NRLW Rd 4: Warriors hold on against Eels in Sydney thriller
The Warriors survived a late scare to edge the struggling Eels 14-12.
The Warriors have improved to a 3-1 record in the 2026 NRLW premiership, getting away with a 14-12 victory over winless Parramatta Eels at Eric Tweedale Stadium on Sunday.
The Eels lost their first three matches by a combined margin of 64 points, but they turned up to play — and the Warriors struggled to contain their electrifying fullback Abbi Church.
The 2025 Jillaroos debutant and incumbent NSW fullback torched the Warriors with an 80-metre solo try from dummy-half in the 21st minute to open the scoring and produced a stunning chip-and-chase effort early in the second half.
In between, returning Warriors winger Payton Takimoana crossed out wide following a long bust by lock Kaiyah Atai.
Halfback Patricia Maliepo scooted over from dummy-half to cut the deficit to four with 20 minutes left, while Shakira Baker made an impressive break in the ensuing set. From there, centre Tysha Ikenasio brilliantly latched onto a kick from skipper and fullback Apii Nicholls, plunging over next to the points to put the Warriors in front for the first time.
But the Warriors had to navigate multiple frights to close out the win. Prop Noia Fotu-Moala was binned with five minutes to go, while a last-ditched Eels attacking raid was foiled when winger Zali Fay’s after-the-siren try was pulled back due to a contentious forward pass call against Mahalia Murphy.
Nicholls (19 runs for 193 metres) and Ikenasio (20 runs for 189 metres) were busy all day, while Waaka combined her try assist for Takimoana’s try with 15 runs for 125 metres. Atai topped the tackle count (39) by a mile along with 10 runs for 108 metres and Baker led the fowards with nine runs for 116 metres.
With her thigh heavily strapped, star five-eighth Gayle Broughton was rusty in her return from injury, including throwing a pass intercepted by Murphy with 12 minutes left that could have proved crucial.
The Warriors face a big game in NRLW Magic Round in Wagga Wagga next Sunday against Gold Coast. The Georgia Hale-led Titans lost to the Roosters in Round 1 before thrashing Bulldogs (36-10), Eels (50-12) and Cowboys (34-6) — the same three teams the Warriors have defeated.
NRLW — ROUND 4: Warriors 14 (Payton Takimoana, Patricia Maliepo, Tysha Ikenasio tries; Maliepo goal) defeated Parramatta Eels 12 at Eric Tweedale Stadium, Sydney.