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Maliepo leads Wahine Warriors to impressive road win
Margie McDonald, AAP • August 9th, 2025 9:45 pm
Warriors five-eighth Patricia Maliepo | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The Wahine Warriors are heading towards the top-six in their comeback season after an upset 34-6 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs at Accor Stadium.
Warriors five-eighth Patricia Maliepo had a personal tally of 18 points from two tries and five goals to steer the Auckland side to their second win on the road.
The Warriors, who left the NRLW in 2020 but returned in 2025, moved from 10th to seventh on the ladder with their third win of the season, with Tysha Ikenasio scoring a great try.
The Bulldogs' loss came at a cost with skipper and halfback Tayla Preston (knee) taken from the field via medicab, while forward Tegan Dymock (foot) left the ground in a moonboot.
Meanwhile, the talents of returning dual international Emma Verran has ensured Cronulla grabbed their third win of the NRLW season with a 20-6 victory over St George Illawarra at Jubilee Stadium.
In other Saturday results, an upset seemed on the cards as the winless Wests Tigers trailed by only four (10-6) at halftime against high-flying Newcastle before the Knights machine rolled into gear for a 30-6 victory.
Verran was not named midweek but ran out as fullback in the No. 22 jersey on her back and Sharks fans were pleased she did.
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She scored Cronulla's first try and set up three others, handing wingers Cassie Staples and Georgia Ravics doubles for the afternoon.
The Sharks led 12-0 at halftime and would have won by a larger margin had goal-kicker Chantay Kiria-Ratu not missed all five conversions.
"We were really happy to have her back and weren't quite sure until later in the week," Sharks coach Tony Herman said of Verran, who made three line-break assists, seven tackle busts and 20 runs for 174 metres alongside her three try assists.
"The way she stood up today, with the footy she presented, I'm very proud of her."
It took the Dragons 62 minutes to put points on the board, but winger Maria Paseka made it a memorable one by running 75 metres and brushing off several tacklers to cross over.
Working against the Dragons was the fact eight players were non-starters through suspension or injury, including fullback Teagan Berry alongside skipper and halfback Raecene McGregor.
"We've got to get our season back on track next week," Dragons coach Nathan Cross said.
"No excuses. I know everyone loves to talk about the people we didn't have today but I'd like to focus on the ones we did have. From a coach's point of view we have to be better."
Herman is also searching for consistency with five rounds left to the finals with the Sharks yet to find back-to-back wins this season.
"It's been hard to get that consistency as we've had a lot of players in and out. From here we're hopeful of getting a few back and if we don't lose any more, we think we'll make a real charge at it."
At McDonald Jones Stadium, Jesse Southwell's streak of not missing a goal in five rounds came to an end on 22.
She converted the Knights' first try but missed two of the next five.
Doubles to winger Sheridan Gallagher and backrower Evah McEwen underpinned the hosts' six-tries-to-one win - their fifth in a row.
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