Women’s rugby league is back into full swing this weekend with all three senior competitions returning to action across the region.

The sounding out phase in the Milleen Group Women’s Premiership has almost come to a halt.

Each side last weekend put their best foot forward, giving us an indication of who is playing September football and who is heading to Bali early, as the Super Sunday concept continues with three matches of first-class football.

MILLEEN GROUP WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – SUPER SUNDAY – ST JOHN OVAL

12.45PM FIELD 1 – LAKES UNITED v CENTRAL NEWCASTLE

Lakes United did it easily last week against Wests, but Central at St John Oval is an entirely different assignment.

Central has been one of the most consistent sides thus far despite registering a draw and a loss, and captain Monica Morris appears to be coming into career-best form, particularly with her short kicking game.

They could easily be sitting 2-0 for the season had they owned a few key moments.

Lakes will need a big game from their key middles in Parker, Fillip, Greene and Clarke, and will be buoyed by the inclusion of Matilda Jones back in the halfback jersey for the Seagulls.

This looms as a real nail-biter in what is always a spirited contest between two great rivals.

• TIP: Inclusion of Matilda Jones gives the Seagulls the edge here

12.45PM FIELD 2 – MAITLAND v NORTHERN HAWKS

Last year’s grand final match-up in what is being dubbed the “By Laws Cup”.

Both sides have named reasonably strong outfits given the restrictions placed on them by the governing body, however time will tell how long that lasts once injuries hit and depth is tested.

Maitland is yet to hit its straps, while the Hawks finished last week’s match really strongly, so they probably hold favouritism by a small margin.

I can’t recall a period where Maitland has underperformed in this space three weeks in a row, but they will need to put in a five-star performance to get the job done against the Hawks in this one.

• TIP: Pickers win and Garth Brennan to pay me $100

5PM FIELD 1 – WESTERN SUBURBS v SOUTH NEWCASTLE

Wests have started the competition learning lessons the hard way but there is still plenty of capability in that side.

A big inclusion into the team is Lilly Porter in the front-row, and a few new faces this week should see a much more competitive Rosellas outfit.

On current form lines, Souths have established themselves as the early competition favourites, with many of the same faces returning for 2026 alongside a sprinkling of new talent injected into the roster.

That has seen them defeat two heavyweights in Wests and Lakes.

Souths would expect this to be a fundamental victory.

However, they still need to get the small things right and make this a clean sheet to really send a message to the rest of the competition.

• TIP: Rosellas improving, but the Lions too strong

COMMUNITY CUP

FRIDAY – CESSNOCK v WEST WALLSEND

Probably game of the round this one. West Wallsend needs to get things moving and Cessnock are in the same boat. Both sides have had victories but are still yet to play their best football.

Cessnock boasts a young and developing roster, while Westy have been missing key personnel. It feels like one that will go right down to the wire.

• TIP: Westy in a tight one

SATURDAY – STOCKTON v CARDIFF – LYNN OVAL

Cardiff has forfeited to Stockton

LAKES UNITED v DUDLEY – BARTON OVAL

Dudley claimed its second scalp against Nelson Bay in a rematch played amid strange circumstances.

Now, coming off wins against Cardiff and the Bandits, they face a far more measurable test against Lakes United, who despite being thin on numbers lately has remained undefeated in the competition.

This match should give a much clearer indication of where the Magpies sit in relation to the finals’ equation.

• TIP: Lakes

HINTON v NELSON BAY – STUART PARK

Hinton went down to an understrength Lakes side and will be looking to bounce back against a heavily-weakened Bandits line-up currently recruiting tag players to make up numbers.

Nelson Bay considered forfeiting the match but didn’t want to ruin Hinton’s Ladies Day.

Hats off to the Bandits for what was ultimately a selfless act.

• TIP: Hinton

COMMUNITY PLATE

THORNTON BERESFIELD v WINDALE

The Bears should get the job done in this one.

KARUAH v WARATAH

In a clash of attack versus defence, Waratah might just edge out Karuah.

WALLSEND MARYLAND v RAYMOND TERRACE

Tigers at home to get the win.

The deeper these competitions move into the season, the harder it becomes to hide weaknesses.

Combinations are beginning to settle, the real contenders are separating themselves from the pack, and across all three grades there are clubs now reaching the point where potential needs to turn into results. 

For more sports stories:

• Five rounds in… Contenders, concerns and early truths within NEWRL
• Knights re-sign tryscoring machine Marzhew
• Blowing the whistle on Newcastle’s refereeing system

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