BRISBANE BRONCOS laid down an ominous marker on the opening weekend of the NRLW season as the defending champions posted 50 points against NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS.

Kerri Johnson scored a hat-trick, including the opener inside two minutes, while seven other players got on the scoresheet.

They were Ali Brigginshaw, Romy Teitzel, Tamika Upton, Rhemy Hinckesman, Caitlin Urwin (a union convert who was part of Australia’s Rugby World Cup squad last year), Lauren Dam and Harlem Walker.

Jesse Southwell kicked five conversions as she made her Broncos debut following a big move from Newcastle Knights.

North Queensland, who finished fourth last season, could only muster an Emma Manzelmann try in the 50-4 defeat.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS, unbeaten in last year’s regular season and Grand Final runners-up, also started well with a 34-10 victory at GOLD COAST TITANS.

They were given a stern test but were clinical, scoring seven tries through Jessica Sergis, Jayme Fressard (two), Brydie Parker, Jessica Sergis, Tarryn Aiken and Isabelle Kelly, three converted by 

Jocelyn Kelleher.

Teagan Levi and Destiny Mino-Sinapati responded for the Titans, the latter try goaled by Lauren Brown.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS, who completed last season’s top four, kicked off the campaign with a Thursday-night 18-4 win at CRONULLA SHARKS.

Shanice Parker scored the only points of the first half with an early try but Cronulla’s Rhiannon Byers levelled straight after the break with Georgia Roche in the sin bin.

Fane Finau and Simone Karpani tries, both converted by Kirra Dibb, who also kicked a penalty-goal, ensured a Knights triumph.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS are expected to rise this season and showed promise in a 32-10 Hamilton victory against CANTERBURY BULLDOGS.

Emmanita Paki and Lavinia Tauhalaliku each scored doubles and there were also tries from Gayle Broughton, Tysha Ikenasio and Patricia Maliepo (who kicked two conversions).

Only in the final ten minutes did the Bulldogs respond through tries by Alexis Tauaneai (converted by Tayla Preston) and Monica Tagoai.

New-look WESTS TIGERS have already matched their win tally of last season, enjoying a 28-16 triumph at PARRAMATTA EELS.

With a new coach in Craig Sandercock and fresh signing Raecene McGregor pulling the strings – and converting four of their five tries, scored by Emily Bass, Caitlin Turnbull, Faythe Manera, Kezie Apps and Shaylee Bent – the Tigers were good value.

Rory Owen’s two tries, both goaled by Rachael Pearson, followed a Martha Mataele effort for the Eels after trailing 22-0 at the break.

CANBERRA RAIDERS overcame Teagan Berry’s second-minute ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS score to emerge 20-4 winners.

Bobbi Law and Grace Kemp tries (the latter converted by Zahara Temara) edged them ahead by half-time, then Mackenzie Wiki and Simaima Taufa touchdowns, either side of a penalty-goal by impressive fullback signing Sheridan Gallagher, finished the job.

Results
Thursday 2 July
Cronulla Sharks 4 Newcastle Knights 18
Saturday 4 July
Gold Coast Titans 10 Sydney Roosters 34
St George Illawarra Dragons 4 Canberra Raiders 20
Brisbane Broncos 50 North Queensland Cowboys 4
Sunday 5 July
Parramatta Eels 16 Wests Tigers 28
New Zealand Warriors 32 Canterbury Bulldogs 10

Fixtures
Thursday 9 July
Cronulla Sharks v Brisbane Broncos (10.45am)
Saturday 11 July
North Queensland Cowboys v Wests Tigers (3.45am)
Canterbury Bulldogs v Gold Coast Titans (6.15am)
Sydney Roosters v Newcastle Knights (8.15am)
Sunday 12 July
Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors (3.00am)
St George Illawarra Dragons v Parramatta Eels (4.45am)
(All UK time, all on Sky Sports and Watch NRL)

Table
Brisbane Broncos 2 pts
Sydney Roosters 2 pts
New Zealand Warriors 2 pts
Canberra Raiders 2 pts
Newcastle Knights 2 pts
Wests Tigers 2 pts
Parramatta Eels 0 pts
Cronulla Sharks 0 pts
St George Illawarra Dragons 0 pts
Canterbury Bulldogs 0 pts
Gold Coast Titans 0 pts
North Queensland Cowboys 0 pts