Three clubs – Newcastle Knights, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, St George Dragons - are vying for that all-important top-four spot in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership after seven rounds of competition.
All three clubs are locked on eight points and are within reach of defending premiers Mounties in third spot (nine points) after their five-eighth Logan Lemusu kicked a 64th minute field goal to snatch a 19-18 victory over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
With four rounds still to play until the top-four on the ladder move through to the 2024 Harvey Norman semi-finals at Campbelltown Stadium on 21 September, Manly are still a realistic chance of making it from seventh spot on seven points.
And they have a strike weapon in centre Lavinia Tauhalaliku, who tops the Harvey Norman try scorers list with nine after crossing against Mounties. She was the star of the show in Round Six at home at 4 Pines Park with four tries against South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Equal leader in tries so far for 2024 is Wentworthville Magpies fullback Caitlin Turnbull (pictured above, Photo: Bryden Sharp), who also has nine.
Wenty remain undefeated after seven rounds with a 40-6 win over the Rabbitohs last weekend.
The Magpies had three players run in doubles: wingers Alofa Schuster and Danielle Seckold and bench forward Belinda Gwasamun.
St George are beginning to get on a roll after a 22-4 local derby win against Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks gave them their fourth win so far, where fullback Katrina Phippen not only scored two tries but converted her second for a personal tally of 10 points.