Behind-the-scenes weapon for the Bulldogs; NRLW’s ‘Harlem Globetrotters’: Talking Points

Former Maroons and Jillaroos star JO BARRETT dissects Round 1 of the 2025 NRLW season.

The NRLW is back and what a whirlwind the first round was.

From upset wins, record-breaking stats and showstopping tries, the opening weekend of the expanded women’s competition had it all.

But perhaps the biggest story was the inaugural Bulldogs team getting a win in their very first NRLW game.

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WOW! Raider delivers MONSTER NRLW hit | 00:24

Whenever the competition is expanded to welcome in new — or in the Warriors’ case, returning — teams, you always risk diluting the talent.

That’s why the Dogs’ 26-12 win over the Knights, who are no easy beat, is a really positive result for the growth of the game because it just speaks to the timing of their addition.

Rookie coach Brayden Wiliame went down the co-captaincy route by naming Tayla Preston and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa as joint leaders and it seems to be working wonders.

I was particularly keen to see how Preston would go in this new chapter of her career. She’s already a fairly big name in terms of successful halves given she’s helped steer the Eels and Sharks to grand final appearances.

But joining the Bulldogs was a big step in her career. She moved out of the shadows of players like Tiana Penitani, Quincy Dodd and Emma Verran at the Sharks to become a marquee player and the big name at Belmore.

Preston has always been a pointscorer but for the previous two seasons she was surrounded by other leaders or players with a dominant presence.

It was inspiring to see her come into her own and deliver for her Doggies — both as a halfback and a leader.

If you can have a captain in the forwards and backs it’s a smart way to go, which is why having Teakaraanga-Katoa also leading the way could prove to be really beneficial for the Bulldogs.

Sometimes when props take on a leadership role their form can suffer but that was far from the case with Teakaraanga-Katoa.

She was very impressive with a try, 182 run metres and 20 tackles. At 23-years old there’s still a lot of growth in Teakaraanga-Katoa, which is exciting too. She was a standout last year at the Dragons but looks to have taken her game to another level at the Bulldogs.

Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa produced a captain’s knock for the Bulldogs. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

In fact, both co-captains looked like they relished the added responsibility.

One thing I spotted too is that former New South Wales, Australian and Tongan forward Vanessa Foliaki was in the blue shirt for the Bulldogs.

Foliaki retired ahead of this year’s NRLW season and has transitioned into coaching. She actually coached the Bulldogs’ Lisa Fiaola Cup team to a preliminary final earlier this year.

It was awesome to see her running around last Friday at Accor Stadium. Often when players retire they need a little bit of space from the game but she’s just taken the jersey off and put the blue shirt on.

Don’t underestimate what she’ll do behind the scenes for the Bulldogs.

Broncos dominate Tigers in season opener | 00:56

BRISBANE BRONCOS OR HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS?!

How much fun is it to watch the Broncos when they pull of tries like Mele Hufanga’s?

The way that Chelsea Lenarduzzi offloaded for Jada Ferguson, who put in a chip-kick and then Tamika Upton came up with a freakish pass back for Hufunga to score.

That try just epitomised what we love about the Broncos. It looked like it could’ve been a planned play, but it wasn’t. It was absolutely ad-lib and play what’s in front of you.

When the Broncos have second-phase play they’re like the Harlem Globetrotters — just so good to watch. And not many teams have that style... some just get the job done, while the Broncos make it look so cool.

After three years at the Knights, star fullback Upton is back where her NRLW career started and she has slotted in seamlessly. She just brings even more flair that the Broncos seem to have in bucketloads.

Wests Tigers fans shouldn’t be disheartened by the result though because they were within four points of the Broncos for about 40 minutes. Their defensive effort in the first half, to keep the Broncos to eight points, was impressive and shows some promising signs going forward.

Tamika Upton is a Bronco again. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

PEARSON SHINES IN EELS’ UPSET WIN

Rachael Pearson had a game to remember in the Eels’ 18-16 win over last year’s grand finalists, the Cronulla Sharks.

The 31-year-old isn’t the quickest halfback, but she is so smart and that was evident in her clinical performance.

She scored a try, set up another and kicked three goals from four attempts. But what the stats won’t show is her composure. The Eels were a little clunky to start but Pearson didn’t get flustered at all, she just stayed in control of the game.

What really impressed me about the Eels was their resilience in defence and how they were willing to roll up their sleeves and grind it out. They hung in there and scrambled... even though it was ugly at times.

Then the likes of Chloe Jackson and Rory Owen — who both deserve a lot of credit — would get a linebreak and a quick play the ball.

It wasn’t artistic football but it sure worked because they beat the Sharks at their own game.

Rachael Pearson had a statement performance in the Eels’ win. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

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Cowboys down Titans in first ever R1 win | 00:35

COWBOYS’ SPINE LOCKED AND LOADED

I did not expect to see Jakiya Whitfield at fullback for the Cowboys, but I love it.

Coach Ricky Henry has made a really good call there because now the Cowboys’ spine looks settled and very impressive with newcomer Rosie Kelly in the halves with Kirra Dibb and Emma Manzelmann.

Speaking of Manzelmann, she looks set for an outstanding season. The Mackay product missed out State of Origin selection this year but clearly hasn’t let that bother her — or maybe she’s using it as motivation because her work out of dummy-half for the Cowboys was superb.

She’s another player that’s stepped up into an official leadership role this season and is thriving with the extra responsibility.

Dragons debutant demolishes Raiders | 03:49

A DRAGONS STAR IS BORN

Welcome to the NRLW, Indie Bostock! Two tries, a try assist, two linebreak assists, a linebreak, three tackle busts and over 170 running metres. That was one heck of a debut for an 18-year-old.

I was really happy for the Dragons to kick-off this season with a win, especially for Teagan Berry and Raecene McGregor. Those two always play well — win, lose or draw — and they got what they deserved on Saturday... a really solid win.

Berry is such a fantastic athlete. She was already the NRLW’s all-time leading tryscorer with 29 in 32 games, but she added another one to her tally, as well as also setting up two tries for the Dragons and making over 230 running metres.

Naividi stuns with 1ST HALF Hatty! | 01:02

ROOSTERS ON FIRE AGAIN

The reigning premiers picked up where they left of with a dominant win over the Warriors, who have returned to the NRLW after four-year hiatus.

The Roosters managed the favourites tag well, even without their key playmaker Tarryn Aiken, running in four tries in a dominant first half — including a hat-trick to Taina Naividi.

They’ll get even stronger when Aiken returns from a shoulder injury, which shouldn’t be too far away. But they have lost Jayme Fressard now after she dislocated her elbow.

It’s highly likely that when Aiken returns we’ll see Corban Baxter move to fullback and Brydie Parker replace Fressard on the wing. However, one thing about coach John Strange is that he’s not afraid to make a bold choice so he might surprise us.

What happens to that backline when the Roosters are at full strength? It’s a good head ache for Strange to have.

And finally, take a bow Isabelle Kelly. The Roosters skipper is seriously incredible. She already had the most run metres in NRLW history (6617), which was over a thousand more than second-highest (Millie Boyle - 5502).

But on the weekend she added another 284 metres to her tally and her 12 tackle busts has seen her surpass Evania Pelite for the most in NRLW history.

What an athlete.

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