NRLW finals live updates: Forgotten star out to cause havoc for resurgent Tigers
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Late mail
The final teams are in for tonight’s NRLW knockout semi final.
No late changes from the sides announced on Tuesday, with both the Tigers and Raiders set to line up 1-17 as per program at Campbelltown Stadium.
Wests Tigers team: 1. Caitlin Turnbull 2. Harmony Crichton 3. Rikeya Horne 4. Portia Bourke 5. Lily Rogan 6. Losana Lutu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Sarah Togatuki 9. Salma Nour 10. Shaniece Monschau 11. Kezie Apps 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Holli Wheeler 14. Christian Pio 15. Shenai Lendill 16. Jetaya Faifua 17. Brooke Talataina 18. Tara Reinke
Canberra Raiders team: 1. Sheridan Gallagher 2. Isabella Waterman 3. Leianne Tufuga 4. Bobbi Law 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Krystal Blackwell 7. Zahara Temara 8. Chloe Saunders 9. Chante Temara 10. Sophie Holyman 11. Jordyn Preston 12. Charlotte Basham 13. Hollie Dodd 14. Emma Barnes 15. Grace Kemp 16. Lili Boyle 17. Grace Kukutai 18. Ellie Brander
Sarah Togatuki. Getty Images
Levi ‘head and shoulders above’ her rivals
Andrew Johns had some high praise for Gold Coast Titans superstar Teagan Levi after she was awarded the 2026 RLPA Rookie of the Year accolade.
Voted in by her NRLW peers, Levi finished a stellar 2026 season with an impressive nine tries across 11 games since switching from rugby sevens.
In doing so, she became the first Gold Coast player, across both the men’s and women’s competitions, to win the players’ Rookie of the Year award.
“Rookie of the year? She’s the player of the year,” Johns said on Nine’s Freddy and The Eighth this week.
Teagan Levi celebrates a brilliant try. Matt Roberts/Getty Images.
Forgotten star that could cause havoc
From finishing at the bottom of the ladder last season to snatching third place on the ladder at the end of the 2026 regular season, the Tigers rise has been insane.
But the challenge of roaring Canberra Raiders side is currently standing in the way of Craig Sandercock’s team and a spot in the preliminary final.
The two teams only faced each other just over a week ago, with the Raiders coming out on top in that round 11 match 22-10.
Ruan Sims feels the Raiders will again be too classy for the Tigers by the time the full-time siren sounds this evening, with one star hooker set to cause havoc.
“Chante Temara, I don’t think we talk about her enough. We always talk about Zahara,” she said on Wide World of Sports’ NRLW Weekly.
“Chante Temara, her service is great but her defence for me sticks out. She might only make about 24 tackles in a game, but 22 of them are one on ones. She is dominant, up and under, slowing the ruck down legally. ”
Chante Temara seen in action for the Raiders. NRL Imagery
If the Tigers do manage to shut out the Temara sisters on Friday night, Sims warned they will still need to ensure their forward pack is on and firing.
“This game will be dictated by the forwards,” she said of both teams.
“It will be about who can hold the middle and give their halves that significant, clean possession. If the Tigers want to win, their ruck control has to be on and their marker system stays connected.
“This is a really tough one to call, but I have a feeling the Green Machine are on a bit of a role and will be hard to stop.”
Inaugural superstars set to hang up the boots
Roosters premiership-winning duo Millie Elliott and Corban Baxter have announced they will hang up the boots at season’s end.
The pair fronted the media on Wednesday to announce their retirement, both citing the desire to spend more time with family as a reason for their decision.
Baxter, 32, was only contracted with the Roosters until the end of the season, while Elliott, 28, still had one year remaining on her deal.
Asked why she opted to depart the game earlier, Elliott admitted that over the past two months with her family it had become clear “it was time” to quit.
“I am really content with what I have achieved in rugby league,” she said.
“I am very lucky that I’ve been able to live out my childhood dream of being a rugby league player alongside some of my best friends and teammates.”
Elliott has won the most premierships (4) of any player in the NRLW. Getty Images
NRLW finals fixtures
There are just two rounds before the grand final in the NRLW finals series.
Here is how the finals fixtures for the competition look.
Finals week one - elimination semi-finals
Friday | Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders at 7.50pm
Saturday | Brisbane Broncos v Newcastle Knights at 4.05pm
Finals week two - preliminary final
Saturday | Sydney Roostersv winner of Tigers and Raiders
Sunday | Gold Coast Titans v winner of Broncos and Newcastle
Grand final
Sunday | Winner of preliminary final 1 v winner of preliminary final 2
Welcome to the blog!
Hello and welcome to nine.com.au’s coverage of week one of the NRLW finals.
The Wests Tigers will host the Canberra Raiders in an elimination match at Campbelltown Sports Stadium tonight, with kick off scheduled for 7.50pm.
