TAMIKA UPTON became the first player to hit 50 NRLW tries as BRISBANE BRONCOS maintained the early lead in the table with a hard-fought 22-16 win over CRONULLA SHARKS.

After scoring their two first-half tries to lead 12-4 at the break, Brisbane captain Upton got the match-winner with ten minutes left after the scores had been locked 16-16 by a Julia Robinson effort.

Cronulla, who registered a Georgia Ravics try in the opening half, had fought back from behind through Jaydika Tafua and Chantay Kiria-Ratu efforts, both goaled by the latter.

Jesse Southwell converted all three Upton tries for the defending champions.

It was also a memorable weekend for Jaime Chapman, who scored four times to earn GOLD COAST TITANS their first victory of the year, 36-10 at CANTERBURY BULLDOGS.

Her two touchdowns in each half were accompanied by Evania Isa’ako, Teagan Levi and Georgia Grey tries while Lauren Brown kicked four conversions.

The winless Bulldogs had a good spell after half-time with Hope Millard and Monica Tagoai tries, the first goaled by Tayla Preston, to show for it.

Only NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS are below Canterbury in the early table after they fell to a 30-18 home defeat to WESTS TIGERS, who have remarkably already surpassed last year’s tally of one win.

A different force under new coach Craig Sandercock, Wests were grateful for Faythe Manera’s hat-trick plus tries by Sarah Togatuki and Shaylee Bent, all converted by Raecene McGregor.

Fran Goldthorp’s double (the latter converted by Emma Manzelmann) was in vain for North Queensland, as were Haylee Hifo and Margot Vella touchdowns.

CANBERRA RAIDERS are in second place behind the Broncos thanks to a 42-16 demolition of NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS.

They were 18-0 up after 20 minutes through Elise Simpson, Mackenzie Wiki, Bobbi Law and Grace Kemp tries, and had further joy in the second half as Wiki again, Jordyn Preston, Leianne Tufaga and Chanté Temara all crossed. Sheridan Gallagher finished with five conversions.

Capri Paekau’s try, a brace from Ocean Tierney and two Patricia Maliepo goals meant little to the Warriors.

Rounding off the unbeaten top four are SYDNEY ROOSTERS, who just about defended a 12-0 half-time lead earned through Jessica Sergis and Olivia Kernick tries, both converted by Jocelyn Kelleher.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS halved the deficit with Olivia Higgins’ try and Kirra Dibb’s goal but when Mercedez Taulelei-Siala scored out wide with three minutes left, Dibb couldn’t level the match, leaving them beaten 12-10.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS got on the board for 2026 after shooting into a 14-0 lead in the first ten minutes of their 22-8 home victory against PARRAMATTA EELS.

Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis, Teagan Berry and Ella Koster all touched down early while a further try by Trinity Tauaneai and three Jayme Millard goals put them 22-4 in front at the break.

Parramatta, having registered a Mahalia Murphy try in the first half, pulled four more points back straight after the restart through Rory Owen but the Dragons’ defensive resolve closed things out.

Results
Thursday 9 July
Cronulla Sharks 16 Brisbane Broncos 22
Saturday 11 July
North Queensland Cowboys 18 Wests Tigers 30
Canterbury Bulldogs 10 Gold Coast Titans 36
Sydney Roosters 12 Newcastle Knights 10
Sunday 12 July
Canberra Raiders 42 New Zealand Warriors 16
St George Illawarra Dragons 22 Parramatta Eels 8

Fixtures
Saturday 18 July
Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters (3.40am)
New Zealand Warriors v North Queensland Cowboys (6.15am)
Canterbury Bulldogs v Cronulla Sharks (8.15am)
Sunday 19 July
Gold Coast Titans v Parramatta Eels (2.50am)
Brisbane Broncos v Wests Tigers (4.45am)
Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra Dragons (9.15am)
(All UK time, all on Sky Sports and Watch NRL)

Table
Brisbane Broncos 4 pts
Canberra Raiders 4 pts
Sydney Roosters 4 pts
Wests Tigers 4 pts
Newcastle Knights 2 pts
Gold Coast Titans 2 pts
St George Illawarra Dragons 2 pts
New Zealand Warriors 2 pts
Cronulla Sharks 0 pts
Parramatta Eel 0 pts
Canterbury Bulldogs 0 pts
North Queensland Cowboys 0 pts