St George Illawarra Dragons NRLW head coach Jamie Soward has announced his squad to face the Eels in Wollongong in Round 2.
Final team: Jamie Soward's team is 1-17, with Zali Hopkins the replacement player.
Soward has made several changes to the squad that went down to the Knights in Round 1, headlined by debutants Margot Vella, Cortez Te Pou, and Kaarla Cowan.
A former NSW Waratah and Maltese international, Vella makes her NRLW debut on the wing after switching to rugby league over the offseason whilst Hawke's Bay-native Te Pou has been awarded an NRLW call-up after enjoying an impressive Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership campaign earlier in the year.
A Windang Pelicans junior, Cowan - who spent six seasons with the Sharks at state level before taking a year off on maternity leave - turned heads playing with the Steelers' Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership side earlier this year and replaces Zali Hopkins on the interchange.
Vella and Te Pou make up a new-look wing pairing with Taylor-Adeline Mapusua dropping out and Shenai Lendill shifting into the second row.
Roxy Murdoch-Masila shifts into the front row with Tara McGrath-West reverting to the interchange and Jamilee Bright to miss a week due to neck soreness.
Dragons Round 2 NRLW Team List
1. Teagan Berry - sponsored by Professionals Padstow
2. Margot Vella - sponsored by Classic
3. Keele Browne - sponsored by Deicorp
4. Bobbi Law - sponsored by CBC Group
5. Cortez Te Pou - sponsored by HWL Ebsworth
6. Tyla Nathan-Wong - sponsored by TripADeal
7. Raecene McGregor (c) - sponsored by SMAI
8. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa - sponsored by St.George Bank
9. Renee Targett - sponsored by EFEX
10. Roxy Murdoch-Masila - sponsored by University of Wollongong
11. Sara Sautia - sponsored by KFC
12. Shenai Lendill - sponsored by Coca-Cola
13. Alexis Tauaneai - sponsored by Gearbox
Interchange:
14. Kaarla Cowan - sponsored by Vili's Pies
15. Ella Koster - sponsored by HSE Global
16. Tara McGrath-West - sponsored by Victor Sports Club Supplies
17. Maddison Weatherall - sponsored by Carlton United Breweries
Replacement player:
18. Zali Hopkins
Casualty Ward
- Jamilee Bright (neck, Rd 3)
