The Canberra Raiders have kick started their NRLW season with a comprehensive 32-12 victory over the Wests Tigers on a windy Sunday afternoon at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
A fast start from the Green Machine saw four tries in the opening twenty minutes create a strong advantage, which the Raiders were able to maintain and secure a win in the opening game of the season.
After the Tigers were unable to find touch from a penalty, the Raiders took full advantage with a shift to the left-edge, finished off by Madison Bartlett who received a slick offload from Wiki.
The strong start for the Raiders continued when the Wests Tigers provided a golden opportunity when Crichton and Lutu collided when attempting to defuse a Temara kick, with Nicholls taking full advantage and putting Dummett over untouched the next play.
A beautifully weighted short pass from Ash Quinlan placed Soliola into a yawning gap before finding the final pass to Mackenzie Wiki who crossed for her first NRLW try and extended the lead to 16-0.
Canberra’s dominant opening 15 minutes continued with a strong set of six marching the Raiders down the field, before Chante Temara jumped out of dummy half to put Simaima Taufa over to score.
Fresh off coming onto the field, Grace Kemp assisted her captain Temara to score the Raiders fifth try of the opening twenty minutes, another Wests Tigers error providing Canberra with field position.
The Tigers scored their first of the afternoon when Piliae-Rasabale placed a kick down the short side which Nicholls was unable to defuse, Rikeya Horne on the spot to collect the loose ball and score.
The opening twenty minutes established a strong advantage that the Green Machine took into the sheds, leading 28-6 after the first half.
The second half was a real back and forth arm wrestle, eventually broken by a fifteen metre long pass from Api Nicholls which put Bartlett over for her second of the match.
A penalty for ruck interference provided the Wests Tigers with an attacking set which Vette-Welsh took advantage of, breaking the would be tackle of Quinlan and scoring the Tigers second.
Emma Barnes and Alanna Dummett left the field with head injury assessments in the second half, while Robins-Reti failed to finish the game with a lower leg injury, placing a damper on a successful afternoon for the Raiders.
The Canberra Raiders will return to GIO Stadium for their first home game of the NRLW season when they face the Newcastle Knights on Saturday morning.
