BY VIV

We are back for the Raiders NRLW season 4, kicking off with an away game against the Dragons. The team list for this week has some new faces as the Raiders try for their first finals series (and premiership!).

Hellos!

The Raiders made some good signings in the off-season. Sheridan Gallagher and Krystal Blackwell are causing the most excitement. We have written about the potential of Gallagher and Blackwell in refreshing our outside backs. Since then, the Raiders have also signed Grace Kukutai from the Knights and Charlotte Basham from the Dragons to reinforce the forwards. Jordyn Preston’s extension has come through after an impressive debut season. A development player to watch will be Gabriella Savage (sister of Xavier), who performed well for Queensland in the under-19s State of Origin this year. 

Team list

Sheridan Gallagher lines up at fullback this week. After an NRLW career on the wing, the move to Canberra means a new position. Elise Simpson moves to the wing. It’s another fullback experiment for the women since Apii Nicholls left; at least this time we have the option of playing Krystal Blackwell or Simpson at fullback if needed.  Mackenzie Wiki lines up on the other wing.  Our centres are Bobbi Law and Leianne Tufuga. Law takes the spot of Cheyelle Robins-Reti, who has moved on to the Knights.

Missing from our backline is Madi Bartlett, who has had collarbone and possible leg injuries in the offseason. It’s not clear if Bartlett is playing NSW Cup as part of her return from injury or due to selection pressure. The Raiders top 24 feature heavily in the Mounties line-up this week. Besides Bartlett, Madyson Tooth, Holly Williams, Sereana Naitokatoka, Evie McGrath, Marley Cardwell, Ellie Brander, Aaliyah Lomas and Isabelle Piper are all on the Mounties team list. 

Krystal Blackwell lines up at halfback alongside Zahara Temara, another new position for a new recruit. Blackwell played most of her NRLW football at wing or fullback. She has to be an improvement on Naitokatoka, who has been fine as a utility but isn’t the replacement for Ash Quinlan we so desperately need. Evie McGrath, who has been signed as a supplementary player, should be the next option if the Blackwell/Temara pairing doesn’t fire.

The squad is more settled up front. Jordyn Preston retains the second row spot, being joined by old Dragons teammate Charlotte Basham. Hollie-Mae Dodd moves to the bench to provide impact alongside Grace Kemp. Chloe Saunders and Sophie Holyman line up at prop and Grace Kukutai takes the last spot on the bench.

The Dragons

The Dragons have named only one of the try-scorers from their 36-14 victory last year. Indie Bostock is at the Titans, Raecene Macgregor is at the Tigers, Margot Vella is at the Cowboys and Zali Hopkins is on the extended bench. Only Teagan Berry is left to cause havoc with Zali Hopkins in the reserves. They now have Shenae Ciesiolka in the centres, who our outside backs will need to be wary of. With Raecene Macgregor’s departure, Kasey Reh has the chance to secure the halfback position after spending 2025 plugging gaps in the spine. However, her lack of experience and new combination with Taliah Fuimaono should be a target of defensive pressure.

Prediction

The Dragons and the Raiders finished 2025 on the same number of wins, but the Raiders (on paper) have been better able to fill squad gaps with recruitment and should get the win. If nothing else its imperative for the Sportress crew’s mental health to have one good Raiders side in 2026.

Raiders by 12!

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