The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have opened their 2026 NRLW campaign with 32-10 loss to the New Zealand Warriors at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton.
While it wasn’t the result Head Coach Brayden Wiliame and his squad were chasing, the Club did celebrate five NRLW debuts with Tamika Jones, Daynah Nankivell, Leilani Wilson, Giovanni Suani and Mary-Jane Taito becoming Bulldog No. 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 respectively.
The Bulldogs fought hard right to the death but were ultimately out-classed by an experienced Warriors outfit on their home turf.
Workhorse Co-Captain Angelina Teakarranga-Katoa took the first hit-up of the match, but unfortunately came up with a rare error. That gave the Warriors a golden opportunity to score first points and despite having back-to-back sets inside the Bulldogs’ 20-metre zone, the girls in the Blue and White showed great defensive resolve to hold them out.
The Bulldogs then found themselves in prime field position after the Warriors conceded two penalties but were unable to capitalise on that opportunity.
The following 11 minutes saw some high-energy and highly entertaining footy where the Bulldogs started to take control of the clash off the back of some spirited defence with two tackles in particular forcing Warriors errors.
Co-Captain and star halfback Tayla Preston came painfully close to scoring the first try of the match but was stopped just short of the line – and picked up an injury at the same time
Preston looked to be in some serious pain but was bravely able to play on, while Mya Hill-Moana was sent to the sin-bin for the dangerous tackle that caused the injury scare.
The 0-0 gridlock was finally broken in the 20th minute when the Warriors’ marquee recruit Gayle Broughton crossed. The skilful five-eighth backed it up five minutes later with a cutout pass that set up Emmanita Paki for the Warriors’ second of the afternoon.
The Warriors picked up from where they left off in the second half, scoring three tries in six minutes.
The first came off the back of a barnstorming run from Harata Butler, which laid the platform for Apii Nicholls to set up Paki for her second try. Nicholls showed her class again soon after with a cutout pass that sent Tysha Maliepo over.
Both conversion attempts were waved away, leaving the score at 18-0, but it wasn’t long before they were on the board again with Lavinia Tauhalaliku crossing in the corner.
The Bulldogs had been starved of possession in the second half but that finally changed and they got a taste when 18-year-old debutant Taito forced a Warriors error from her defensive pressure.
The girls continued to fight hard despite momentum not being in their favour and that was on show when Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau, Andie Robinson and Elizabeth MacGregor came up with a desperate try-saving tackle.
The Warriors proved to be too classy though and it wasn’t long before they went in again – this time through halfback Patricia Maliepo, who scored after a show-and-go.
It was finally try-time for the Bulldogs in the 60th minute after Mahakitau-Monschau, Teakaraanga-Katoa and Alexis Tauaneai combined with the latter scoring a well-deserved try.
The Warriors responded with Tauhalaliku scoring her second of the day but the Dogs kept sniffing and ran in one more try in the final seconds with Monica Tagoai crossing in the corner.
The Bulldogs will now reset for their first Home game of the season in what will be a double-header with the NRL squad at Accor Stadium on Saturday, 11th July.
New Zealand Warriors 32 (Paki 2, Tauhalaliku 2, Broughton, Ikenasio, Maliepo tries; Maliepo 2 goals) def Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10 (Tauaneai, Tagoai tries; Preston 1 goal)
