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Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has made no changes to his Vegas squad but it’s a different lineup to what we saw in 2024 and there’ll be more changes in 2025 as injuries, new recruits and the fabled Penrith juniors system play their part
Paul Alamoti will replace the injured Brian To’o (hamstring) on the wing while Luke Garner starts in the centres. Lindsay Smith is starting while high-profile recruit Isaiah Papli’i will come off the bench. Luron Patea is the fresh face on the interchange with Liam Henry (shoulder) not ready to go yet. Casey McLean will star in the No 2 jersey but his brother Jesse McLean will watch from the stands.
Are we about to watch the first step in a Panthers five-peat?
Thanks Megan! It’s now time for our final game of the quadruple-header: Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sharks.
Here’s how the sides line up:
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Casey McLean 3. Izack Tago 4. Luke Garner 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Daine Laurie 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Luron Patea 18. Brad Schneider 19. Mavrik Geyer 20. Jesse McLean 21. Luke Sommerton 23. Blaize Talagi.
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Billy Burns 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Hohepa Puru
Full time: Jillaroos 90-4 Lionesses
What a game of rugby league. That must have felt like a slog for England pretty much from start to finish, but they can at least take something from that final try. The Jillaroos looked devastated that they let that try in at the end, I imagine the clean sheet was a big motivator for them, but I think that disappointment will fade pretty quickly.
This game showcased the importance of the professionalism on offer in the NRLW. The money the players make is frankly a pittance compared to their NRLM counterparts, but relative to what’s on offer in England, it’s a fortune. This is a pattern in many women’s sports, where Australia are often the first to invest, which leads to almost unstoppable dominance. It will be interesting to see if those in power in English rugby league take anything away from this match and make the decision to invest more heavily in their women’s competition.
TRY! Jillaroos 90-4 Lionesses (Roach 69')
Finally England are on the board. Roach gets through the Australian defence with a nice dummy, then fights off two more defenders to stretch out and reach the line. Her conversion attempt hits the post, so no extra points to be added.
69th minute: A mistake from Sergis early in the set gives England one more chance to salvage something from this match with a scrum feed 20m out. They nearly give up the ball, but manage to get it back with six more tackles.
GOAL! Jillaroos 90-0 Lionesses (Aiken 66')
Aiken kicks another from right in front in a clinical display.
TRY! Jillaroos 88-0 England (Joseph 65')
Higgins finds some space and gets the ball to Apps, who breaks the line, dummies left, passes right and Joseph is in space and scores under the post.
GOAL! Jillaroos 84-0 Lionesses (Aiken 64’)
Another opportunity right in front for Aiken and she makes no mistake.
TRY! Jillaroos 82-0 Lionesses (Sergis 63')
Sergis runs a perfect line to cut through the English defenders and score her third.
65th minute: The Jillaroos get a seven tackle set – not what England need right now at all. They’re looking less clinical with some loose passes, but England manages a touch, that restarts the set for them.
62nd minute: Robinson makes an uncharacteristic error, dropping the ball from the kick off and England get a scrum feed 20m out. They’re throwing everything at this opportunity, but the Jillaroos are determined to cut off every scoring opportunity. Roach’s kick goes dead in goal.
GOAL! Jillaroos 78-0 Lionesses (Aiken 59')
Another successful kick for Aiken and the Jillaroos power on.
TRY! Jillaroos 76-0 Lionesses (Sergis 58')
England’s problems are compounded when they give away another penalty and the Jillaroos once again put on the speed on the outside, with some quick passing to get Sergis over the line.
58th minute: England can’t get out of their own half and can’t put in a big enough kick to put pressure on Australia.
57th minute: England play another decent set, with no mistakes, but they need something more special than that if they want to get some points on the board against this rampaging Australian team. It’s a good set from the Jillaroos to follow, finishing with a kick chip over the top by Aiken, but Dagger fields it for England.
55th minute: Aiken puts in a low kick to finish the set. Partington picks it up, but knocks it on into the Australian defence. England challenge the decision, but it’s unsuccessful and Australia get the scrum feed. The quickly move the ball to the right and Whitfield reaches for the line, but the bunker rules a double movement and England get a penalty.
54th minute: England kick off and Mato catches it easily and makes a strong first hit up. Aiken makes a half line break, but England reel her in.
TRY! Jillaroos 72-0 Lionesses (Whitfield 51')
The Jillaroos get a penalty early in the set, to add insult to injury and they power down the field. Engalnd hold them out for four tackles, but Kernick throws a brilliant cut out pass to Whitfield, who scores in the corner. Aiken misses the conversion.
GOAL! Jillaroos 68-0 Lionesses (Aiken 49')
Another conversion for Aiken, she kicks it from right in front.
TRY! Jillaroos 66-0 Lionesses (Sergis 48')
England throw everything at this defensive set, they look determined to limit the damage, but they can’t do more than that at this stage. In the end, they can’t even do that, as Aiken fools them again, drawing defenders in and throwing a pass left to Sergis, who easily gets through the gap to score.
GOAL! Jillaroos 62-0 Lionesses (Aiken 47')
Right in front again and Aiken knocks it over.
TRY! Jillaroos 60-0 Lionesses (Robinson 46')
This is very hard to keep up with, the Jillaroos cannot stop scoring. Sergis makes a break down the wing, offloads to Robinson, who beats three defenders to score.
GOAL! Jillaroos 56-0 Lionesses (Aiken 45')
Aiken must be thanking Upton for scoring so many right in front.
TRY! Jillaroos 54-0 Lionesses (Upton 44')
The Jillaroos make another play down field and Taufa gets through the line with a nice step around the defence. Who should be by her side but Upton? She takes the pass and crosses the line once again.
44th minute: Australia are nearly in again, but Jess Sergis (who has come on to replace Isabelle Kelly) pushes an English defender and the bunker rules no try. England get another opportunity in attack, but the Jillaroos defence remains impenetrable.
GOAL! Jillaroos 50-0 Lionesses (Aiken 41')
Aiken makes another simple conversion and brings up the half century for Australia.
TRY! Jillaroos 48-0 Lionesses (Upton 40')
Upton cannot be stopped, this is her fourth try in the match. I’ve run out of ways to describe them, but she once again outfoxes the England defence, gets on the inside of the defenders and scores next to the post.
GOAL! Jillaroos 44-0 Lionesses (Aiken 39')
A simple one for Aiken to put away from right in front and she adds another two points.
TRY! Jillaroos 42-0 Lionesses (Kelly 38')
An error from England is really not what they need right now. The Jillaroos pounce and Kelly dives over the line.
38th minute: Once again, the Jillaroos are close to the try line in the blink of an eye. Aiken puts in a kick to finish the set, but it’s too long for these very short in goals.
37th minute: Whitfield is taken from the field on a stretcher – hopefully she is OK and makes a quick recovery. England resume their attack and it’s a disciplined set from them to start the half, but they can’t break the Australian line. Upton fields the kick easily and Robinson pushes up the field to get the Jillaroos into a strong attacking position.
The half starts with a VERY big collision and head clash between Sarah Togatuki and Vicky Whitfield and there’s a break now while both players are assessed.
The second half is underway, with the Jillaroos kicking off…
It’s worth noting that the Jillaroos have had some upheaval coming into this match, with coach Brad Donald resigning less than a month ago after nine years in the role. It’s a big moment for interim coach Jess Skinner, who will be hoping this dominant performance secures her the role.
Half-time: Jillaroos 38-0 Lionesses
Well, what can I say about that first half? It was simply Jillaroos domination from start to finish. The Lionesses were forced to spend a significant portion of that half in defence, which is a very tiring position to be in. Australia were ruthless, not giving an inch in defence and constantly asking questions in attack, finding new ways to break England’s defence and spirits in every set. England will need a big rest and to find something special in the second half if they want to be in this game.
TRY! Jillaroos 38-0 Lionesses (Robinson 34')
Right on the stroke of half-time, Aiken sets up yet another try – her fourth assist of the game. Kelly loops around the outside of the defence and scores in the corner. Brigginshaw takes over the kicking duties, but she can’t slot the goal either.
33rd minute: Another set for the Jillaroos and the Lionesses look like half-time can’t come soon enough. They are dead on their feet out there. Not enough Bondi to Coogee walks perhaps? They hold the Jillaroos out and get the ball back, but almost immediately lose it.
TRY! Jillaroos 34-0 Lionesses (Kelly 30')
Aiken puts on a masterclass of playmaking, with a step and a dummy that draws two defenders and creates a gap that she puts Kelly through. Kelly steps on the accelerator and makes the line with ease. The conversion is missed again – the only area of the Jillaroos’ game that hasn’t quite clicked is their goal kicking.
3oth minute: It’s a decent set for England, but Roach puts in a kick that’s just too deep at the end of the set, to give the Jillaroos a seven tackle set. Togatuki comes off the field, but it’s no respite for England, as Mato replaces her, who has also been excellent today.
29th minute: Togatuki starts the set strongly with a massive hit up to draw in four England defenders. Brigginshaw is tackled awkwardly, but recovers quickly. Aiken puts up a huge bomb, which is dropped by Davies, the England winger, but the Australian chasers are ruled to be offiside and England get the penalty.
TRY! Jillaroos 30-0 Lionesses (Upton 25')
Robinson turns her defender inside out and gets the ball to Upton. Hardcastle makes the tackle attempt, but she can’t stop Upton from powering to the tryline. Aiken can’t add the two points, but the Jillaroos are not too concerned at this stage.
25th minute: England get close to Australia’s line again, but the play they attempt on the sixth tackle doesn’t come off and they hand the ball back for the Jillaroos to march down field once again. Brigginshaw’s kick at the end of the set is slightly too big and goes dead in goal, so England start from the 20m line.
