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Cronulla are threatening a changing of the guard after continuing their unbeaten start to the NRLW season with a 14-12 defeat of back-to-back premiers Newcastle. But a scary head knock to Talei Holmes threatened to overshadow the victory, the Sharks second-rower stretchered from the field at Shark Park in the final minutes on Sunday. Holmes fell awkwardly on her neck with four minutes remaining as she tried to tackle Knights centre Shanice Parker alongside Sharks teammate Ellie Johnston. Play stopped for about six minutes as staff from both teams attended the 24-year-old, who left on a stretcher to applause from the crowd. It was the only dark spot on a good day for the Sharks, who are the only side to remain undefeated through four NRLW rounds.  Tony Herman's side have already knocked off pre-season fancies Canberra, resurgent Parramatta and now the past two seasons' benchmark side. The Knights are trending in the opposite direction following their first back-to-back defeats since 2022, leaving them fifth with a 2-2 record under new coach Ben Jeffries. They are also set to contend without superstar halfback Jesse Southwell for next week's clash against Parramatta. Down 12-8 early in the second half, Southwell sent Laishon Albert-Jones over to level the scores with one of her two try assists. But with Newcastle down 14-12 after a Tayla Preston penalty goal, Southwell was left motionless on the ground soon after, knocked out trying to tackle Quincy Dodd. She eventually regathered her footing to leave the field, but the Knights were unable to claw back Cronulla's two-point lead without their star half. In other action, a six-minute blitz from the Sydney Roosters either side of halftime helped sink St George Illawarra 28-8 in Wollongong. After the Dragons scored first to make it 4-0 and the Roosters responded through Amber Hall, the game hung in the balance until the 32nd minute. But when Isabelle Kelly went over on the left edge a few minutes before halftime, the Tri-Colours quickly assumed control of the match. In the next set Tarryn Aiken put Sam Bremner in a hole, before the veteran Roosters fullback turned the ball back inside for Jayme Fressard to finish the job. And when the Roosters regained possession after the Dragons let a bomb bounce and Hall crashed over shortly after, the game was over. Making matters worse for the Dragons will be the flow-on effects for next week. Bobbi Law did well to send Kimberly Hunt over for the first try of the match, but suffered a head knock in the first half and did not return. In the day's other game, Kennedy Cherrington broke a lengthy 6-6 deadlock to help Parramatta to a 12-10 win over the winless Wests Tigers at Campbelltown. Playing in her milestone 25th match, Cherrington ran on to a Rachael Pearson pass with 14 minutes to play to put the Eels in the lead. The Tigers were able to hit back through Rebecca Pollard, but Pauline Piliae-Rasabale couldn't convert from the sideline to level the scores. And while the joint-venture threatened again in the final minutes, the Eels did enough to repel the Tigers' late advances before claiming victory.
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