NRLW Tips - NRL Women's Preview Round 1 2026

The NRLW season is upon us and while Brisbane and the Sydney Roosters stand out as the dominant teams, we have had plenty of shakeup beneath.

Sharks v Knights

Under 38.5

Total

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$1.90

The early rounds of the NRLW season have tended to be low scoring affairs and that is where we are looking in this season opener. Over the last two season, nine of the 11 Round 1 games have finished on 38 or fewer. Cronulla have been dire in night games with their attack particularly concerning – they did not score more than 20 in any of their five games that started at 5pm last season. They will also be without key attacking weapon Emma Verran. The Knights have lost key playmaker Jess Southwell and top tryscorer Sheridan Gallagher. This is the best total of the week.

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Ellie Johnston Try/Caitlan Johnston-Green Try

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$16.24

Ellie Johnston is always a major threat close to the line with 13 tries in 33 games for the Sharks.

Her sister Caitlan Johnston-Green is just as adept when starting with four tries in 17 starts at prop.

Titans v Roosters

Titans +12.5

Line

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$1.90

The Sydney Roosters will be looking to get this season off on the right note after losing last year’s Grand Final and they are one of the two best teams but this line on the road is ridiculous. Gold Coast are a Top 6 team all over with one of the most dynamic backlines in the competition. They have also played the Roosters well of late with two wins in the last three clashes. The big number on the road is too big for the Roosters to cover.

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Phoenix-Raine Hippi Try/Jasmin Strange Try

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$17.78

Phoenix-Raine Hippi has been a genuine tryscorer since entering the top grade with nine four-pointers in seven appearances.

Jasmin Strange scored four tries in 13 games last season and is a very good line runner on an edge.

Dragons v Raiders

Raiders +1.5

Line

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$1.90

Canberra have recruited incredibly astutely this year with their backline in such good nick top five all-time leading tryscorer Maddie Bartlett can’t get a game this week. Sheridan Gallagher is the prize recruit – the former Knights winger will play fullback – while Bobbi Law and Krystal Blackwell give the Raiders some real scoring punch. The Dragons recruitment drive has, unfortunately, matched the NRL side by signing aging stragglers. Canberra are huge value this week.

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Elise Simpson Try/Sheridan Gallagher Try/Teagan Berry Try

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$10.96

Elise Simpson was sensational at the backend of last season with six tries in her final five games.

Sheridan Gallagher is a bull with 25 tries in 32 games and will get her hands on the ball a lot more with the No.1 jersey on her back.

Teagan Berry is one of the all-time tryscoring leaders with 37 in 41 games – currently second.

Broncos v Cowboys

Broncos -13.5

Line

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$1.90

Brisbane’s attack should prove far too dynamic for North Queensland in this all-Queensland affair to open up the season. The Cowboys haven’t fired a shot in three matches against the Broncos with all matches resulting in Brisbane wins of at least 26 points. The last meeting in Round 11 last season saw the Broncos win 50-4. They have somehow boosted their roster through the additions of Jess Southwell and Shannon Mato while the Cowboys lost Kira Dibb and Krystal Blackwell while Jakiya Whitfeld will miss the season through pregnancy. Brisbane will lap North Queensland.

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Tamika Upton 2+ Tries/Chelsea Lenarduzzi Try

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$19.52

Tamika Upton is the all-time leading NRLW tryscorer with 46 including a hat-trick when she last played the Cowboys.

Chelsea Lernarduzzi is a hulking prop whose 16 career tries has her 17th on the all-time tryscoring list as well as ranking second among all forwards.

Eels v Tigers

Under 39.5

Total Points

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$1.90

As noted in the Sharks-Knights preview, Round 1 games have gone under the total at a huge clip with nine of the last 11 Round 1 games tallying 38 points or fewer. That is not expected to change in this game where both of these teams started last year as big under sides. None of the first six Parramatta games surpassed 36 points last year while none of the first nine Tigers games went over 38. Both teams struggle with the ball.

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Fleur Ginn Try/Kezie Apps Try

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$11.00

Fleur Ginn has scored in each of her last two and scored in her NSWRL premiership game against the Mounties in mid-June.

Kezie Apps has six tries in her last 21 games and she runs a very good edge line.

Warriors v Bulldogs

Warriors -13.5

Line

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$1.90

Canterbury are shaping up as the worst NRLW team this season. They showed very little in their debut season and their roster has somehow gotten worse. The Warriors, meanwhile, have recruited astutely with Gayle Broughton a huge inclusion. Patricia Maliepo running the show at halfback is a major plus while the Bulldogs will struggle to contain the red-hot three-quarter line.

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Payton Takimoana 2+ Tries/Tysha Ikenasio Try

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$7.93

Payton Takimoana is a star in the making who has 15 tries in 11 games including four multi-try appearances.

Tysha Ikenasio looked sound in her debut season with two tries in eight appearances.

Editor in Chief

Frankie McDonald

Frankie has spent more than two decades working in the Australian wagering industry and is widely regarded for his expertise in AFL, NRL and horse racing tips.