As it happened: Eels stay in the hunt; Knights steal late win; Broncos too strong

Post match press conferences

Wests Tigers 

Eels 

Full-time: A dominant first half has powered the Eels to a 38-4 win over Wests Tigers, a result that keeps them in the hunt for a finals berth. The Eels sit in seventh spot, only one point behind the Titans with more more round left to play. 

The Eels led the way in all the key stats, aided by a huge 62 percent weight of possession, with 37 tackle breaks, nine line breaks and 1662 to 903 run metres all helping secure a strong win. 

68th min: After being held relatively quiet in the second half, the Eels get another try for their tally, with winger Mataele going over out wide for her hat-trick. Boss Kapua takes the conversion attempt, but it's waved away. Parramatta lead 38-4. 

67th min - injury alert: Tigers half Jetaya Faifua comes off for a HIA.

64th min: A good period for the Tigers who have maintained some committed defence this second half and have also had a successful captain's challenge to get them out of trouble coming out of their own half, with Parramatta ruled to have stripped out a ball illegally. 

57th min: Wests Tigers are on the board with a fantastic individual effort from Sala Togatuki. The Tigers got a scrum out on on the left-side of the field 10 metres in from the sideline and they pass inside to find their representative forward who runs the long way to the right sideline before getting the ball down to score. The conversion attempt from Emily Bass is just short and it's 34-4. 

56th min: Injury alert - Tigers fullback Caitlin Turnbull leaves the field for a HIA.

43rd min: Fleur Ginn gets the try scoring started for the Eels in the second half off the back of a good run from representative fullback Abbi Church who breaks away before passing back to her support to finish the job. Pearson slots another conversion for 34-0. 

Half-time: The home side head to the sheds with a dominant 28-0 lead over Wests Tigers after making the most of each offered opportunity. Captain Mahalia Murphy and powerful winger Martha Mataele both have doubles. The Eels have had 66 percent of the possession and made it count. For Wests Tigers, the errors have been extremely costly, making five so far. In Brett Kimmorley's second last match in charge, the team will be looking to rally in the second half and show the fight they have displayed on multiple occasions throughout this season. 

31st min: Mataele also has a double for the Eels as well, taking an intercept after plucking a Tigers ball from the air and charging all the way to the try line. Pearson misses her first conversion attempt of the day, so scores remain 28-0. 

27th min: Murphy goes back-to-back for a double with a strong run back inside, in and amongst Tigers defenders, cutting through for more points. Pearson converts for 24-0. 

15th min: More points for Parra with skipper Mahalia Murphy the next over the line, collecting a kick from Rueben Cherrington that drops just before the tryline for the secondrower to collect and put down. Pearson slots the conversion for 18-0. For Wests Tigers, every errors is resulting in points, so they will be looking to clean up their play. 

10th min: Out to the other side of the field for the next Parramatta try, with winger Martha Mataele crashing over on the right edge. Pearson nails the conversion from there as well for a 12-0 lead. 

6th min: Making her Eels debut and following in the footsteps of her father and brother in a history-making appearance, Kiana Takairangi is over for the first try of the game on the left wing. Rachael Pearson slots the conversion for a 6-0 lead. 

Kick off: The visiting Wests Tigers have the first use of the ball. 

Kiana Takairangi's club debut for the Eels sees her join her brother Brad and father Louis in playing for Parramatta, in a history-making event.

Late Mail 

Eels: The Eels were dealt a blow on the eve of Sunday's match, with powerhouse prop Elsie Albert ruled out in the 24-hour team update with an ankle injury. Boss Kapua moves to the starting side, with Fontayne Tufuga added to the bench for her NRLW debut. Fleur Ginn shifts to centre to accommodate the return of Rosie Beckett at five-eighth. The playmaker made a successful return from concussion in the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership last week. Cook Islands international Kiana Takairangi is set for her club debut on the wing, with Zali Fay shifting to the reserves. No late changes on game day. 

Wests Tigers: Coach Brett Kimmorley has stuck with the same squad that fell to the Raiders in golden point last week. Jetaya Faifua and Faythe Manera will combine in the halves, while Caitlin Turnbull will line up at fullback and Kezie Apps will start in the back row. No late changes to 1-18 on game day, with Evie McGrath remaining in the squad as the replacement player. 

Knights v Titans at McDonald Jones Stadium

Post match press conferences

Titans 

Knights

Full-time: Some Southwell magic late has stolen the game for the Knights in a seesawing game, finishing up 28-22 winners. As expected, many of the stats were fairly even to finish the game with the Knights coming out on top despite finishing with 51 percent of the ball. While both teams finished with 11 errors apiece, the Knights conceded six penalties to three.

79th min: Everyone thought Southwell would be setting up to try and claim the win with field goal, but instead she runs in to score a try. The Knights had a scrum play after an error from the Titans and decided to run the ball to try and score a four-pointer and found success with a dummy and run from the star half. She converts her own try for a 28-22 lead. 

68th min: Lauren Brown is the first to pull the trigger and fires off an attempt for a field goal, but misses the target and the Knights collect the ball in the in-goal and bring it out. 

60th min: The momentum is firmly in the way of the Titans at the moment, with try-scoring whiz Phoenix-Raine Hippi over for another for her side, stepping out then in at the try line to narrow the scores, set up by a nice offload earlier in the set from Faitala-Mariner who already has her name on board. Brown sends over a fantastic conversion attempt to draw the teams level at 22-22. 

53rd min: The Titans just won't go away and are next to score with Estanoa Faitala-Mariner over for the first try of her career off some more good work from Kolc. Brown can't quite make the conversion and it's a 22-16 lead to the Knights, just the one converted try in it. 

42nd min: Plenty of errors from both side to start the second half, but it's the home side who break the cycle first, with Fane Finau over for a try in her NRLW debut. Impressive with her touches and bringing lots of enthusiasm, it's a well-deserved try for the youngster who ran hard to get over the line. Southwell converts and it's 22-12.  

Injury update - Big news to start the second half, with Bo Vette Welsh ruled out for the match with a Category 1 head knock. 

Half-time: A first half of massive momentum swings sees the home side the Knights go into the sheds the happier side with a 16-12 lead. After bursting out of the blocks with two quick tries, the Knights then gave up their lead with tries from Titans forwards giving them the advantage. However, Newcastle rallied to end the half to capitalise on some late ill discipline from the Titans, with Sienna Yeo's try giving her side the lead at the break. 

34th min: The Knights take back the lead after finally getting some opportunity with the ball again following a string of errors and penalties from the Titans. Sienna Yeo is able to capitalise on some good work from Olivia Higgins and can run in under the posts. Southwell converts from in front for a 16-12 lead. 

Injury update - Clarke cleared of injury and comes back onto the field.

23rd min: Somehow the Titans are in front after fighting their way back into the contest. Jessika Elliston chases hard on a kick from Brown that ricochets off the legs of a Newcastle player and takes the perfect bounce for the front rower who grabs the ball and runs over to score. Brown converts for a 12-10 lead. 

Injury update - Unfortunately, plenty to report for the Titans following Clarke coming off. Georgia Grey has failed her HIA and is done for the day. For the Knights, fullback Bo Vette Welsh has also come off for a HIA. 

18th min: After an early onslaught from the Knights where they posted two quick tries, the Titans have been able to regroup and have their first points of the afternoon with a hard cutting run by Laika Clark back in off a ball from dummy half from Lily Kolc proving effective. However, she hurts her leg in the aftermath of scoring and comes from the field. Lauren Brown converts and the scores are 10-6. 

6th min: The Knights are switched on to start this game, with Sheridan Gallagher over on the right-side of the field, with the Bunker overruling the on field call of no-try after they saw she maintained possession in her put-down attempt. Southwell can't convert and it's 10-0. 

Injury update - Titans winger Georgia Grey comes from the field for a HIA after a heavy contact trying to make a tackle.

2nd min: All happening to start the game in Newcastle. An early error from the Titans gives the home side a sniff and they take it with Jesse Southwell over for the opening try of the match. She converts her own try for a 6-0 lead. 

Late Mail

Knights: Tongan teenager Fane Finau makes her NRLW debut in the back row, with Evah McEwen making way. Kayla Romaniuk is straight back into the starting side in her return from suspension. Jules Kirkpatrick moves to the bench, while Simone Karpani been named to return on the bench after two games out with a calf injury. No changes to the 1-17 on game day, with Grace Giampino the new replacement player. 

Titans: Young star Phoenix-Raine Hippi will move from wing to centre after Sarina Masaga (concussion) was ruled out. Jasmin Morrissey comes in on the wing for her NRLW debut while Kelsey Parkin also debuts off the bench. Lily-Rose Kolc has been cleared of an ankle injury and will start at hooker in an unchanged forward pack. Star fullback Jaime Chapman (ankle) and emerging forward Sienna Lofipo (concussion) remain sidelined. No changes in the game-day update. 

Warriors v Broncos at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

Post match

Warriors 

Broncos

Full-time: The Broncos claim a 26-6 victory in Hamilton in a hard-fought game against the Warriors. There were some entertaining tries scored and some big defence, with the Broncos held to their lowest score of the year. Tamika Upton scored a double and came off the field early for a rest before full-time, with coach Scott Prince looking towards the finals. As well as scoring the only try for the Warriors, youngster Ivana Lauitiiti impressed with some big plays in defence. Concerns however for Wahs coach Ron Griffiths, with five-eighth Patricia Maliepo leaving the field with a leg injury.

57th min: Lauren Dam breaks through for the Broncos to extend their lead after a dummy from Broughton gives her the space to run through. Teitzel can't convert from out to the left of the field and the score stays at 26-6. 

Injury alert - Concerning news for Warriors fans with Maliepo left on the ground in the lead-up to that try, coming from the field with a leg injury. 

Crowd update - Fantastic support from Warriors fans, with 7195 in the crowd at Hamilton, a huge showing of support for an NRLW standalone game. Plenty of family support for a number of Broncos players as well who feature some of the Ferns biggest stars. 

49th min: Payton Takimoana thought she had added to her try-scoring tally, but the decision to swap arms on her way down has seen the Bunker intervene and overturn the on-field ruling of a try, keeping scores at 22-6. An uncharacteristic error from Upton in the lead up gave the Warriors a chance to narrow the lead, before the error in trying to put the ball down. 

46th min: Kiwis gun Mele Hufanga is the next on the board for the Broncos, proving too strong on the left edge, diving over to score. Brisbane did well to hold out the Warriors down the other end of the field, pressuring Maliepo into an error where she kicked out on the full in windy conditions. The Broncos then worked their way up the field following good runs - especially from Sausao - with the representative centre able to capitalise. Teitzel misses the conversion so score remains 22-6. 

42nd min: The home side get a well-deserved try with Ivana Lauitiiti stretching her arm out over the line to plant the ball next to the posts for her side's first points of the game. A huge run by Shakira Baker put her time in an attacking frame, with good follow up runs from Emmanita Paki and Harata Butler putting the Broncos on the back foot. Patricia Maliepo converts and it's 18-6. 

40th min:  The Warriors are successful with a captain's challenge with a hard-running Shalom Sausao deemed to have had a loose carry to cause a turnover after the Warriors were initially penalised for a strip. 

Half-time: Brisbane head to the break with an 18-0 lead, but were made to work hard by a Warriors side that have shown the sort of spirit that has won them fans in their return to the competition. However, the class of the Broncos can't be denied, with superstar Tamika Upton already on the board with a double, while rising youngster Shalom Sauaso has a first-half try as well. 

31st min: Broncos go back-bang with half-time approaching, with young gun Shalom Sauaso the next to score, cleaning up scraps on an Ali Brigginshaw kick into the in-goal the proved too hard for the Warriors to handle. Teitzel converts again for 18-0. 

28th min: Upton goes over again - this time with a more traditional try, showcase her elusive footwork and speed. Teitzel coverts and it's 12-0.

19th min: Who else but Tamika Upton to finally get the first official points of the game. But not a long-range effort that you'd expect from the fullback, but taking a charge like a prop to touch the ball down under the sticks. Teitzel converts for a 6-0 lead. 

17th min: Broncos are denied again by some strong defence from the Warriors, who push winger Hayley Maddick out over the sideline as she was hoping to get the ball down in the right corner. 

14th min: The Broncos thought they were the first on the board, with Shenae Ciesiolka getting out over on the right, but the Bunker overrules after it was ruled decoy Romy Teitzel's run takes out a defender who falls over and can't take attempt a tackle. The Broncos received the attacking opportunity after a line drop out.

10th min: No score yet, but Warriors with the early running, having gone over the line, but Bunker confirming a knock on.

Kick off: First use of the ball for the visitors, with the Broncos taking up the attack. 

The Warriors will play on New Zealand soil for the first time, with Ferns star Gayle Broughton happy to be 'home'.

Late Mail

Warriors: One change in Saturday's 24-hour update, with Metanoia Fotu-Moala dropping out of the squad. Lavinia Kitai will start in the front row as a result, with Ashlee Matapo the new face on the bench. Lavinia Tauhalaliku returns from concussion on the wing while Matekino Grey starts at prop in her return from suspension. Capri Paekau has been named to start at hooker and Lydia Turua-Quedley shifts to the interchange. Ivana Lauitiiti comes on to the interchange after missing last week's loss to the Dragons. No late changes on game day. 

Broncos: Star centre Julia Robinson is being rested ahead of the finals so Shenae Ciesiolka comes in for her first starting appearance of the season. Shalom Sauaso returns from suspension via the interchange, with Azalleyah Maaka set for her NRLW debut off the bench in place of Destiny Brill (calf), who is 'touch and go to play again this year' according to coach Scott Prince. No late changes on game day.