Wagga Wagga’s Geohex Park pulsed with energy over the first weekend of August as the NRLW Magic Round brought all 12 teams to the Riverina for six high-stakes clashes. More than 7,000 fans poured through the gates each day under clear skies, turning the regional venue into a festival of women’s rugby league, complete with family activities, a live performance from Australian Idol winner Kesha Nevé, and the Bluey & Bingo show.
Saturday, 1 August
Wests Tigers (32) defeated Cronulla Sharks (20). Halfback Raecene McGregor starred with two solo tries and two try assists as the Tigers claimed their third win of the season.
Sydney Roosters (38) defeated St George Illawarra Dragons (8). Jess Sergis scored a hat-trick in a clinical display.
North Queensland Cowboys (18) defeated Canberra Raiders (16). The Cowboys staged a remarkable second-half comeback from 16-0 down, with Margot Vella scoring two late tries to secure their first win of the campaign.
Sunday, 2 August
Brisbane Broncos (34) defeated Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (4). The premiers extended their perfect start with a comprehensive victory.
Gold Coast Titans (18) defeated New Zealand Warriors (16). The Titans held off a furious late surge from the Warriors, who scored three tries in the final quarter but fell agonisingly short.
Newcastle Knights (32) defeated Parramatta Eels (12). The Knights closed the weekend in style, running in six tries.
Local connections added extra meaning to the weekend. Parramatta Half-Back Rachael Pearson, born in Wagga and raised in nearby Hay, brought her Eels side home for the final match. The Riverina product had family and friends packing the stands for her homecoming.
Two other players with deep roots within a 300-kilometre radius of Wagga stood out for their ties to the region. Tara McGrath-West, the Harden-born Broncos forward, returned to familiar territory roughly 140 kilometres up the road. The 24-year-old prop, who grew up in Harden-Murrumburrah, featured in Brisbane’s dominant 34-4 win over the Bulldogs. She was heavily involved in the forward battle and came close to the line late in the piece before teammate Jada Ferguson scored. McGrath-West’s physical style and local background made her a popular figure among the Riverina crowd.
Grace Kemp, the towering Canberra Raiders prop, also had strong regional links. Born in Goulburn (about 260 kilometres away) and with deep family ties to Harden, the proud Wiradjuri woman has spoken previously of the importance of the Riverina to her story. Playing for the Raiders against the Cowboys on Saturday, Kemp was part of a side that led for most of the match before the late collapse. The 25-year-old, already a New South Wales and Indigenous All Stars representative, had expressed excitement beforehand about the “homecoming” feel of Magic Round in Wagga.
“They all love their footy out in Wagga so it’s going to be so exciting,” she said in the lead-up.
The weekend delivered exactly what organisers hoped: elite women’s rugby league in the heart of the bush, packed stands, and a clear message that the game’s future is as strong in regional New South Wales as it is in the big cities. For McGrath-West, Kemp and Pearson, it was more than just another round — it was a chance to play in front of the communities that shaped them.
Tara said, “I was really excited to see that the NRL was bringing Magic Round out into the Riverina. I know how much our area loves Rugby League and I was very proud to be able to showcase the magic we have near my hometown.”
“The girls (Broncos) didn’t know what to expect coming to Wagga, we were lucky we got to head down on Friday night and spend a bit of time around the town Saturday post captains run. Everyone loved Wagga and was so impressed. Especially those who went to watch a game on Saturday.
“I’ve dreamt for a very long time during my career of being able to come home and play in front of a home crowd and I was not disappointed at all. To see the long lines of fans/families on Sunday when we arrived at the game made me so proud to come from the Riverina. The energy at the stadium from the crowd was electric.
I’ve had a drive since I started playing rugby league to be someone that those from the Group 9 area could see and know that they too can make it in the NRL/NRLW if they aspire to. As I’m a big believer in seeing is believing, and it was incredible that they got to see across two days.
“I’m very privileged that I have such an incredible support system back home. I think I had roughly 45 people who travelled over to come and watch me play. I’m so grateful for everyone’s support and I know that my success is as much my family and loved ones, Hardens and my own. It’s not something I carry lightly.
“I really hope that magic round gets to stay in Wagga for a few years!”
Grace said, “Growing up in Harden, just down the road from Wagga, I know exactly what it feels like to be that country kid travelling to watch the best players compete. Back then, you dream about being out there one day, but it can feel a long way away. To now be playing on that same stage, so close to where I grew up, is incredibly special.”
“What made the weekend so meaningful was seeing so many young boys and girls from country towns in the crowd. I hope they looked at the players on the field and realised that those dreams are possible. It doesn’t matter if you’re from a small town like Harden or anywhere across regional NSW—if you’re willing to work hard, you can one day play on that same stage too.”
“Country communities have always been the heart of rugby league. Bringing the NRLW to Wagga gives kids the chance to see what’s possible without having to travel to a capital city. If even one young person left the game believing they could be the next player running out there, then that’s what it’s all about.”
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