In Australia, Parramatta came back from 16 points down, while Dragons finished last in the NRLW
In Australia, the Parramatta Eels secured a comeback 33–28 victory over the North Queensland Cowboys in the final round of Australia’s National Rugby League Women’s competition (NRLW). In the other match of the day, the Cronulla Sharks defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons 16–8, leaving the Dragons to finish the season in last place.
As ABC News Australia reports, none of the four teams was in contention for a playoff place. The matches were played under an experimental rule allowing a team that concedes a try to choose whether to kick off or receive the ball.
Parramatta’s comeback victory
At Western Sydney Stadium, the Cowboys led 22–6 early in the second half. Charlize Lloyd-Phillips scored the first try in the fourth minute but suffered an injury suspected to involve the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee. Parramatta responded in less than three minutes through Rory Owen. Before halftime, Ash Marsters scored another try for the Cowboys, who led 10–6.
In the second half, the Eels scored five tries. When veteran Kennedy Cherrington was sent off for 10 minutes, shorthanded Parramatta cut the deficit through tries by Zali Fay and Jasmine Morrissey. Kailey Joseph levelled the score and then did so again after Nadia Windleborn’s try put the Cowboys back in front. Four minutes before the end of the match, Rachel Pearson earned Parramatta one point, while Owen sealed the win with a 90-metre run.
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After six defeats at the start of the season, Parramatta finished 2026 with four wins in its last five matches.
Three Sharks tries after halftime
In the match at Sydney Football Stadium, the Dragons took the lead through the only first-half try, scored by Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis in the 20th minute. The teams made 15 errors in the first half.
After the break, the Sharks scored three tries in 13 minutes. China Polata scored after a short pass from Chantay Kiria-Ratu and ran 50 metres, while Georgia Hannaway and Ellie Johnston added tries later. Dragons centre Tyra Ekepati was sent off for 10 minutes for a high tackle. Shenai Sesiloka scored a consolation try in her 50th NRLW match, but it did not affect the outcome of the game.
