Author: Aaron

  • Women’s Premiership Round 15 Preview: Third-place equation adds intrigue to finals rehearsal

    Women’s Premiership Round 15 Preview: Third-place equation adds intrigue to finals rehearsal

    Women’s Premiership, Round 15 — Friday, 21 August 2026, 8:00 pm at Hartfield Park.

    Joondalup and Fremantle will close the Women’s Premiership regular season in a match that combines a genuine ladder equation with the feel of a finals rehearsal.

    The Giants are locked into second place on 20 competition points. Fremantle are fourth on 16, level with Willagee on the current table, but the Bears have the Round 15 bye and will receive two points to finish on 18 with a plus-112 differential.

    A Fremantle victory would also take the Roosters to 18. Starting from plus-78, they need to beat Joondalup by at least 35 points to move ahead of Willagee and claim third.

    A 34-point win creates an exact differential tie at plus-112. In that scenario, Fremantle must score at least 52 points to reach the later tiebreakers and move above the Bears. A win by 33 or fewer leaves the Roosters fourth.

    Joondalup’s recent form makes the target formidable. The Giants have won four of their past five matches, including victories over minor premiers Ellenbrook and Willagee. Across their past three games they have scored 120 points and conceded only 20.

    Fremantle have won three of their past five. Their Round 14 victory over Willagee, 20–8, kept the third-place race alive and demonstrated that their defence can control a finals opponent.

    The season averages suggest a close game. Joondalup score 26.0 points per match and concede 15.1; Fremantle score 21.6 and concede 14.5. The Roosters actually own the slightly better defensive average, but the Giants carry the stronger attack and a plus-120 season differential.

    The longer historical record is also tight. Across 14 Women’s Premiership meetings since 2018, Fremantle have seven wins, Joondalup six and one match has been drawn. The Roosters average 16.7 points in those games to the Giants’ 12.0.

    Fremantle have won two of the past three meetings, including a 38–4 victory in Round 10 this season. That 34-point margin is especially significant: repeating it would tie Willagee’s differential, but a repeat 38–4 scoreline would leave the Roosters behind the Bears on points scored. Fremantle require either a 35-point margin or a far higher-scoring 34-point win.

    Joondalup won the other 2026 meeting 18–14, reinforcing how sharply this matchup can change from one encounter to the next.

    A basic attack-defence blend gives an indicative score of Joondalup 20, Fremantle 18. The Roosters have already shown they can overturn that expectation, but doing so by the required margin would demand one of their most complete performances of the season.

    Key stat: Fremantle’s 38–4 win in Round 10 matched the 34-point differential swing they need—but the same score would still leave them fourth on points scored.

  • Women’s Premiership Round 15 Preview: Minor premiers meet a Bulldogs side chasing a breakthrough

    Women’s Premiership Round 15 Preview: Minor premiers meet a Bulldogs side chasing a breakthrough

    Women’s Premiership, Round 15 — Friday, 21 August 2026, 6:40 pm at Hartfield Park.

    Ellenbrook will begin the final night of the Women’s Premiership regular season as confirmed minor premiers, facing a Kalamunda side seeking a breakthrough result after a demanding campaign.

    The Rabbitohs have secured first place with a 10–1 record and 26 competition points. Their dominance has been built on defence: Ellenbrook have conceded only 58 points in 11 matches, an average of 5.3 per game, while scoring 30.4.

    Kalamunda remain winless after 11 matches. The Bulldogs average 3.1 points scored and 56.4 conceded, with their most recent five games all ending in defeat. Their final ladder position cannot change, but the match provides one last opportunity to turn persistence into a positive result.

    The head-to-head record is the clearest statistical divide among the attached fixtures. Ellenbrook have won all five Women’s Premiership meetings between the clubs from 2018 to 2026, averaging 64.8 points. Kalamunda have not scored in any of those recorded meetings.

    The two encounters this season have produced a combined 136–0 scoreline: Ellenbrook won 62–0 in Round 3 and 74–0 in Round 10. The Rabbitohs also won 30–0 in the most recent meeting before this season.

    Ellenbrook’s only 2026 defeat came against Joondalup, 18–12, and they responded by defeating Fremantle 28–8. Their ability to restrict opponents has been remarkably consistent: no other team in either senior premiership competition has conceded so few points per match.

    For Kalamunda, improvement is best measured through smaller contests inside the match—completing sets, limiting repeat defensive work and finding a way across a Rabbitohs line that has rarely been breached. An early score would immediately break the historical pattern and give the Bulldogs something tangible to build around.

    For Ellenbrook, the challenge is to maintain standards while preparing for finals. The Rabbitohs have already secured every available ladder reward, so execution and squad management are likely to matter more than the final margin.

    A simple season-average blend produces an indicative score of Ellenbrook 43, Kalamunda 4. The historical results lean more heavily toward the Rabbitohs, but the Bulldogs have a final opportunity to change the shape of this matchup.

    Key stat: Ellenbrook have outscored Kalamunda 136–0 across their two meetings in 2026.

  • Men’s Premiership: One game, 47 points: North Beach face monumental finals equation

    Men’s Premiership: One game, 47 points: North Beach face monumental finals equation

    North Beach have one game remaining to rescue their season—but simply defeating the competition leaders will not be enough.

    Kalamunda’s Round 18 bye is worth two competition points, lifting the Bulldogs from 17 to 19 without affecting their plus-four points differential.

    North Beach can also finish on 19 points by beating Willagee at Blueforce Park. However, the Sea Eagles begin the final round with a minus-42 differential, leaving them 46 points behind Kalamunda.

    The clean equation is monumental: North Beach must defeat Willagee by at least 47 points to finish fourth.

    The corrected Round 18 position

    TeamCurrent pointsRound 18MaximumDifferential
    Kalamunda Bulldogs17Bye19+4
    North Beach Sea Eagles17v Willagee19−42
    Ellenbrook Rabbitohs16v Fremantle18−96
    Joondalup Giants15v Rockingham17−36

    The current ladder has Kalamunda and North Beach level on 17 points. Once Kalamunda’s bye is credited, the Bulldogs will finish on 19.

    A North Beach victory would produce another 19-point finish. The final position would therefore be decided by the ladder tiebreakers.

    North Beach’s differential increases by the size of their winning margin:

    • A 45-point win lifts North Beach from minus-42 to plus-three—still behind Kalamunda.
    • A 46-point win lifts North Beach to plus-four—level with Kalamunda.
    • A 47-point win lifts North Beach to plus-five—one point ahead of Kalamunda.

    The extraordinary 46-point exception

    A 47-point victory is the straightforward route, but there is one extraordinary exception.

    If North Beach win by exactly 46 points, the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs would both finish on 19 competition points and plus-four differential. The next comparison would be points scored.

    Kalamunda have scored 470 points. North Beach enter Round 18 on 354, meaning they would need to score at least 117 against Willagee to move ahead.

    A result such as North Beach 117–71 Willagee would give the Sea Eagles a 46-point victory and lift their points scored to 471—one more than Kalamunda.

    A 116–70 victory would leave North Beach and Kalamunda with identical records: 19 points, seven wins, one draw, plus-four differential, 470 points scored and 466 conceded. In that complete statistical tie, the Empire Rugby League ladder predictor keeps Kalamunda above North Beach.

    It is mathematically possible, but 47 points remains the realistic number North Beach must target.

    Every North Beach scenario

    North Beach resultFinal pointsFinal differentialOutcome
    Win by 47 or more19+5 or betterNorth Beach finish fourth
    Win by 46 and score 117+19+4North Beach finish fourth on points scored
    Win by 46 and score 116 or fewer19+4Kalamunda remain fourth
    Win by 45 or fewer19+3 or worseKalamunda remain fourth
    Draw18−42Kalamunda remain fourth
    Lose17Below −42Kalamunda remain fourth

    No other result can help

    The equation is isolated from the other three Round 18 matches.

    Ellenbrook can reach only 18 points by defeating Fremantle, while Joondalup can reach only 17 by beating Rockingham. Neither can catch Kalamunda once the Bulldogs receive their bye points.

    North Beach cannot rely on an upset elsewhere. Their season comes down entirely to the margin they produce against Willagee.

    The scale of the assignment

    2026 statisticNorth BeachWillagee
    Ladder position5th1st
    Record6–8–114–1–0
    Average points scored23.650.8
    Average points conceded26.412.8
    Points differential−42+570
    Current winning streakThree gamesFour games

    North Beach’s largest victory this season was their 48–12 win over Kwinana—a margin of 36. Their required 47-point result would need to exceed that season-best margin by another 11.

    Willagee, meanwhile, have lost only once in 15 matches. That defeat was a 26–16 result against South Perth—a margin of just 10 points.

    The Bears have not conceded more than 26 points in any game this season. North Beach therefore need to inflict a defeat at least 37 points heavier than Willagee’s only previous loss.

    An 87-point turnaround from Round 9

    The first meeting between the teams makes the equation even more daunting.

    Willagee defeated North Beach 56–16 at Webber Reserve in Round 9—a 40-point Bears victory.

    North Beach now require a margin of at least 47 in the opposite direction. Measured against their first meeting, that represents an 87-point turnaround.

    A repeat of the Round 9 score would not merely end North Beach’s season; it would leave the final differential gap between the Sea Eagles and Kalamunda at 86 points.

    Form provides belief—but not the required margin

    North Beach have at least carried their finals hopes into the last round through their strongest sequence of the season.

    • Beat Kwinana 48–12
    • Beat Kalamunda 22–18
    • Beat Ellenbrook 30–22

    The Sea Eagles have scored 100 points and conceded 52 across those three victories, producing a combined differential of plus-48.

    That is the extraordinary context of Saturday’s equation: North Beach need almost their entire three-match differential in a single game against the competition leaders.

    Willagee have responded to their only loss with four consecutive victories:

    • Beat Kalamunda 18–16
    • Beat Ellenbrook 38–6
    • Beat Rockingham 60–6
    • Beat Joondalup 20–14

    The Bears have outscored those opponents 136–42, giving them a plus-94 differential across their current winning streak.

    History offers North Beach a sliver of hope

    The longer-term head-to-head record is considerably kinder to the Sea Eagles than the 2026 statistics.

    North Beach have won eight of the 11 Men’s Premiership meetings between the clubs since 2018. Across those games, the Sea Eagles have averaged 42.5 points to Willagee’s 17.6.

    However, Willagee have won the past two meetings: 12–6 in the 2025 preliminary final and 56–16 earlier this season.

    North Beach also hold only a 2–5 record at Blueforce Park this season, while Willagee are unbeaten through seven away matches.

    What the season averages suggest

    A simple blend of each team’s attacking and defensive averages produces an approximate baseline of Willagee 39, North Beach 18.

    That is not a formal prediction, but it illustrates the distance between normal performance and the result North Beach require. Instead of an expected deficit of approximately 21 points, the Sea Eagles need to win by 47—a swing of roughly 68 points from the statistical baseline.

    Men’s final-round verdict

    The first three finalists are secure. The fourth position belongs to Kalamunda unless North Beach produce one of the most remarkable results of the 2026 season.

    • North Beach win by 47 or more: Sea Eagles finish fourth.
    • North Beach win by exactly 46 while scoring at least 117: Sea Eagles finish fourth on points scored.
    • Any smaller win, draw or loss: Kalamunda finish fourth.

    North Beach have form, home-ground advantage and a historically strong record against Willagee. What they do not have is a conventional finals equation.

    One game. Forty-seven points. Eighty minutes to attempt the improbable.

  • Women’s Premiership: Final four confirmed — But Fremantle can still steal third with a 35-point statement

    Women’s Premiership: Final four confirmed — But Fremantle can still steal third with a 35-point statement

    The four finalists are settled before the last round, but Willagee’s final bye has created one remaining ladder equation for the Roosters.

    There will be no last-round battle for survival in the 2026 NRLWA Women’s Premiership. Ellenbrook, Joondalup, Willagee and Fremantle are all guaranteed to play finals, while Kalamunda cannot climb from fifth.

    The remaining question is whether Fremantle can overtake Willagee and finish third.

    The current ladder shows the Bears and Roosters level on 16 competition points. However, Willagee have the Round 15 bye, worth two points, and will finish the regular season on 18.

    Fremantle can also reach 18 by defeating second-placed Joondalup—but a victory alone may not be sufficient.

    The final-round position

    TeamCurrent pointsRound 15MaximumDifferential
    Ellenbrook Rabbitohs26at Kalamunda28+276
    Joondalup Giants20v Fremantle22+120
    Willagee Bears16Bye18+112
    Fremantle Roosters16at Joondalup18+78
    Kalamunda Bulldogs6v Ellenbrook8−586

    Ellenbrook are confirmed minor premiers. Even if the Rabbitohs lose and Joondalup win, the Giants can reach only 22 points.

    Joondalup are equally secure in second, while Kalamunda cannot reach Fremantle’s current total.

    The only available ladder movement is between third and fourth.

    Fremantle’s equation

    Once Willagee’s bye is credited, the Bears will have:

    • 18 competition points
    • A plus-112 differential
    • 290 points scored
    • Six victories

    If Fremantle beat Joondalup, the Roosters will also finish on 18 points. Their differential will increase from plus-78 by the size of their winning margin.

    Therefore:

    Fremantle need to defeat Joondalup by at least 35 points to finish third.

    A 35-point victory would lift the Roosters to plus-113, one point ahead of Willagee.

    A win by 33 or fewer leaves Fremantle fourth.

    The exact 34-point scenario

    A 34-point Fremantle victory would leave both teams on 18 points and plus-112 differential.

    The next tiebreaker is points scored. Willagee have scored 290, while Fremantle start the match on 238.

    Consequently, a 34-point victory works only if the Roosters score at least 52 points—for example, 52–18.

    That would leave both teams with 290 points scored and six wins. Fremantle would then move ahead on the final alphabetical tiebreak.

    In practical terms, 35 points is the clean target.

    The intriguing head-to-head history

    Fremantle and Joondalup have split their two meetings this season.

    The Giants won the first 18–14, before the Roosters produced a remarkable reversal and won the return match 38–4.

    That second result carries particular significance: it was a 34-point Fremantle victory, exactly the margin required to draw level with Willagee’s differential.

    Repeating 38–4 would not quite be enough, however. Although the differentials would be tied, Willagee would remain ahead on points scored. Fremantle would need the same 34-point margin while scoring at least 52.

    Form points toward another compelling contest

    Joondalup enter Round 15 having won four of their past five matches:

    • Beat Kalamunda 54–4
    • Lost to Fremantle 38–4
    • Beat Ellenbrook 18–12
    • Beat Willagee 40–8
    • Beat Kalamunda 62–0

    The Giants have scored 130 points across their past three games while conceding only 20. Their victory over Ellenbrook was the minor premiers’ only defeat of the season.

    Fremantle’s form has been less consistent but includes two highly relevant results:

    • Lost to Willagee 26–4
    • Beat Joondalup 38–4
    • Beat Kalamunda 62–0
    • Lost to Ellenbrook 28–8
    • Beat Willagee 20–8

    The Round 14 victory over Willagee kept the third-place race mathematically alive. It also showed that Fremantle can defeat a finals opponent under pressure.

    Across the full season, Joondalup average 26 points scored and 15.1 conceded. Fremantle average 21.6 scored and 14.5 conceded.

    A simple blend of those attacking and defensive averages projects a close contest of approximately Joondalup 20, Fremantle 18—a long way short of the margin the Roosters require.

    Ellenbrook’s dominant campaign

    While the battle for third provides the final-round equation, Ellenbrook have already secured top spot through an extraordinary defensive season.

    The Rabbitohs have conceded only 58 points in 11 matches—an average of 5.3 per game—and carry a plus-276 differential.

    Their 10–1 record includes five wins from five home matches. Their only defeat was the 18–12 loss to Joondalup.

    Kalamunda, meanwhile, remain winless and have been outscored 620–34. Even an upset in the final round cannot move the Bulldogs from fifth.

    Women’s final-round verdict

    The Top Four cannot change:

    1. Ellenbrook Rabbitohs
    2. Joondalup Giants
    3. Willagee Bears or Fremantle Roosters
    4. Fremantle Roosters or Willagee Bears

    The equation is simple:

    • Fremantle win by 35 or more: Roosters finish third.
    • Fremantle win by 34: They must score at least 52 points.
    • Fremantle win by 33 or fewer: Willagee finish third.
    • Fremantle draw or lose: Willagee finish third.
    • Kalamunda v Ellenbrook: No effect on the composition or order of the Top Four.

    The finalists are known. The last remaining question is whether Fremantle can reproduce—and slightly improve upon—their most emphatic performance against Joondalup.

  • Val Murphy Trophy: Finals field locked, but second place remains a three-team shootout

    Val Murphy Trophy: Finals field locked, but second place remains a three-team shootout

    North Beach, Joondalup and South Perth enter Round 18 level on 26 points, with differential—and three dramatically different opponents—separating them.

    The Val Murphy Trophy Top Four are settled, but the order behind minor premiers Willagee remains wide open.

    North Beach, Joondalup and South Perth all carry 13–4 records and 26 competition points into the final round. Their points differentials, however, are separated by 284 points.
    North Beach hold second at plus-422, Joondalup are third at plus-258 and South Perth sit fourth at plus-138.
    Rockingham are four competition points outside the Top Four. With only two points available, the Sharks cannot qualify—even if they defeat Joondalup.
    The Round 18 contest is therefore entirely about finals seeding.

    TeamPointsDifferential Round 18 opponent
    North Beach Sea Eagles26+422Willagee Bears
    Joondalup Giants26+258Rockingham Sharks
    South Perth Lions26+138Kwinana Titans
    Rockingham Sharks22+150Joondalup Giants

    Willagee are confirmed minor premiers on 30 points. Rockingham are confirmed fifth because their maximum is 24.

    The three teams between them can each finish anywhere from second to fourth.

    North Beach: Win and second place is effectively theirs
    North Beach begin with an enormous differential advantage:
    – 164 points over Joondalup
    – 284 points over South Perth

    If the Sea Eagles defeat Willagee, they move to 28 competition points. Any rival that draws or loses cannot catch them.

    If Joondalup also win, the Giants must record a winning margin at least 165 points greater than North Beach’s margin to move ahead on differential.

    South Perth would need a margin at least 285 points greater than North Beach’s.

    Those differences make the practical equation straightforward – A North Beach victory will almost certainly secure second place.

    A draw takes North Beach to 27 points and secures second only if Joondalup and South Perth both fail to win.

    If exactly one rival wins, North Beach fall to third. If both win, the Sea Eagles finish fourth.

    A loss leaves North Beach on 26 and dependent on both other results. Their huge differential would protect them against ordinary defeats, but any Giants or Lions win would move that team above them on competition points.

    The Sea Eagles’ form versus the minor premiers

    North Beach have won four consecutive games by a combined 194 points:
    – Beat South Perth 46–6
    – Beat Kwinana 62–6
    – Beat Kalamunda 58–6
    – Beat Ellenbrook 52–6

    They have scored 218 points and conceded only 24 during that run.

    The challenge is that Willagee are themselves on a five-match winning streak, including victories by 98, 44, 24, 18 and 18 points.

    The Bears are 15–2, average 42.2 points per match and concede just 11.1. Their plus-530 differential is the best in the competition.

    North Beach can draw confidence from the first meeting: the Sea Eagles defeated Willagee 14–10 in Round 9. That remains one of only two Bears losses all season.

    A simple attack-versus-defence blend produces an indicative score of approximately Willagee 28, North Beach 25—suggesting second place is far from guaranteed.

    Joondalup: victory creates a direct route to second
    Joondalup’s cleanest path is – Beat Rockingham and hope North Beach fail to beat Willagee.

    A Giants win takes them to 28. If North Beach draw or lose, Joondalup move above the Sea Eagles on competition points.

    South Perth could also reach 28, but Joondalup currently hold a 120-point differential advantage. The Lions would need a winning margin at least 121 points greater than the Giants’ margin to pass them.

    If North Beach and Joondalup both win, the Giants will almost certainly remain third because they must outperform the Sea Eagles’ winning margin by 165 points.

    A draw can still deliver second if North Beach lose and South Perth fail to win.

    Rockingham pose a genuine threat
    Joondalup’s opponent may be outside the finals, but the Sharks have already beaten the Giants this season.

    Rockingham won their Round 9 meeting 28–20.

    The Sharks also defeated North Beach 32–28 in Round 13, demonstrating their ability to trouble the competition’s leading teams.

    Rockingham have since lost consecutive matches to Willagee and South Perth, while Joondalup won four straight before falling 30–12 to the Bears.

    The Giants average 29.6 points scored and 14.5 conceded. Rockingham average 29.5 scored and 20.7 conceded. A basic season-average projection gives Joondalup a narrow 25–22 advantage.

    It is a dangerous match for a team attempting to claim second.

    South Perth: win first, then watch both scoreboards
    South Perth have the most favourable fixture, hosting bottom-placed Kwinana.
    The Lions’ path to second is entirely result-driven – Beat Kwinana and hope both North Beach and Joondalup fail to win.

    That would take South Perth to 28 while the Sea Eagles and Giants remain on 27 or fewer.

    If South Perth and Joondalup both win, the Lions must outperform the Giants’ winning margin by 121 points to overtake them.

    If all three contenders win, South Perth would need to outperform North Beach by 285 points and Joondalup by 121—making fourth the overwhelmingly likely position.

    A draw moves the Lions to 27 and can produce:
    – Second if North Beach and Joondalup both lose
    – Third if one rival loses and the other finishes above them
    – Fourth if both rivals earn at least one point

    Why South Perth remain dangerous
    The Lions have won four of their past five, with their only defeat coming against North Beach.

    They have also won three straight since that 46–6 loss:
    – Beat Fremantle 26–16
    – Beat Alkimos 42–12
    – Beat Rockingham 26–14

    Kwinana are 1–15–1, have lost their past five and carry a minus-606 differential.

    South Perth won the first meeting 30–0. A simple season-average projection suggests approximately South Perth 36, Kwinana 14.

    Of the three second-place contenders, the Lions appear most likely to win their match. Their problem is that they require help from both Willagee and Rockingham.

    The most important permutations
    – All three contenders win: North Beach second, Joondalup third and South Perth fourth, barring extraordinary margin reversals.
    – North Beach fail to win; Joondalup win: Joondalup take second.
    – North Beach and Joondalup fail to win; South Perth win: South Perth take second.
    – North Beach draw; Giants and Lions both win: North Beach fall to fourth.
    – North Beach lose; Giants and Lions both win: Joondalup are likely second, South Perth third and North Beach fourth.
    – All three lose: They remain level on 26 and differential decides the order, with North Beach holding the substantial advantage.
    – Rockingham win: The Sharks still cannot qualify.

    Val Murphy Trophy verdict

    The finals field is fixed:
    – Willagee Bears
    – North Beach Sea Eagles
    – Joondalup Giants
    – South Perth Lions

    But the final order behind Willagee may change several times during Round 18.

    North Beach control the race but face the strongest opponent. Joondalup have the clearest opportunity to capitalise but must reverse an earlier loss to Rockingham. South Perth have the most favourable fixture but need both clubs above them to stumble.

    Three teams begin level on 26 points. Only one will emerge with second place.

  • Women’s Premiership Round 14 Preview: Roosters face their Willagee problem in a pivotal top-four contest

    Women’s Premiership Round 14 Preview: Roosters face their Willagee problem in a pivotal top-four contest

    Willagee lead the season series 2-0 and 52-4 on aggregate, but Fremantle have already shown that their best football can overturn the form line at Treeby.

    Friday 14 August 2026 | 8:00 pm | Treeby Community & Sports Centre

    Fremantle Roosters and Willagee Bears meet tonight in the sharper of the Women’s Premiership Round 14 contests: a direct top-four matchup carrying season-series history, contrasting recent form and genuine implications for the run home.

    Willagee sit third with six wins from 11 matches and a plus-124 points differential. Fremantle are fourth at 4-6 with a plus-66 differential. The Bears own the stronger overall record and have beaten the Roosters twice this season, but Fremantle’s best performances show why the 8:00 pm game cannot be reduced to those earlier results.

    On broad season averages, the teams appear relatively close. Willagee score 3.8 more points per game and concede 0.8 fewer. The more striking figure is their direct matchup: the Bears have outscored Fremantle 52-4 across two meetings.

    Willagee’s defensive grip on the series
    Willagee won 26-0 in Round 5 and 26-4 in Round 9. Across those 120 minutes, Fremantle managed only one try. The Bears have therefore done more than win the collisions or control field position; they have repeatedly denied Fremantle the finishes that normally turn pressure into points.

    That creates the central tactical question tonight. Fremantle must find a different route into the Willagee defensive line. If the Roosters simply repeat the same attacking shapes, Willagee can trust the reads and spacing that worked twice before. Early ball to the edges, sharper support through the middle or a more varied kicking game could force the Bears to solve new pictures.

    Why Fremantle remain dangerous
    The Roosters’ season is unusually volatile. Their four wins have come by a combined 152 points, including scores of 50-4, 36-8, 38-4 and 62-0. Five of their six losses, however, have ended with Fremantle scoring eight points or fewer.

    The most important result is the 38-4 victory over Joondalup in Round 10, achieved one week after the 26-4 loss to Willagee. Joondalup now sit second and recently beat the Bears 40-8, so Fremantle’s ability to overwhelm the Giants is evidence that their ceiling belongs near the top of the competition.

    The question is whether that level can be sustained against Willagee’s particular defensive structure. Fremantle do not need to match their biggest scores; they need to remain patient enough to create a contest in the final quarter.

    Willagee’s alternating form
    Willagee’s latest five completed matches have alternated loss, win, loss, win and loss. They beat Fremantle 26-4, lost 6-4 to Ellenbrook, defeated Kalamunda 62-6 and then fell 40-8 to Joondalup. The sequence captures both the Bears’ power and their vulnerability.

    When Willagee control the middle and earn repeat attacking sets, they can build margins rapidly. When their yardage sets are slowed and the opposition wins the territorial contest, their attack can be held to single figures. Tonight’s response to the Joondalup loss will therefore be as important as their earlier dominance over Fremantle.

    Four areas that could decide the game
    Fremantle’s first points: An early Roosters score would remove much of the psychological weight created by the 26-0 and 26-4 defeats. It would also prevent Willagee from managing the game through scoreboard pressure.
    Willagee’s middle-third control: Strong carries, clean play-the-balls and an organised kick chase are the platform from which the Bears can compress Fremantle’s defence and create space wider out.
    Red-zone conversion: Both teams concede fewer than 16 points per match on average. In a tighter contest, converting two or three goal-line opportunities may be more important than total possession.
    Response after errors: The side that can defend the mistake without conceding consecutive sets will have a major advantage. Both teams have shown that momentum can quickly turn into multiple tries.

    Ladder implications
    A Willagee victory would complete a 3-0 season sweep of Fremantle and reinforce the Bears’ position above fourth. With a bye scheduled in Round 15, tonight is Willagee’s final listed regular-season fixture and therefore their last chance to add competition points on the field.

    For Fremantle, victory would be both practical and symbolic. It would improve a 4-6 record, strengthen their finals argument and prove they can solve the opponent that has troubled them most. The Roosters then travel into a Round 15 meeting with Joondalup, making tonight the start of a demanding finish rather than an isolated fixture.

  • Women’s Premiership Round 14 Preview: Giants carry momentum into Kalamunda Test at Treeby

    Women’s Premiership Round 14 Preview: Giants carry momentum into Kalamunda Test at Treeby

    Joondalup can tighten their grip on second place, while Kalamunda seek a breakthrough against a rival that has controlled the recent series.

    Friday 14 August 2026 | 6:40 pm | Treeby Community & Sports Centre

    Joondalup Giants enter tonight’s Round 14 clash with Kalamunda Bulldogs carrying their strongest momentum of the 2026 NRLWA Women’s Premiership season. Back-to-back victories have lifted the Giants to second place, while Kalamunda arrive still searching for their first win after a difficult campaign.

    The standings make Joondalup clear favourites, but the fixture remains important for both teams. The Giants need to convert favourable matches into competition points before facing Fremantle in Round 15. For the Bulldogs, the task is to turn persistence into measurable progress against one of the competition’s most improved sides.

    Giants finding form at the right time
    Joondalup’s season has not followed a straight line. They opened with losses to Ellenbrook and Willagee, then edged Fremantle 18-14 and beat Kalamunda 44-8. Another dip followed, including a 38-4 loss to Fremantle in Round 10, but the response has been impressive.

    An 18-12 victory over Ellenbrook in Round 12 was followed by a 40-8 win over Willagee. That latest result carried extra weight because Willagee had beaten the Giants 24-16 in May. The 48-point turnaround between those two meetings suggests Joondalup’s combinations and defensive cohesion are improving as the season reaches its decisive stage.

    The Round 13 record also shows scoring contributions arriving through several positions. That variety matters because it prevents opponents from loading their defence toward one edge or one dominant ball carrier. Joondalup are most dangerous when their middle creates quick play-the-balls and their supporting runners attack a retreating line.

    A one-sided recent history
    Joondalup have won all five recorded Women’s Premiership meetings between the clubs from 2018 to 2026. Across those fixtures, the Giants have averaged 55.6 points and Kalamunda 5.6. The three most recent results were 54-4 and 44-8 this season, after a 68-0 Joondalup victory in Round 14 last year.

    Those margins create an obvious psychological challenge. Kalamunda must avoid allowing the historical pattern to dictate the opening exchanges. A composed first 20 minutes, improved set completion and disciplined exits would give the Bulldogs a chance to make Joondalup solve a different kind of match.

    What Kalamunda need to change
    Possession quality: The Bulldogs cannot afford to hand over the ball cheaply in their own half. Kicking early from poor field position may be preferable to attempting an extra pass under pressure.
    Defensive connection: Joondalup have the width to punish isolated defenders. Kalamunda’s edge defenders must move together and protect the space inside their winger.
    Value every attacking visit: Kalamunda are unlikely to receive many repeat opportunities close to the Joondalup line. Points, a repeat set or a controlled handover are all better outcomes than an unforced error.

    What Joondalup need to prove
    The Giants’ challenge is to treat the match as preparation rather than a formality. Their best football has combined defensive control with patience in possession. Forcing passes in pursuit of a large margin would give Kalamunda the interruptions and field position they need.

  • Who’s Running the Team? – How important is continuity in the halves?

    Who’s Running the Team? – How important is continuity in the halves?

    Across 128 verified Men’s Premiership starting line-ups through Round 16, the nine clubs have used 53 different five-eighth/halfback combinations. But the distribution is anything but even: Fremantle have used one pairing all season, while North Beach and Kwinana have each used nine.

    The top three teams average 4.3 combinations each, compared with 6.7 among the remaining six. That does not prove stability causes success—but the individual records reveal some fascinating patterns.

    Fremantle Roosters — 1 combination
    Ishmael Leilua and Delane Edwards have started all 14 matches together, producing a 10–3–1 record. Fremantle are the only club to use the same halves pairing in every game.

    Willagee Bears — 6 combinations
    Despite using six pairings, Willagee have maintained one constant: Matthew Lansdown has started at halfback in 13 of 14 games.
    Their principal combination of Kainoa Gudgeon and Lansdown is 7–1, scoring 412 points and conceding 110. The Bears’ variety appears to be managed flexibility around an established organiser rather than instability.

    South Perth Lions — 6 combinations
    South Perth have also used six pairings, with Kade McDonald, Hohepa Taiatini, Eddie Proudler and Luke-David Wells-Talamaivao rotating through the halves.
    Their most-used combination—McDonald and Proudler—is 3–1, while four of their six combinations remain undefeated.

    Ellenbrook Rabbitohs — 3 combinations
    Ellenbrook have been relatively settled. Unawin Clarke and Chase Rye have started 11 games together for a 6–5 record.
    The Rabbitohs are 0–3 when starting a different pairing—one of the clearest continuity splits in the competition.

    Kalamunda Bulldogs — 6 combinations
    Samisoni Langi has featured in 12 of Kalamunda’s 15 starting combinations, but with four different halfbacks.
    Langi and Carl Hiko own the Bulldogs’ most-used pairing at 3–2. Their Langi–Robbie Jones combination is 2–1 with a +94 points differential.

    Joondalup Giants — 7 combinations
    The Giants have used seven combinations, with no pairing starting more than four games.
    Lincoln Williams and Scott O’Brien are the most frequent at 2–2. Williams has appeared in six different combinations and has started on both sides of the halves.

    North Beach Sea Eagles — 9 combinations
    North Beach are tied for the most combinations, but may have found their answer late.
    Kurtis Everett and Nicholas Prance are 3–1 across the past four rounds, scoring 120 points and conceding 62. After using eight combinations across their opening ten games, the Sea Eagles have finally enjoyed some continuity.

    Rockingham Sharks — 6 combinations
    Rockingham’s results contain perhaps the quirkiest split.
    Crockett Henry and Sean Scott are 3–1 together. Every other Sharks combination is a combined 1–9. Their most successful pairing has started less than one-third of their matches.

    Kwinana Titans — 9 combinations
    Kwinana have used nine pairings in 15 games. Joshua Skinner and Lewis Samuels are the most common, starting six matches together, but remain 0–6.
    The Titans’ only victory came with Skinner partnered by Tyrell West—a combination used twice for a 1–1 record.

    The question is halves continuity a cause of success, a consequence of success—or simply something winning teams have the luxury of maintaining?

  • Men’s Premiership Round 16 Review: Roosters hit the century as Bears tighten their grip

    Men’s Premiership Round 16 Review: Roosters hit the century as Bears tighten their grip

    Fremantle produced a remarkable 100-point performance, Willagee continued its imposing late-season form and North Beach survived the closest contest of Round 16.

    Round 16 of the 2026 Men’s Premiership produced one of the most extraordinary scoring afternoons of the season, with 268 points and 49 tries across four matches.

    The round averaged 67 points per game, while the average winning margin climbed to 42 points. Three of the four matches were decided by double figures, but one result towered above everything else.

    Fremantle Roosters reached three figures.

    Fremantle produce a century at Treeby
    The result of the round — and one of the standout scorelines of the entire 2026 season — came as Fremantle Roosters defeated Kwinana Titans 100-0.

    The Roosters crossed for 19 tries and converted 12 of them, producing an attacking performance Kwinana simply could not contain.

    What made the scoreline particularly impressive was the number of contributors involved.

    Manson Carmody and Jahkayis Mabbett each scored hat-tricks, while TJ Morunga and Austin Cameron added doubles.

    The Roosters also received a huge contribution from Mitchell Wade-Whalan, who finished with 22 points from one try and nine goals.

    Fremantle’s attacking form has shifted dramatically over the past fortnight.

    After defeating South Perth 26-6 in Round 15, the Roosters have now scored 126 points and conceded only six across their past two matches.

    The century also increased Fremantle’s scoring output by 74 points from one round to the next.

    Kwinana, meanwhile, has endured the opposite trend.

    After conceding 48 against North Beach in Round 15, the Titans have now conceded 148 points across their past two matches.

    Willagee continue their relentless run
    Fremantle may have produced the eye-catching scoreline, but Willagee Bears continued to strengthen their position with a 60-6 victory over Rockingham Sharks.

    Willagee ran in 11 tries, with Iverson Mapu-Satiu leading the way with a hat-trick.

    Manfred Kelly and Nela Vi scored twice each, giving the Bears multiple attacking threats rather than relying on one dominant scorer.

    Then there was Matthew Lansdown.

    The competition’s leading point scorer contributed a try and eight goals for 20 points, accounting for one-third of Willagee’s total.

    More significant than one individual performance, however, is what Willagee has done across the past fortnight.

    The Bears defeated Ellenbrook 38-6 in Round 15 before beating Rockingham 60-6 on Sunday.

    That gives Willagee an aggregate score of 98-12 across its past two matches.

    They are averaging 49 points per game over that period while conceding only six.

    It is the combination of attacking production and defensive control that makes the numbers particularly imposing.

    Kelly creates separation in the try-scoring race
    Willagee’s victory also strengthened Manfred Kelly’s position at the top of the Men’s Premiership try-scoring standings.

    Kelly’s double took him to 25 tries for the season.

    Joondalup’s Lincoln Williams moved into outright second after scoring twice against Ellenbrook, taking his season total to 15.

    Behind Williams are Willagee teammates Iziah Lolohea and Saimoni Qaranivalu, who both have 14.

    That leaves Kelly with a substantial 10-try advantage over the nearest challenger.

    Rather than tightening late in the season, the Men’s try-scoring race is currently becoming more one-sided.

    North Beach win the round’s only thriller

    With large margins elsewhere, North Beach Sea Eagles’ 22-18 victory over Kalamunda Bulldogs provided a completely different type of contest.

    It was the only Men’s Premiership match decided by fewer than 10 points — and the only match across the Men’s and Val Murphy competitions decided by fewer than double figures.

    North Beach scored four tries through four different players.
    Tom Welsh, Kurtis Everett, Ethan Young and Wyatt Rogers all crossed, while Nicholas Prance kicked three goals.

    Kalamunda’s scoring was far more concentrated.

    Elijah Joe scored two tries and kicked three goals, giving him 14 of Kalamunda’s 18 points.

    That means Joe was directly responsible for almost 78 per cent of the Bulldogs’ total score.

    The result also gave North Beach consecutive victories after their 48-12 win against Kwinana in Round 15.

    Those two wins could hardly have been more different.

    One was a 36-point victory. The other required North Beach to survive a four-point contest.

    Winning both types of matches is an encouraging sign.

    Joondalup respond against Ellenbrook
    The remaining game saw Joondalup Giants defeat Ellenbrook Rabbitohs 36-26.

    The Giants scored six tries compared with Ellenbrook’s five, meaning there was little separating the teams in terms of crossing the line.

    Goal-kicking proved crucial.

    Tiger Williams converted all six of Joondalup’s recorded tries, providing 12 points from the boot.

    Ellenbrook kicked three goals.

    That six-point difference in conversions represented the majority of the eventual 10-point winning margin.

    Fraser Masterton and Lincoln Williams both scored doubles for Joondalup, while Jarrah Clarke-Hooper crossed twice for Ellenbrook.

    For Lincoln Williams, the double carried additional significance.

    His 15 tries now place him alone in second on the competition’s try-scoring leaderboard.

    Lansdown remains the points benchmark
    While Kelly has created separation in the try-scoring race, Matthew Lansdown remains the standard in total points.

    Lansdown now sits on 184 points, well clear at the top of the Men’s Premiership standings.

    South Perth’s Kade McDonald is second on 128, followed by Fremantle’s Harry Debique on 124.

    Kelly sits fourth on 92, with Ellenbrook’s Chase Rye rounding out the top five on 82.

    Lansdown therefore holds a 56-point advantage over second place.

    His ability to combine tries with prolific goal-kicking continues to make him one of the competition’s most statistically influential players.

    A round dominated by winning attacks
    Collectively, Sunday’s four winning teams scored 218 of the 268 points produced in the round.

    That is more than 81 per cent of all scoring.

    The winners also combined for three emphatic performances:

    Fremantle by 100.

    Willagee by 54.

    Joondalup by 10.

    Only North Beach was forced into a genuine final-margin contest.

    Round 16 therefore presented two very different pictures of the Men’s Premiership.

    At one end was Fremantle producing a historic attacking performance and Willagee continuing to overwhelm opponents.

    At the other was a four-point North Beach-Kalamunda contest in which every conversion and scoring opportunity mattered.

    With the season entering its decisive stages, Fremantle’s attacking surge, Willagee’s balance and North Beach’s ability to win close matches are becoming increasingly important storylines.

    And above the individual races, two Bears continue to set the benchmark.

    Manfred Kelly leads the competition with 25 tries. Matthew Lansdown leads it with 184 points.

  • Val Murphy Trophy Round 16 Review: Try race tightens as Hepper closes on Pearson

    Val Murphy Trophy Round 16 Review: Try race tightens as Hepper closes on Pearson

    Bailey Hepper moved within one try of the competition lead, Trent Griffin produced a 26-point masterclass and North Beach recorded the biggest Val Murphy Trophy victory of Round 16.

    The individual races tightened considerably in Round 16 of the Val Murphy Trophy as 266 points and 50 tries were scored across five matches.

    The round averaged 53.2 points per game, with an average winning margin of 30.8.

    North Beach produced the largest victory, Joondalup ran in nine tries, Willagee demonstrated its attacking depth and one Fremantle player was directly responsible for more than two-thirds of his team’s entire score.

    Griffin dominates Fremantle victory
    Fremantle Roosters defeated Kwinana Titans 38-24, but the result was dominated by the performance of Trent Griffin.

    Griffin scored four tries and kicked five goals.

    That gave him 26 individual points from Fremantle’s 38.

    In percentage terms, Griffin directly scored 68.4 per cent of the Roosters’ total points.

    It was one of the most influential individual performances of Round 16 in either senior competition.

    Bjorn-Paul Crotty added two tries and Ethan Hill scored another, but Griffin was clearly the central attacking figure.

    His performance also strengthens his position among the competition’s leading point scorers.

    Hepper turns the try race into a one-score contest
    The largest Val Murphy Trophy victory came from North Beach Sea Eagles, who defeated Kalamunda Bulldogs 58-6.

    North Beach scored 11 tries, with Bailey Hepper crossing four times.

    Those four tries have dramatically changed the shape of the season’s try-scoring race.

    Hepper now has 12 tries – Competition leader Rashim Pearson has 13.

    After Round 16, therefore, just one try separates first from second.

    Behind them, Te Auturoa Awhitu-Kerei and Archillies Packer sit on 11, meaning four players are separated by only two tries at the top of the standings.

    That sets up a potentially fascinating finish to the season.

    Hepper also kicked a goal against Kalamunda, giving him 18 points for the match.

    Cameron Hoff scored twice, while Juayne Pomare contributed five goals.

    North Beach’s 52-point winning margin was the largest of the Val Murphy Trophy round.

    Willagee win through balance
    Willagee’s 26-8 victory over Rockingham Sharks was statistically interesting for a very different reason.

    The Bears scored five tries.

    They had five different try scorers.

    Lochlan Jackson, Tahupotiki Awhitu-Kerei, Connor Pieters, Ethan Ransfield and Archillies Packer all crossed once.

    Unlike Fremantle, where Griffin was responsible for most of the scoring, Willagee’s production was distributed across the side.

    That type of spread makes an attack considerably more difficult to contain because there is no single obvious player an opposition defence can focus upon.

    Te Putu Huriwai-Brown added three goals and continues to lead the Val Murphy Trophy point-scoring race.

    Huriwai-Brown now has 148 points for the season.

    Giants spread the scoring
    Joondalup produced another major attacking performance, defeating Ellenbrook Rabbitohs 46-6.

    The Giants crossed for nine tries.

    Even more impressive was the distribution.

    Seven different Joondalup players appeared among the try scorers.

    Leon White led the way with a hat-trick, while the remaining six tries were shared among six other players.

    That type of attacking spread closely resembles what Willagee produced against Rockingham, albeit with a considerably higher total.

    James Smith added five goals for Joondalup, contributing another 10 points.

    Smith remains second in the Val Murphy Trophy points race on 116, although Huriwai-Brown still holds a substantial lead.

    The gap between first and second currently stands at 32 points.

    Davids drives South Perth
    South Perth completed the round with a convincing 42-12 victory over Alkimos Tigers.

    The Lions scored eight tries, with Kee Davids producing the standout individual performance.

    Davids scored a hat-trick and kicked three goals.

    His 18 points accounted for almost 43 per cent of South Perth’s total.

    The Lions also received tries from Dimize Cullen, Willington Richard, Mark Robertson, Kieren Lis and Hamish Roshan, giving them six different try scorers overall.

    Again, attacking distribution was a prominent feature.

    Point-scoring race remains Huriwai-Brown’s to lose
    The Val Murphy Trophy points race currently has a clear leader.

    Te Putu Huriwai-Brown sits first on 148 points.

    James Smith follows on 116.

    Haydyn Wade is third on 112, with Nicholas Prance close behind on 110.

    Trent Griffin’s latest scoring explosion has moved him to 78.

    Huriwai-Brown’s lead over Smith therefore stands at 32 points, but the battle immediately behind the leader remains tight.

    Only six points separate Smith, Wade and Prance.

    The race for second could change quickly.

    Try-scoring title could go to the wire
    The tries leaderboard is considerably tighter.

    Rashim Pearson — 13.

    Bailey Hepper — 12.

    Te Auturoa Awhitu-Kerei — 11.

    Archillies Packer — 11.

    Jesse Inall — 10.

    Five players are separated by only three tries.

    Hepper’s four-try performance against Kalamunda has turned what was already a competitive race into one that could potentially change every weekend.

    One more productive afternoon could be enough to take the lead.

    Round 16 shows two ways to dominate
    Perhaps the most interesting statistical feature of the round was the contrast between individual dominance and collective attacking depth.

    Fremantle relied heavily on Griffin, who directly contributed 26 of 38 points.

    South Perth had Davids account for 18 of 42.

    North Beach received four tries from Hepper.

    But Willagee had five tries from five different players.

    Joondalup had nine tries shared among seven scorers.

    Those are fundamentally different attacking models, yet all produced victories.

    And with 50 tries scored across only five matches, Round 16 again demonstrated the attacking depth present throughout the Val Murphy Trophy.

    The biggest story moving forward, however, may be the individual try race.

    Rashim Pearson still leads. But Bailey Hepper is now only one behind.

    With Te Auturoa Awhitu-Kerei and Archillies Packer another try back, the Val Murphy Trophy’s leading try scorer is far from settled.