LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In the opening match of the 2025 Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership, the Wests Tigers faced a challenging defeat against the reigning champions, the Illawarra Steelers, with a score of 32-14 at Ziems Park.
The Steelers took immediate advantage of an early mistake, with Makayla McFayden scoring in the first minute, setting a dominant tone.
Within eight minutes, after a penalty for high contact, Jessica Patea extended the lead to 12-0.
Veteran half Maddie Studdon played a pivotal role for Illawarra, orchestrating plays effectively.
Her skill was evident when she delivered a clever cutout ball to Kiara Kostovski, bringing the score to 18-0.
Although Wests Tigers struggled initially, they found their footing in the 26th minute when Montana McLean scored from dummy-half, marking their first try of the season.
Just as the Tigers began to gain momentum, the Steelers struck again just before halftime.
A brilliant 40/20 kick from Studdon set up a try for Maria Paseka, pushing the halftime score to 22-4 in favor of Illawarra.
The second half saw the Tigers emerge with renewed vigor, narrowing the deficit when McLean scored her second try in the 50th minute, bringing the score to 22-10.
Despite Wests Tigers' efforts to rally back, the Steelers maintained control, ultimately sealing the match with two additional tries in the final stages, including a late try to Jessica Patea.
The match concluded with a final score of 32-14.