NRLW Match Preview: Raiders v Warriors

The Raiders will be looking to bounce back this weekend after falling 44-28 to the Broncos at home in Canberra.

Despite a slow start, a couple of tries late in the first half from captain and halfback Zahara Temara and second rower Hollie-Mae Dodd kept the Raiders in the contest going into the second.

But Brisbane piled on the points late, blowing out the scoreline to leave the Raiders winless.

Over at Accor Stadium, the Warriors had no troubles against the Bulldogs, coming up 34-6 in a Saturday afternoon demolition.

To face this side, coach Darrin Borthwick has named a slightly altered lineup to accommodate the loss of winger Madison Bartlett, who will miss the remainder of the season after fracturing her collarbone last round against the Broncos.

Mackenzie Wiki shifts outwards to fill Bartlett’s spot at wing, which will see Chey Robins-Reti come into the starting side at centre.

The Raiders face a do-or-die challenge this Saturday as they chase their first win, but overcoming a confident sixth-placed Warriors outfit fresh off a dominant victory will be no easy feat.

Talking Points:

• This match marks the first ever time the Canberra Raiders have played the New Zealand Warriors in the NRLW
• Fullback Elise Simpson currently leads the competition in kick return meters with 291
• Halfback Georgia Thomas comes into the side for Marley Cardwell at number 18.
• The Warriors name an unchanged lineup as they look for their third win in a row.

Last time they met:

These two teams have never met.  

Key Match-Up: Zahara Temara v Emily Curtain.

Despite a slow start to the season, Canberra’s captain Zahara Temara and has stood tall for the Raiders, providing a strong presence out of halfback to guide the backline.

A veteran of the game Temara enters her eighth NRLW season in 2025 – a testament to the leadership and composure she brings to the halfback role.

In her five appearances this year, she’s racked up 947 kick metres, averaging 190 per game – a stat that’s been critical to the Raiders’ ability to control field position and apply sustained pressure on their opponents.

She’s proven more than capable in defence, with 63 tackles made, providing stability and composure in the line while shutting down opposition attacking threats.

Lining up against her is Warriors halfback Emily Curtain, who has been in strong form this season as an essential member of New Zealand’s spine.

Curtain has been a defensive force this season, boasting an 80.2% tackle efficiency and racking up 73 tackles – a presence sure to cause headaches for the Raiders through the middle.

She’s also been a key architect in the Warriors’ attack, with three try assists that have proven crucial to several of their scorelines this season.

But in kicking game, Temara edges out her opponent, as Curtain fails to match the Raiders half’s kicking metres, coming up with an average of 156 compared to Temara’s 190 per game.

Temara has also proven more of a running threat, logging 221 run metres compared to Curtain’s 143, demonstrating her capacity to claim metres for her side.

All eyes will be on the centre of the ground this Saturday as the battle between the two No.7s shapes as a pivotal contest, with each playmaker’s ability to dictate tempo likely to have a major influence on the outcome.