Rooster, Eel will open NRLW 2022 season

Defending prime minister Sydney Roosters will begin their title defense against the Eels on 20 August following the Telstra 2022 NRL Women’s Premiership draw was released on Friday.

The busy schedule, which will run concurrently with the NRL Telstra Premiership finals and series finals, includes primetime Sunday night football, two double-header clubs and a standalone three-header at Central Coast Stadium.

The new-look Roosters will face Parramatta, whom they beat on field goals in March, before clashing with the Broncos in a second-half semi-final rematch at Redcliffe’s Moreton Daily Stadium, which hosts the 2021 NRLW grand final.

The Tricolors have lost several players from last season’s premiership campaign including captain Corban Baxter (pregnant) and Newcastle-bound forwards Hannah Southwell, Yasmin Clydsdale and Olivia Higgins.

They have signed Sam Bremner, Titans partner Destiny Brill, Shaniah Power and former Knight Jayme Fressard in their stead while Chante Temara, Zahara’s younger sister, has also signed with the club after breaking her arm earlier this year.

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In an arguably opening round tie, Brisbane will travel to McDonald Jones Stadium to take on the Knights, who will be backed by former Broncos stars Millie Boyle and Tamika Upton.

Newcastle, who have undergone the competition’s biggest squad overhaul since their season ended in March, will host the Broncos ahead of clashes against the Titans, Eels, Roosters and Dragons.

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St George Illawarra and Gold Coast will open their campaign at WIN Stadium on August 21 in their own semi-final rematch.

The Dragons, who were runners-up last season, will meet the Eels in the second round before taking on the Roosters in a grand final rematch at the Leichhardt Oval on September 4.

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The Titans, under new coach Karyn Murphy, will face the Broncos in the Queensland derby in the third round at Moreton Daily Stadium.

In the highlights of another major draw;

• The Titans and Knights will be part of the doubles match with the men’s team on August 28 at Cbus Super Stadium
• The dates and times of the three round four matches are yet to be confirmed to match the men’s final
• A stand-alone NRLW triple header will take place at Central Coast Stadium on September 18 to complete the regular season

The 2022 Telstra NRL Women’s Premier League will be the fifth season since starting in 2018.

The current champions Roosters take up the 2021 competition after its postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. The previous winners were the Broncos, who won three titles in a row.

The NRLW club have locked down 22 of their 24 squad with the remaining two players to be signed by 1 August. The squad will begin pre-season training from mid-July.

To view the full NRLW 2022 draw, click here.

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