Both the Parramatta Eels and St George Illawarra Dragons have plenty to prove in this years’ NRLW competition and it was the Eels who came away with an 18-14 victory.
Played at Eric Tweddle Stadium, it was only a last minute try that saw the Eels snag the victory after it looked like the Dragons had snatched victory away.
Both the Eels and Dragons are sporting very different sides compared to last season, as the extra teams has meant players have departed.
The Eels would assert their authority early and were rewarded with points as winger Zali Fay opened the scoring.
With a lovely in-and-away on her opposite number, Fay easily outpaced her to the try-line.
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A second Eels try would then follow as Cassey Tohi-Hiku took a high bomb from star Dragons half Raecene McGregor, before spinning out of a tackle and racing 70m to score.
Not to be outdone, the Dragons would open their account with a try out wide to their winger.
The Dragons then gained the momentum and had a second as the game wore on when one of their players burrowed over from dummy half to level things up.
Looking to wrestle back the momentum, the Eels would actually score against the run of play as Monique Donovan intercepted the Dragons pass and ran 100m to score a long-range try.
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The scores were then once again levelled as time wore down, when the Dragons received a fortuitous bounce off a high kick, pouncing on the ball to score.
As the end neared, and with the Eels in possession, many thought a draw was looming but Nakia Davis-Welsh had other ideas.
Davis-Welsh, playing her first NRLW season after taking several years off to have a family, then scored the winning try as she dummied right, hit the gap and scored.
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The hard-fought contest will see both sides steeled for the season proper in just a few weeks.