The 2026 NRLW Premiership is officially here, and the Bulldogs kick-start their season with a road trip to the land of the long-white cloud.
While their opponents the Warriors took home the two competition points in our last meeting, the Bulldogs will be out to prove their Round 1 victory last year was no fluke this Sunday afternoon.
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Match: Warriors v Bulldogs
Round 1 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Bulldogs
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
As usual, there is plenty of team news, stats and info to unpack in our Round 1 Match Preview.
Teamlists and Team News
Co-captain Tayla Preston will partner five-eighth Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau in the halves, with Andie Robinson to wear the No.1 jumper after starting in all 11 games last season.
Former rugby talent Tamika Jones will make her NRLW debut in the back-row, with Tongan representative Pauline Suli-Ruka the other edge forward. Ebony Prior will line up at hooker, with Leilani Wilson at lock.
The Bulldogs have a potential five debutants on show on Sunday afternoon, with Dayna Nankivell, Jones, Mary-Jane Taito, Giovanna Suani and Evelyn Roberts.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii NichollsFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Andie Robinson
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Lavinia TauhalalikuWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Moana Courtenay
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Tysha IkenasioCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Daynah Nankivell
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Emmanita PakiCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Monica Tagoai
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Payton TakimoanaWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Elizabeth MacGregor
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Gayle BroughtonFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Patricia MaliepoHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Tayla Preston
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Annetta NuuausalaProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Capri PaekauHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Ebony Prior
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mya Hill-MoanaProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Alexis Tauaneai
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Maarire Puketapu2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Pauline Suli-Ruka
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Shakira Baker2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Tamika Jones
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Ashlee MatapoLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Leilani Wilson
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Jasmin HuriwaiInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Mary-Jane Taito
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Harata ButlerInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Giovanna Suani
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Laishon Albert-JonesInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Hope Millard
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Christabelle OnesemoInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Kalosipani Hopoate
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Metanoia FetalaigaReplacement for Bulldogs is number 18 Evelyn Roberts
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Reserve for Warriors is number 19 Natalia HicklingReserve for Bulldogs is number 19 Ma’atuleio Fotu-Moala
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Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Stacey WaakaReserve for Bulldogs is number 20 Simina Lokotui
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Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Felila KiaReserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Latisha Smythe
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Bridget Hoy
Match Officials
- Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy
Last updated:
The Warriors have recruited heavily in the off-season, with former Broncos Gayle Broughton (halfback) and Annetta Nuuausala (prop) listed to line up for Sunday's clash with the Bulldogs. Rugby union convert Jasmin Huriwai has been named on the bench, while Olympic gold medallist and former Bronco Stacey Waaka is listed in the reserves.
Fellow recruit Mele Hufanga has not been named after she suffered a hamstring injury. Patricia Maliepo will partner Broughton in the halves, with captain Apii Nicholls to line up at fullback.
Last Time Out: Round 6, 2025
It was a tough defeat last time out against the Warriors in the first clash between the two sides, with the visitors claiming a 34-6 win at Accor Stadium.
After trailing early on, Kalosipani Hopoate crashed over for a trademark try to bring the scoreline to 12-6 at the break. However, the Warriors took advantage in the second half to streak away with a win.
Hopoate Barges Over
No doubt the Bulldogs contingent will have that contest in the back of their minds once they meet for a second meeting on Sunday afternoon.
But if we're talking Round 1 clashes, the Bulldogs kicked off their inaugural NRLW season with a bang against the Newcastle Knights in a 26-12 upset, and will be looking to channel that same energy when they head over to Waikato.
Key Match Up: The Fullbacks
Two of the premier fullbacks in Andie Robinson and Apii Nicholls go head to head in our key match up for Round 1.
Both 2025 Player of the Year recipients for their respective clubs, Robinson and Nicholls might be at opposite ends of their careers, but they still pose as two of the most dangerous running threats in the NRLW.
Robinson Scores Her First in Blue and White
Robinson enjoyed the best year of her career to date after pulling on the Blue and White jersey for the first time, scoring three tries, setting up a further three while making seven line breaks and averaging an impressive 145 metres per match.
Her opposite, entering her seventh season in top-grade, scored a solo try in her first year back at the Warriors, made 70 tackles and ran for over 1000 metres.
Being Round 1, it's only appropriate that the no.1s for the Bulldogs and Warriors are the ones to watch.
Stat Attack via NRL.com
- The Bulldogs will play in New Zealand for the first time.
The Bulldogs will be out to win their second consecutive Round 1 match. - Warriors winger Payton Takimoana scored four tries in three games in Hamilton in 2025.
- The Warriors lost all three games in Hamilton in 2025.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
Where to Watch
Bulldogs Members and supporters will be available to watch the match on Channel 9 and FoxSports, or stream via Nine Now and Kayo.
