Dragons go down in Magic Round heartbreaker

Author: Joel Beatton dragons.com.au
Timestamp: Sun 3 Aug 2025, 05:28 PM

The Dragons fell to the Eels 12-10 in their NRLW Magic Round clash at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

A wild weekend of weather in Newcastle made for a muddy contest but both sides showcased strong periods of attack in the face of the challenge.

Tyra Ekepati was presented her debut jersey last night having joined the club this week after securing a release from the Roosters.

The clash also proved a special occasion for Hannah Southwell who was celebrating her milestone 40th NRLW appearance.

Things hardly went the Dragons’ way in the opening half, but Nathan Cross’ squad showed a heap of resolve to take a lead into the break.

Raecene McGregor spent 10 minutes in the sin bin, but it was the work of Margot Vella – who shifted into the fullback role to cover the absence of Teagan Berry – that helped keep the side afloat with the Maltese international tallying a try, two line breaks, 128 run metres and seven tackle breaks in the first half alone.

With McGregor unable to finish the clash due to a head knock, a late surge powered Parramatta to victory however with a powerful Elsie Albert effort proving the catalyst for the victory.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Sunday 3 Aug

Full Time

Eels

Dragons

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Highlights Latest

The Eels were dealt an early blow with star centre Rory Owen taken from the field with an apparent ankle issue seeing rookie Fleur Ginn come into the centres.

Charlotte Basham was placed on report 15 minutes in for a high shot on Rueben Cherrington, but the Dragons were able to defend their line off it.

Parramatta skipper Mahalia Murphy left the field for a HIA – which she ultimately passed – moments later bringing Paige Travis into the action for the first time of the afternoon.

Martha Mataele was held up over the line for the Eels soon after before they managed to snag first points of the encounter with Rachael Pearson knocking over a penalty goal off the back of an extended period in good ball.

McGregor was abruptly binned in the aftermath of it for a dangerous tackle on Cassey Tohi-Hiku 13 minutes prior to half-time.

Tohi-Hiku left the field several minutes later as the Eels were forced into a spine re-shuffle of their own.

The Dragons enjoyed much of the ascendancy during the sin bin period and were rewarded upon McGregor’s return to the field.

A sensational Margot Vella break put the Dragons on the front foot just shy of the half before she weaselled her way to the stripe off a late Shenai Lendill offload to nab the encounter’s first points.

McGregor slotted the conversion to make it a 6-2 Dragons advantage at the intermission.

Travis was put on report early in the second stanza for a dangerous tackle on Jamilee McGregor who was able to stay on the field in her opening NRLW outing of the season.

The Dragons managed to extend their edge off it with Lendill again finding herself in the thick of things fashioning a perfect flick pass to Ekepati who dragged a pair of defenders over the line to slam the ball down for the first try of her NRLW career.

The debutante was swarmed by an army of her jubilant teammates as her side’s lead improved beyond a converted try.

The Eels threatened to eat into the lead off the back of a Mataele burst but a Zali Hopkins cover effort dragged the bounding winger down and forced an awry pass as the raid came to an end.

Nita Maynard-Perrin was placed on report for a high shot on Elsie Albert shortly after before the front rower produced a barnstorming individual effort to nab a needed try for Parramatta and cut the deficit back to two entering the final 11 minutes.

McGregor left the field in the aftermath of the try for a HIA after colliding with Albert forcing the Dragons into another re-shuffle.