NRLW Match Preview: Round 1 v Raiders

Author: Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 3 Jul 2025, 12:10 PM

The kick-off to the 2025 NRLW season is almost here with Nathan Cross' Dragons preparing for a Saturday afternoon showdown against the Raiders.

The squad will be in action in the first leg of a highly anticipated double-header at GIO Stadium in the lead-up to the club's NRL clash.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 5 Jul

Full Time

Raiders

Dragons

Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra

Highlights Latest

KEY INFO

Buy Tickets
Date Saturday, July 5th
Venue GIO Stadium, Canberra
Watch Kayo & Foxtel
12:30PM Gates Open
12:30PM Knock-On Effect NSW Cup | Raiders v Magpies
3:15PM NRLW | Dragons v Raiders
5:30PM NRL | Dragons v Raiders

A NEW ERA

Saturday's clash will mark the first official outing of Nathan Cross' NRLW coaching tenure as he becomes the third head coach in the team's history.

Cross' 17 years of rugby league coaching experience includes roles as the assistant coach of the Harvey Norman Queensland Women’s Origin side for the past two seasons and as assistant coach of the Under-19s Queensland men’s Origin team in 2023.

He has also held assistant coach roles for multiple Hostplus Queensland Cup sides and was previously a pathways coach for the Titans before most recently working fulltime for the Queensland Rugby League as Head Coach – Pathways & Performance.

2025 NRLW Season Launch

A DEBUTANT DUO

Pia Tapsell and Trinity Tauaneai have both been named to make their NRLW debuts in Round 1.

A proud Ngāti Whakauae and Te Arawa Māori woman, Tapsell grew up Devonport – a harbourside suburb of Auckland – and has represented the Black Ferns internationally whilst proving a mainstay in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

Despite spending the 2024 NRLW season with the Sharks, Tapsell is set for her maiden outing come Saturday.

Tauaneai meanwhile made the leap up to the top squad for the first time this season having captained Illawarra’s Tarsha Gale Cup side to a Preliminary Final earlier this year.

Having grown up in Wellington, New Zealand and spent her junior days playing for the Wainuiomata Lions, Tauaneai moved across the ditch in 2023 to pursue her rugby league dream.

She earnt an Australian Schoolgirls nod in 2024 whilst at Bass Hill High School before starting at lock in Illawarra’s Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership Grand Final win.

NEWEST DRAGONS TO FEATURE

Nita Maynard-Perrin and Ahlivia Ingram have both been named to make their club debuts off the interchange whilst Hannah Southwell is set to make her first appearance as a Dragon since 2018.

Maynard-Perrin comes to the club with 37 NRLW appearances across four different clubs under her belt as well as an NRLW premiership ring and a host of Kiwi Ferns and Māori All-Stars caps.

Ingram, a proud Wiradjuri and Dunghutti woman, grew up in the nation’s capital playing her juniors with the Valley Dragons and Tuggeranong Bushrangers before debuting for the Raiders in 2023.

Southwell meanwhile returns to the Red V having been a part of the club's inaugural 2018 season as a 19-year-old.

The 26-year-old returns with a resumé consisting of 35 NRLW matches and premierships at both the Roosters in 2022 and Knights in 2023.

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Pia Tapsell and Trinity Tauaneai have been named to make their NRLW debuts whilst Nita Maynard-Perrin and Ahlivia are set for their club debuts.
Co-captains Raecene McGregor and Zali Hopkins make up one half of the spine with stars Teagan Berry and Kasey Reh making up the other half.
Hannah Southwell starts at lock in her first game as a Dragon since 2018.

RAIDERS

The departure of Apii Nicholls sees Cheyelle Robins-Reti line-up at fullback,with Mackenzie Wiki and Leianne Tufuga starting in the centres.
Georgia Thomas is set to make her NRLW debut at five-eighth partnering halfback Zahara Temara.
Co-captain Simaima Taufa starts at lock with front rower Grace Kemp named on the interchange.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 5 Jul

Full Time

Raiders

Dragons

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Cheyelle Robins-Reti

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Teagan Berry
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Madison Bartlett

Winger for Dragons is number 2 Margot Vella
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Leianne Tufuga

Centre for Dragons is number 3 Keele Browne
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Mackenzie Wiki

Centre for Dragons is number 20 Indie Bostock
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Isabella Waterman

Winger for Dragons is number 4 Bobbi Law
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Georgia Thomas

Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kasey Reh
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Zahara Temara

Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Raecene McGregor

Forwards

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Chloe Saunders

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Madison Mulhall
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Chanté Temara

Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Zali Hopkins
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Sophie Holyman

Prop for Dragons is number 10 Pia Tapsell
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Monalisa Soliola

2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Shenai Lendill
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Hollie-Mae Dodd

2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Charlotte Basham
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Simaima Taufa

Lock for Dragons is number 13 Hannah Southwell

Interchange

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Emma Barnes

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Nita Maynard-Perrin
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Grace Kemp

Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Ella Koster
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Jordyn Preston

Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Trinity Tauaneai
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Lili Boyle

Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Ahlivia Ingram