Lighting strikes twice: How NRLW stars dealt with crazy weather
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Sydney Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly thought her side had been disallowed a try when referee Tori Wilkie called for the players to leave the field due to nearby lightning strikes.
The forced stoppage in the match against Wests Tigers was the first time an NRLW game had been interrupted due to lightning – an occurrence that also happened for the first time in the NRL earlier this season.
However, it wasn’t the last time it would occur on the opening day of the inaugural NRLW Magic Round at McDonald Jones Stadium, with players from the Sharks and Broncos forced to leave the field during their match too.
Game delayed due to weather
The Roosters and Tigers were called from the field after Sergis had scored in the 39th minute and Kelly said players didn’t initially know what was happening, but she was proud of how they coped with the uncertainty.
“We actually thought Jess’s try was disallowed to be honest, so we weren't really sure what was going on but I could see a bit of lightning happening so in the back of my head I was thinking it might get called off,” Kelly said after her side's 34-4 win.
“It was unique, none of us knew what was going on but I think the way that we came together was something that I was really proud of.”
Wests Tigers v Roosters - Round 5, 2025
The most difficult issue for the players and coaching staff was not knowing how long the stoppages would last as they tried to keep warm in the dressing rooms until it was safe for the game to resume.
"It was just a bit of a waiting game and my old body stiffens up so I had to keep moving because I didn't know when I was going to get back out there," Wests Tigers skipper Kezie Apps said.
"At least we had time to warm back up and get our bodies right to get back out there because it was obviously very cold out there."
Apps said that she had also noticed the lightning and asked as the teams ran back out for the second half what would happen if the strikes got closer.
“It is one of my fears so I already on edge knowing that it was there, but I spoke to one of the officials as we were coming out at halftime and he said it was 8km away. He said we will have to stop it if gets to 5km,” Apps said.
“It was literally five minutes later that the game was stopped.”
Broncos superstar Tamika Upton, who scored three tries in her side's 28-14 defeat of Cronulla, said players had discussed possibility of a lightning stoppage after looking at weather warnings before the match.
Another delay due to the weather at Magic Round
However, they still weren’t prepared for the conditions in Newcastle, which had more than 50mm of rain on Saturday.
“We spoke about it during the week but it was actually worse than I thought it would be,” Upton said.
“You always think it is fine but it was horrific out there, particularly being at the back.”
The Broncos started better than they have in previous games, but the Sharks fought back in the second term.
Broncos v Sharks - Round 5, 2025
Although her team went down, Cronulla captain Quincy Dodd said the inaugural Magic Round was a great occasion for the NRLW and she praised the 5298 fans who braved the conditions.
“It was amazing and a dream come true as well to play all six games up in Newcastle, where it is usually a sell-out crowd," Dodd said.
"I know the conditions weren’t the best for us but we still had young boys and girls out there today who stayed all the way to the end as well.
Titans v Bulldogs - Round 5, 2025
“I did a lap at the end and they were still smiling, still getting photos and still getting autographs, and everything, so I am really proud that we got the first day upon us but we have still got a day tomorrow as well.”
The Titans and the Bulldogs created their own piece of history in the opening game of the day after finishing locked at 14-14 in the first draw in NRLW history.
