NRLW Saturday: Bulldogs v Dragons; Sharks v Cowboys; Eels defeat Raiders

We bring it home on Saturday with the Sharks looking to build on the momentum of last week's stunning 56-6 win over the Raiders, a game that saw Emma Verran race in four tries in the space of 26 minutes.

The Bulldogs have become just the third team in NRLW history to win their first two matches in their debut season after the Broncos (2018) and Wests Tigers (2023).

After two disappointing losses the Raiders are chasing their first win of the season when they welcome the Eels to Canberra before the Bulldogs look to continue their sensational start to their debut season against the Dragons.

A massive triple treat of NRLW action takes us from the national capital to Sydney's west and finally to the Sutherland Shire as Round 3 kicks into gear.

Kick off: We are underway at Accor Stadium, with the Bulldogs out to continue their unbeaten start to the season. The Dragons fell to the Roosters last week but they've shown they have the firepower to match it with the best teams in the competition. Family bragging rights are also on the line this afternoon in an intriguing subplot to this contest. Sisters Alexis and Trinity Tauaneai will go face to face, with Trinity set to start for the first time in her career after being promoted to the Dragons starting side in Saturday's 60-minute team update. Bulldogs 0 - Dragons 0.

3rd minute: The Dragons are set for the first attacking opportunity of the contest after Raecene McGregor produced a superb 40-30. Let's see if they can capitalise. Bulldogs 0 - Dragons 0.

4th minute: Yes they can. A quick play the ball laid the foundation for a short side attacking play, with Raecene McGregor combining with Teagan Berry to create an overlap and Indie Bostock strolled through a big hole to open the scoring for the Dragons. Bulldogs 0 - Dragons 6.

8th minute: The Dragons are breathing fire at Accor Stadium. A dominant attacking set of six ended with a grubber into the in goal and a line drop out, with the visitors capitalising on a fresh set of six. Centre Keele Browne received the ball in space, produced a powerful fend and charged over the line. Bulldogs 0 - Dragons 10

12th minute: The Bulldogs have hit back, with Shaniece Monschau bursting through the line to put her side on the attack. Tayla Preston forced a line drop out a few plays later and centre Monica Tagoai muscled her way over to score on debut. Bulldogs 4 - Dragons 10.

22nd minute: The Bulldogs have worked their way into the contest and have started to roll forward through the middle. Tayla Preston's kicking game has been on song and she's forced another line drop out, giving her side a chance to level the scores. Bulldogs 4 - Dragons 10.

24th minute: The Bulldogs have drawn level after Ash Quinlan produced a superb cut out pass to take advantage of a disjointed Dragons right edge. The ball landed in winger Adi Vani Buleki's hands, who scored her first try in the NRLW. Tayla Preston then nailed the kick from out wide and we are all locked up. Bulldogs 10 - Dragons 10.

29th minute: Zali Hopkins has been on the field for less than two minutes and she's almost crossed for a crucial try. The Dragons co-captain pounced on a Raecene McGregor grubber, however she was inches in front of the kicker and the Bunker has ruled no try. Bulldogs 10 - Dragons 10.

Dragons: Trinity Tauaneai and hooker Nita Maynard-Perrin have come into the starting side an hour before kick-off with Zali Hopkins and Pia Tapsell going to the bench. Bobbi Law (appendix surgery) is facing up to eight weeks out so Keele Browne shifts to centre, with Alice Gregory to start on the wing. Charlotte Basham (knee) will miss this week with Shenai Lendill coming in to start. Bronte Wilson moves onto the interchange. Maynard-Perrin makes her 40th NRLW appearance, just the 16th player in the competition's history to reach the milestone.

Bulldogs: No changes an hour out from kick-off after Simina Lokotui came in for Moana Courtenay in the centres on Friday. Hope Millard makes her NRLW debut at prop in place of Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa (suspended). Anneka Wilson and Paea Uilou also make their debuts off the bench. Shaniece Monschau has been promoted from interchange to start in the second row in place of Latisha Smythe. Lock Holli Wheeler will make her 40th NRLW appearance.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Raiders v Eels – Round 3

Full-time: That is full-time in Canberra, with the Eels claiming a dominant 46-12 victory over the Raiders. Halves Rachael Pearson and Cassey Tohi-Hiku pulled the strings and dissected their opponents with a superb kicking game. While they looked good in attack, the Raiders struggled defensively through the middle of the field and put themselves under pressure with multiple errors. Raiders 12 - Eels 46.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Rachael Pearson Try

65th minute: Rachael Pearson has controlled this contest with her boot and now she has a try of her own. Ryvrr-Lee Alo capitalised on some space around the ruck to break through the Raiders midfield defence, with Pearson charging through in support to finish off the line break. Raiders 12 - Eels 46.

63rd minute: We're off to the Bunker, with Chloe Jackson claiming her second try of the match. After a Rachael Pearson bomb, the referee has spotted a slight knock on from Eels utility Fleur Ginn in the contest for the ball and the Bunker agrees, ruling no try. Raiders 12 - Eels 40.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Chloe Jackson Try

58th minute: Chloe Jackson has crossed for the Eels' seventh try of the afternoon. A Raiders error put the visitors back on the attack, with dummy half Taneka Todhunter showing to the left before turning to the right and sending Jackson over. Raiders 12 - Eels 40.

55th minute: Canberra debutant Elise Simpson has produced another try-saving tackle, this time stopping a barnstorm Mahalia Murphy. The Eels skipper had burst through the defensive line before charging straight at Simpson, but the Raiders fullback was up to the task. The hosts scrambled well to defend their line and turn their opponents away. Raiders 12 - Eels 34.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Madison Bartlett 2nd Try

50th minute: The Raiders have got one back, with Zahara Temara forcing an error with a towering bomb. The hosts capitalised, attacked to the left and Madison Bartlett scored her second in the corner. Raiders 12 - Eels 34

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Rory Owen 2nd Try

45th minute: The Eels continue to do everything right, defending their own line before capitalising on opportunities in attacking territory. Rachael Pearson's boot has again played a key role, the halfback producing a perfect bomb for Zali Fay, who leapt for the ball and offloaded to centre Rory Owen for her second try of the day. Raiders 8 - Eels 34

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Tess McWilliams Try

Kick-off: We are back underway in Canberra, with the Eels having first use of the football and enjoying a perfect start, with a penalty in their first attacking set of six. Chloe Jackson then came charging through and had a flying Abbi Church on her outside, but took the fullback on and was dragged down. The attacking opportunity continued and emerging forward Tess McWilliams crashed over from short range to extend her side's lead. Raiders 8 - Eels 28.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Mahalia Murphy Try

Half-time: The Parramatta kicking game has been the difference in this contest and the Eels finished the half with another try off the back of a kick. All four of the side's first-half tries came after Canberra failed to clean up a kick and this could be the most costly. Cassey Tohi-Hiku chipped over the top, Raiders fullback Elise Simpson copped an awful bounce and Mahalia Murphy charged through to scoop up the ball and score in the final play of the half. Raiders 8 - Eels 22.

32nd minute: The Eels survive after Grace Kemp through a no-look offload straight to a Parramatta player. The Raiders forward was charging towards the line and would have gone close to scoring herself had she held on to the ball. Raiders 8 - Eels 16.

31st minute: The Raiders have found their stride now, making metres down both edges and through the middle. Madison Bartlett came close to scoring her second, while Chloe Saunders was also stopped just short of the line. The attacking phase came to an end when the Eels defused a kick, but the Raiders are back on the attack after Abbi Church spilled the ball in a tackle. Parramatta challenged the knock on decision, but it was unsuccessful and Canberra have a late chance to strike. Raiders 8 - Eels 16.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Leianne Tufuga Try

27th minute: Elise Simpson has had a tough afternoon gathering kicks, but she's just shown what she can do with ball in hand. The debutant picked up a kick, broke a tackle and burst through the defensive line. Simpson ran 80 metres before she was eventually dragged down, with Leianne Tufuga scoring out wide a couple of plays later. Raiders 8 - Eels 16.

25th minute: An important defensive set by the Raiders as we enter the final stages of the first half. Rachael Pearson forced another error through her boot, handing the Eels a fresh attacking set of six. Rueben Cherrington came close, however she was held up, but the hosts defused a Pearson grubber to survive the test. Raiders 4 - Eels 16.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Rory Owen 1st Try

20th minute: Eels five-eighth Cassey Tohi-Hiku has shown she has a kicking game to match her halfback, with the youngster producing a booming bomb to put Raiders fullback Elise Simpson under considerable pressure. The debutant was not able to reel it in, with Eels centre Rory Owen charging through to gather the loose ball and score her side's third try of the match. Raiders 4 - Eels 16.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Madison Bartlett 1st Try

12th minute: The Raiders have hit back through Madison Bartlett in the corner. A penalty handed the hosts a chance to attack and they promptly made the most of their first opportunity in prime field position. Bartlett finished off a well-executed left shift to score her third try of the season. Raiders 4 - Eels 10.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Martha Mataele Try

8th minute: Parramatta are on song in Canberra, with Racheal Pearson continuing to surgically dissect the Raiders with her boot. The visitors rolled 70 metres down the field in the set after points, allowing Pearson to put up an attacking bomb. Zahara Temara spilled the ball, Chloe Jackson picked it up, linked up with Martha Mataele, who outmuscled the Raiders defence to score in the corner. Raiders 0 - Eels 10

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Rueben Cherrington Try

5th minute: The Eels have showed plenty of attacking intent throughout the opening exchanges, with Raiders errors and Rachael Pearson's kicking game combining to put the visitors on the front foot. Canberra failed to clean up a Pearson kick and Parramatta quickly capitalised after Rueben Cherrington darted over from dummy half. Raiders 0 - Eels 6

Kick-off: We are underway in the nation's capital, with Rachael Pearson kicking off the first match of an NRLW triple header. The Eels are desperate to bounce back from last week's loss to the Warriors, while the Raiders are still chasing their first victory over the season and are out to snap an eight-game losing streak in Canberra. Fullback Elise Simpson will make her NRLW debut for the Raiders, while Parramatta welcome back skipper Mahalia Murphy for the clash. Raiders 0 - Eels 0.

Stat Attack

The Raiders have lost their last eight games at GIO Stadium.

Eels halfback Rachael Pearson has kicked seven goals from nine attempts at GIO Stadium.

Raiders winger Madison Bartlett has been a try scorer in both games against the Eels.

Late Mail

Raiders: Amelia Pasikala has been promoted to the bench and is set to make her first appearance for the season. Tatiana Finau drops back to 18th player as a result. Earlier, Cheyelle Robins-Reti was shifted from fullback to centre in place of Mackenzie Wiki, with teenager Elise Simpson coming in at the back for her debut. After coming off the bench last week, Chante Temara will start at hooker in place of Emma Barnes (concussion protocols)​. Lili Boyle returns on the bench after debuting in Round 1 and missing Round 2.

Eels: Captain Mahalia Murphy will play her first game of the season after coming into the side in Saturday's final team update. The Jillaroo had been battling a hamstring injury and will start in the back row. Paige Travis shifts to the bench with Rysh'e Fa'amausili the new 18th player. No other changes to the side named on Tuesday as the Eels look to bounce back in Canberra.

Sharks v Cowboys at Sharks Stadium

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