." - Cowboys coach Ben Jeffries
Cowboys: Round 7
What's Next
The Dragons travel to the shire to face the Sharks on Thursday while the Cowboys take on the Raiders on the Gold Coast.