Lessons Learned In Tough NRLW Loss On Home Soil

A revitalised second half wasn’t enough for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ NRLW side, who suffered a 36-10 loss to the Gold Coast Titans at Accor Stadium.

Coach Brayden Wiliame made a number of changes to his side prior to kick-off, including bringing NRLW debutant Evelyn Roberts onto the bench to become Bulldog No. 30.

It was all Titans in the first half with the visitors scoring in the 7th, 14th and 20th minute – two of those tries scored by Jaime Chapman.

The Bulldogs needed to score first after the half-time break and they did exactly that with Hope Millard winning the chase to pounce on a Tayla Preston grubber. Co-Captain Preston added the extras to take the scoreline to 16-6.

They came close to backing that up four minutes later off the back of a penalty and repeat set when Tamika Jones reached out but the Titans were able to force an error.

The kicking game of Titans playmaker Lauren Brown proved crucial with the No.7 setting up Chapman for her third of the afternoon. Brown then converted from the sideline to extend her side’s lead to 22-6.

The Dogs came painfully close once again with Roberts attempting to burrow over from dummy-half but was held up.

But their efforts were finally rewarded with points when Monica Tagoai beat four defenders to score her second try of the season.

The Titans responded with a try scored by their new five-eighth Teagan Levi to extend their lead before the Dogs suffered a significant blow with second-rower Pauline Suli-Ruka coming from the field with what looked to be a shoulder injury.

Chapman continued her try-scoring run by laying on another two to take her total for the game to four, while the Titans looked likely to score again in the final minute but in a promising sign Sienna Lofipo was held up by some desperate Bulldogs defence.

While the girls in Blue and White fought to the death it was the Titans who proved to be too classy, sealing a 36-10 win.