The Sydney Roosters have cruised to a 42-22 victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs to stretch their unbeaten NRLW streak to four matches.
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See subscription optionsVictory was even more impressive considering it was achieved without Golden Boot-winning halfback Tarryn Aiken, who is expected to return next week from a shoulder injury suffered in State of Origin.
Her return will only add to the Roosters' attack, though they produced eight tries at Allianz Stadium on Saturday without her.
In other results on Saturday, the Gold Coast Titans and North Queensland Cowboys enjoyed back-to-back wins as the 12 clubs fight for a top-six spot.
A double by Roosters skipper Isabelle Kelly alongside 239 metres and four line-breaks was part of a 32-0, six-try haul in the opening half, which set up Sydney's victory.
But the Bulldogs didn't fall in a heap, outscoring the Roosters 22-10 in the second half - which did not please Sydney coach John Strange.
"It was a really good first half, we completed high, executed well and I was happy. But the second half ... not happy," Strange said.
"It was just disappointing we got to that lead and couldn't go on with it."
The Bulldogs' fightback came from an unlikely source, with 18-year-old debutant winger Elizabeth MacGregor crossing twice in four minutes, before centre Monica Tagoai and half Ash Quinlan scored.
Roosters prop Rima Butler kept the wolves from the door with a double, but fellow forward Olivia Kernick has a nervous wait after she was put on report for a hip-drop tackle on Holli Wheeler.
A commanding performance by Titans fullback Jaime Chapman helped Gold Coast score consecutive wins on the road with a 20-10 victory over the Warriors in Auckland.
Saturday's win in New Zealand followed their victory over Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval last week.
Chapman's try complemented her 166 metres, three line-breaks and 12 tackle-busts.
Playing the short side proved profitable, with both Titans wingers Lily Patston and Georgia Gray scoring for an early 10-0 lead.
That buffer increased to 14-0 after a dummy-half run from utility Lily-Rose Kolc coming off the bench.
The Warriors snuck in two tries, including one to winger Payton Takimoana - her fifth this year to take her to the top of the NRLW leaderboard.
It's been a welcome bounce back to form by the Titans, who started 2025 with two straight losses.
"We didn't have the best start to our season, and the Warriors are a very physical team, but the internal focus lies in the belief within this group,'' said skipper Georgia Hale.'
Even more striking is the rebound of the Cowboys from seventh on the ladder after round two to second spot in round four after their third win - a 26-0 whitewash of the Canberra Raiders.
Coach Ricky Henry will be pleased his side's 12-0 halftime scoreline more than doubled in the second stanza.
All five tries came from the Cowboys' back five, with winger Krystal Blackwell and centre Abigail Roache scoring doubles.
Fullback Jakiya Whitfeld wasn't among the scorers but left her mark with 22 runs for 202 metres, 73 post-contact and four tackle-busts.
Australian Associated Press
