The Canberra Raiders have survived a sudden-death battle with Wests Tigers to come away with a 6-0 win at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Both sides were playing finals for the first time and dug deep in defence with a single try to Raiders winger Isabella Waterman in the 17th minute proving the difference.
Fullback Sheridan Gallagher was immense for Canberra with 206 run metres while prop Chloe Saunders ran for 173 metres and Hollie-Mae Dodd had six tackle breaks.
From the field: Sheridan Gallagher
For Tigers captain Kezie Apps, her 50th career game ended in disappointment, although she did all she could to lift her team with 135 run metres and 34 tackles.
After finishing with the wooden spoon in 2025 and 2024, Wests Tigers will take plenty of positives out of the season but after averaging 25 points per game across the first eight rounds they were held to 0, 10 and 0 in their last three matches as their attack deserted them.
Follow all the action from Week 1 of the NRLW Telstra Premiership Finals on NRL.com’s live blog.
Wests Tigers v Raiders at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Wests Tigers v Raiders – Finals Week 1, 2026
Media conference
NRLW Press Conference: Wests Tigers v Raiders – Finals Week 1, 2026
Weight of numbers: The Green Machine completed five more sets, had four line breaks to none, ran for 229 more metres and made 74 less tackles than the Tigers.
Full-time: The Raiders prevail 6-0 in the lowest scoring finals match in the history of the NRLW. In their first finals series the Raiders now march on to a preliminary final.
70 min: Caitlin Turnbull grubbers and Zahara Temara cleans up and the Raiders are home. A tough and physical contest dominated by defence.
69 min: Raecene McGregor dabs a grubber through the line but Krystal Blackwell gets across to tidy it up and the Raiders take the ball down to 10m out where they turn it over.
65 min: A one-on-one steal by Kezie Apps gives the Tigers a chance but Holli Wheeler spills it and the Raiders are one set closer to victory.
64 min: Time is running out for the Tigers and another opportunity goes begging after a Losana Lutu kick comes down to Sheridan Gallagher without the Tigers contesting it.
62 min: Mackenzie Wiki comes up with a superb take off a high ball and then it has stripped away by Portia Bourke. The Tigers use a captain’s challenge but come up empty.
61 min: Sheridan Gallagher with an enormous high ball that bounces wickedly for Caitlin Turnbull. The Raiders close in but Zahara Temara knocks it on as she tries to reel it in.
59 min: Raecene McGregor with a chip over the top, Sheridan Gallagher comes forward to try and gather the ball but is tackled while not in possession. Raiders penalty.
56 min: Losana Lutu with a deft chip over the top for Lily Rogan to chase but the winger can’t make the catch and the ball goes out.
54 min: Caitlin Turnbull slides in to collect a ball and is caught high by Emma Barnes. Tigers move to halfway on the back of the penalty.
52 min: The Tigers choose to go to the short side on the third tackle but there is no room to move and they are bundled into touch.
51 min: The ball comes loose as Kezie Apps powers into the defensive line and Hollie-Mae Dodd is penalised for a strip.
48 min: Zahara Temara with a clean line break and she is finally dragged down 20m out from the Tigers line. The ball comes loose and Shenae Lendill is penalised for a strip. Zahara Temara knocks it over. Raiders 6-0
47 min: Raecene McGregor launches a high ball and Isabella Waterman has all the answers with a safe catch.
43 min: Christian Pio backs into the defensive line but comes up with an error and the Raiders take over on their own 30m line.
42 min: Rikeya Horne leaves the field for a HIA which she fails and is unable to return.
42 min: Caitlin Turnbull gets across to shut down Bobbi Law and the Raiders centre puts the ball down as she hits the deck.
38 min: The Tigers shift to the left where Portia Bourke is bundled into touch. Sarah Togatuki is then penalised for a high shot as the Raiders come out of their own end.
37 min: Mackenzie Wiki makes an error coming out of her own end as the Tigers muscle up in defence. Tiger scrum 30m out.
Ton up: Fullback Sheridan Gallagher (13 runs for 110m) and prop Chloe Saunders (10 runs for 113m) both posted big numbers for the Raiders, who totalled 289 more run metres than the Tigers.
15 seconds of Losana Lutu going WHACK!
Half-time: With 58 per cent of possession and 18 of 22 sets completed, the Raiders have dominated field position but the Tigers’ defence has been resolute. Captain Kezie Apps (21 tackles), hooker Salma Nour (20 tackles) and back-rower Shaylee Bent (20 tackles) have been immense in defence.
33 min: The Raiders play hot potato on the last and Krystal Blackwell grubbers on the last but Chante Temara can’t get the ball down and a knock-on is ruled. The Tigers have had to make 70 more tackles but still just the one try conceded.
31 min: Raecene McGregor with a line break to get the Tigers on the move but Losana Lutu throws a pass behind Portia Bourke who puts it down.
28 min: Zahara Temara launches a wicked spiral kick and Harmony Crichton spills it but the ball is ruled to have gone backwards.
24 min: Raecene McGregor with a well weighted kick into the in-goal and the Raiders are forced to rush it dead. The Raiders go long with the dropout.
22 min: More goal line defence from the Tigers and Rikeya Horne scrambles well to gather a loose ball and the Tigers then get a penalty to come out of trouble.
Isabella Waterman Try
17 min: The Raiders have had 59 per cent of the ball and the weight of possession finally tells as Isabella Waterman crosses in the left-hand corner after Zahara Temara and Bobbi Law combine to create space for the winger. Zehara Temara fails to convert. Raiders 4-0
16 min: The Tigers hang on again as Kezie Apps knocks a grubber kick over the dead ball line. Tigers dropout.
14 min: Shaylee Bent is placed on report for a crusher tackle and the Raiders are hot on attack again.
13 min: Zahara Temara puts in a grubber from close range but Holli Wheeler covers up well and the home side hang on.
11 min: The Tigers are pinged for a second effort in the ruck by Portia Bourke and Canberra go inside the red zone.
Lily Rogan snuffs out a Wiki attack
7 min: The Raiders go to the right and Mackenzie Wiki tries to get outside Lily Rogan but the Tigers winger throws her into touch.
4 min: Lily Rogan goes back to clean up a Zahara Temara kick and is taken high by chaser Mackenzie Wiki. Tigers penalty.
1 min: An early error from Chante Temara playing the ball and the Tigers have a scrum on halfway.
Late Mail
Wests Tigers: The Tigers are 1-17 with no late changes. Skipper Kezie Apps will return from a leg injury for her 50th game. Her inclusion in the second row moves Shaniece Monschau to prop, shuffling Christian Pio to the bench and Tara Reinke to 18th player. Caitlin Turnbull is also named to return at fullback in a further boost for Craig Sandercock’s team.
Raiders: The Raiders are 1-17 with no late changes. Winger Mackenzie Wiki opened the scoring last week and has now scored six tries in her last five games. Fresh off her Mal Meninga Medal win as the club’s NRLW player of the year, Kiwi centre Leianne Tufuga will feature in her 51st game. Ellie Brander is 18th player.
Numbers Game
- Wests Tigers have won only one of six games at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
- The Raiders have won all four matches against Wests Tigers.
- Wests Tigers have conceded 80 points in back-to-back losses.
- Raiders winger Mackenzie Wiki has scored six tries in her last five games.
- Wests Tigers captain Kezie Apps will play her 50th NRLW game.
