After back-to-back away wins to start the NSWRL Women’s Premiership season, the Steelers will play their first home game of the season against the reigning premiers, the Cronulla Sharks.
Last week’s 40-4 derby win over St George sees Illawarra sitting at the top of the ladder heading into the clash, with the Sharks sitting in fifth after a tight win over Mounties.
The commanding win over the Dragons marked the Steelers’ fourth consecutive victory against their pathway rivals.
Another triumph over Cronulla would extend their winning streak to four against the Sharks as well, with head coach Courtney Crawford naming an unchanged line-up.
New recruit bags four-try haul
Winger Paige Knapp, in her debut season with the club following stints with the Parramatta Eels (2025) and South Sydney (2023–24), scored a spectacular four tries against the St George Dragons during the local derby, the first in her Women’s Premiership career.
Knapp modestly played down her four-try haul, emphasising that her role is to support her teammates and work together.
“It was just making sure I was putting myself in the right position for my team for each of those occasions, and as soon as we got to the line, like it’s my job to finish us off,” Knapp said.
“It’s always something we’ve been practising at training: pushing support, especially around Tayleah [Handcock], the gun fullback, so to always be there as an option for her, and it just worked out.
“That lucky fourth one, once again, it’s just like that one per cent effort, just always pushing around to where the ball is.”
Knapp said her first home game as a Steeler is something to look forward to, especially against the 2025 premiers.
“I’ve never played at Collegians before, so that’s going to be an exciting experience to play there as our first home game,” Knapp said.
“Sharks is that next sort of coastal team that’s nice and close to us, so I think it’ll be a really good match-up.
“I know the Steelers girls just missed out last year in that final, so it’ll definitely be a point to prove this year that we’re here to show up and prove these grand finalists wrong.”
[Watch] Paige Knapp bags her fourth try against the Dragons
Mum’s the word for Roxy
Frontrower Roxy Murdoch-Masila (pictured) scored her first try of the 2026 season against St George on Saturday, over one thousand days since her last try playing for St George Illawarra in the NRLW in 2023.
After taking time away from the sport to focus on family, 12-year-old Acacia-Rose and Gunner, 20 months, with her husband, and seasoned NRL veteran, Ben Murdoch-Masila, the 33-year-old said being back playing rugby league is a perfect challenge after her hiatus.
“It’s been an exciting season in pre-season. We’ve been training since last year, and especially for me, Court [Head Coach Courtney Crawford] asked me if I wanted to play and actually started sending out sessions for me to do,” Murdoch-Masila said.
“I was twenty kilos heavier then, so I’ve been training really hard and to get to where we are now, it’s amazing.
[Watch] Roxy Murdoch-Masila scores the Steelers first try with a hit and spin
The former Kiwi Ferns international said it was hard getting back into the rigours of rugby league after so long out of the game, but she wanted to set an example for others, especially her children.
“I’m sore every single day, especially after our contact training, but I love it, that’s what I wanted to come back for: to challenge myself and show my kids you can still always go back out there and do it if you want to.”
Murdoch-Masila said juggling mum life with rugby league can be rough, but there is always a bright side to both, and she is happy where she is in life.
“It gets stressful sometimes. When I come here, I feel like this is my break when I’m here, and then when I get home, it’s just chaos.”
“I’m happy that I’ve ticked off all my goals that I wanted to achieve during my career.”
Following her remarkable comeback, Murdoch-Masila now has the chance to cap her return by helping the Steelers secure a premiership.
Kick-off is scheduled for 3.00pm Saturday at Collegians Sports Complex, Wollongong.
Words: Harrison Mellare
Photo credit: Denis Ivaneza