The inaugural NRLW Magic Round will hit McDonald Jones Stadium this weekend and you can already feel the buzz.
All six fixtures will be staged over two days in Newcastle’s vibrant precinct, transforming the city into a smorgasbord of footy fan zones, community events, and top level rugby league action. It’s a landmark moment and a statement of intention for the growth and profile of the game.
Now entering Round 5, every match will carry weight. With the ladder tighter than ever, this is the perfect stage for teams to propel themselves or see finals hopes slip away.
Here’s what happened in Round 4.
Titans catch fire: Two on the bounce
Gold Coast finally appear to be finding their rhythm. In Round 4, they secured a well earned 20–10 win at Go Media Stadium, handing the Warriors their first home defeat since re-entering the competition. It marked the Titans’ second straight victory with Georgia Hale, fresh from suspension, resuming her leadership role to keep the side steady, while Jessika Ellison led from the front in her 40th NRLW appearance.
Though margin of -32 on the ladder suggests the Titans are still developing their attack and finding their way in defence, momentum is building. The Titans head into Magic Round trending upward and have a game against tough opposition against the Bulldogs to try and make it three in a row.
Jessika Elliston is crunched. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)
Cowboys stand tall: Shutout sends strong message
North Queensland soldiered on with another decisive performance, delivering Canberra their first whitewash of the season with a commanding 26-0 victory.
Key to the demolition was an electrifying performance by Abigail Roach who bagged two tries, one assist and three line breaks and Jasmine Peters ran for 164 metres and finished with a try and seven tackle breaks.
For Canberra things are going from bad to worse. They may be struggling, but in this game they completed at 57 per cent – they will struggle to beat any team in the competition at that rate.
The Cowboys are now three from four and head into Magic Round with momentum. They face a Warriors team with plenty of attacking talent who are still trying to find their feet.
Raiders’ woes deepen
I’m feeling sorry for Canberra who are still yet to post a win this season. After failing to score and conceding six tries, the Raiders remain winless and rooted to the bottom of the ladder with zero points, and a staggering –132 points differential after Round 4 .
Their clash with the Knights at Magic Round looms like a must win. Failure to recover quickly could see their finals chances evaporate.
Eels and Dragons: Some soul searching needed
Two teams with high hopes had tough outings on the weekend and were exposed by better opposition.
Parramatta were dismantled 30-6 by the Knights, exposing a disjointed attack and, notably, Rachael Pearson’s kicking game struggled in this game under pressure. Despite some tough carries from forwards like Elsie Albert, the attack looked disjointed and struggled to break through the Knights defensive lines.
St George Illawarra were put to the sword by the Bronco in their 30-6 loss. Defensive holes opened, support play broke down and the Dragons looked blunt in attack. Precision and structure were missing, and Magic Round doesn’t give either side room for error.
That sets up the Sunday headline clash: Eels v Dragons. A win this weekend could be the spark their seasons desperately need.
Sharks get narrow escape but big concerns
The Cronulla Sharks scraped home 20-16 over the Tigers and while they deserve credit for defence under duress, the fact they surrendered late territory and needed to scramble suggests deeper inconsistency.
In a season of tight margins, too many narrow wins are more worry than reason for confidence.
Ladder logjam: Every game matters
The ladder after four rounds could not be tighter. The Roosters remain top with 8 points and a +62 differential, but below them five teams – including Broncos, Knights and Cowboys on 6 points, followed by a logjam below.
The Warriors sit on just 2 points, while the Raiders and Tigers have none, and may need to turnaround fast or say farewell to finals aspirations. Magic Round will stretch those mathematical possibilities beyond tiebreakers, every match now is a potential ladder shaker.
Round 5 Highlight Match: Eels v Dragons
Sunday afternoon in Newcastle is shaping as the game of the round. Both the Eels and Dragons desperately need a win to cement their spot in the top six. I’m looking forward to key match ups between full backs Abbi Church and Teagan Berry and experienced halves, Raecene McGregor and Rachael Pearson. Each team has their share of young superstars coming through with the likes of Ryvrr-Lee Alo for the Eels and Indie Bostock for the Dragons.
Also on Sunday the Knights face Canberra in front of (hopefully!) a full house in hometown heaven.
Newcastle impressed in Round 3 with a comprehensive win over the Eels. Canberra, on the other hand, are still searching for answers. The public expectation leans toward a home crowd victory, but there’s always room for upset.
