NRLW 2024: Reigning premiers Newcastle Knights issue warning for rivals, Round 1 teams
Newcastle’s champion NRLW side have sent a warning to rivals ahead of a blockbuster season opener, saying if anyone wants the title they’re going to have to fight for it.
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Try and knock them off the top, they dare you.
Newcastle’s champion NRLW side have sent a warning to rivals ahead of a blockbuster season opener, saying if anyone wants the title they’re going to have to fight for it.
The past two seasons have been a dream for the premiers, with back-to-back titles as well as a Dally M Medal for fullback Tamika Upton.
And with star-studded line ups of their own, the Roosters and Gold Coast are mostly likely to stop the Knights’ dynasty as they charge towards a three-peat this season, which kicks off against their rivals on Thursday night.
“It would be really big for us to get one over them, but we’re all confident in what we want to bring to the table and the style of footy we want to play against them,” says Knights hooker Nita Maynard of their stand alone clash with the Roosters at McDonald Jones Stadium.
“(The Roosters) have so much strike across the field, so it’s about bringing the game to them and making it a bit uncomfortable for them and that’s what we do best.
“We play a rough, grinding game, you’re not going to outshine us, you’re going to have to do the little efforts as well.
“We’re willing to grind it out, and if they’re up for a grind too, it’ll be a good battle.”
MODERN RIVALRY
Maynard played the first three seasons of her NRLW career with the Roosters and is one of a handful of players who have played for both clubs.
Former Knights captain Millie Boyle won the club’s first premiership in 2022 before joining the Roosters last year, and Thursday will be her first time returning.
Jasmin Strange also returned to the Roosters this year to play under her dad John after winning last year’s title with the Knights, while Newcastle stars Hannah Southwell, Yasmin Clydsdale, Shanice Parker, Caitlin Johnston and Olivia Higgins all played for the foundation club.
“We’re the modern day rivalry at the moment, that comes from a lot of girls who have played for both clubs. So it’s a little bit of a grudge match, wanting to get one over them and also wanting to say, this is our home, this is our community.”
GUNNING FOR THE TITLE
The Roosters were knocked out of the NRLW finals by the Titans last year and for a club with such high standards, they’re desperate for another title.
On the first day of pre-season the team had an honest conversation about what they want to achieve in 2024.
“We’ve just come leaps and bounds and set high standards,” says Roosters and Queensland star Tarryn Aiken.
“We learned a lot of tough lessons last year, so just building on that. We want to focus on our defence a lot and being a bit more patient and getting into the grind of footy games.
“It’s a tough match up for round one, but we’re excited for it. Obviously they’re defending premiers so they’re going to come out really hard.”
Everyone is gunning for the Knights.
St George Illawarra skipper Raecene McGregor won the 2021 title with the Roosters and wants a piece of the action again at the Dragons.
“(The Knights have) got a good squad, but at the end of the day comes down to whoever wants it more on the day,” she says.
“They have good players, but so do we. It’s whatever happens on the day, sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don’t.
“They are going for that three-peat, and there will be teams going to knock them off.
“They will have to watch their back. There are going to be teams coming for them, we all want that.”
QLD HOPEFULS
Karyn Murphy’s Titans want revenge for a six-point loss in last year’s decider, which they lead 18-12 with 15 minutes to go.
In a team stacked will of representative stars, the Titans are the biggest threat to the Knights’ crown in 2024.
Their grand final finish last year was the first time a Gold Coast team has made a decider and they still plan on bringing home the first premiership to the area with State of Origin stars Lauren Brown, Shannon Mato and Jaime Chapman headlining.
After winning the first three NRLW titles, the Broncos are also ready for a return to the top in 2024.
New Zealand Rugby 7s star Stacey Waaqa will join the squad in round 3 after the Olympics, while Keilee Joseph has returned to her hometown of Brisbane after three seasons at the Roosters.
Up north, the Cowboys have a new coach in Ricky Henry and he’s named a new-look squad for round one against Cronulla on Saturday, including Jillaroos speedster Jakiya Whitfeld in the centres for her club debut.
PERMANENT INK
After last year’s grand final a group of Knights players were tattooed with a permanent reminder.
Maynard has the crossed swords from the Knights logo on her upper left arm along with 10 others who got the ink.
“You’ll see quite a lot of the girls have got them, some inside their arm, some on their rib cage. It signifies how close we are, it’s really memorable for us,” Maynard says.
She’s played for the Roosters, Broncos and Eels but the closeness in Newcastle is unique.
“I think everyone is just so willing to sacrifice for your teammate,” she says.
“There’s no real overbearing ego, so everyone is willing to work hard for each other. And when the going gets tough that’s what you need.
“That’s been crucial to the success at Newcastle. “We didn’t play some of our best footy last year, we scrapped and clawed to get to where we were and we had some amazing players who were able to finish that off, but that’s in the Newcastle DNA at the moment, whether we’re leading or coming from behind, we’re going to play for the full 70 minutes.
“You’re going to get the best from a Newcastle squad.”
Star halfback Jesse Southwell is key to finishing off the pretty plays.
At 19 she’s still learning rugby league, but her incredible strike rate makes her one of the most dangerous players in the game.
“Her maturity levels, a lot of that has come from our staff and playing group who have given her a lot of confidence that she’s doing the right thing,” Maynard says.
“She is so hard on herself and she works super hard, she’s the fittest and strongest that she’s been. She was at the pinnacle of the sport last year and she could get a little bit complacent, but for 19, I see her work ethic and her willingness to take on feedback, they’re really mature traits to have as such a young person.”
Newcastle’s champion NRLW side have sent a warning to rivals ahead of a blockbuster season opener, saying if anyone wants the title they’re going to have to fight for it.
The past two seasons have been a dream for the premiers, with back-to-back titles as well as a Dally M Medal for fullback Tamika Upton.
And with star-studded line ups of their own, the Roosters and Gold Coast are mostly likely to stop the Knights’ dynasty as they charge towards a three-peat this season, which kicks off against their rivals on Thursday night.
“It would be really big for us to get one over them, but we’re all confident in what we want to bring to the table and the style of footy we want to play against them,” says Knights hooker Nita Maynard of their stand alone clash with the Roosters at McDonald Jones Stadium.
“(The Roosters) have so much strike across the field, so it’s about bringing the game to them and making it a bit uncomfortable for them and that’s what we do best.
“We play a rough, grinding game, you’re not going to outshine us, you’re going to have to do the little efforts as well.
“We’re willing to grind it out, and if they’re up for a grind too, it’ll be a good battle.”
NRLW ROUND 1 TEAMS: BERRY SET FOR ELECTRIFYING FULLBACKS BATTLE
St George Illawarra’s try-scoring sensation Teagan Berry will take on Gold Coast Titans star Evania Pelite in an electric battle of fullbacks in Sunday’s NRLW clash at WIN Stadium.
Berry, who narrowly missed a State of Origin debut for NSW earlier this year, is set to reignite her hot streak having scored 21 tries in 23 NRLW games when she meets Pelite and the grand finalists in round one.
Two of the brightest talents in the women’s game, Berry v Pelite is just one hot battle to light up the opening round of the season.
Sydney Roosters centre Isabelle Kelly has been named at fullback for the first time in her NRLW career as the club deals with an injury crisis ahead of the season opener against Newcastle on Thursday night.
With Corban Baxter sidelined with an ACL injury she suffered in a trial match, the club has pulled former Jillaroos captain Sam Bremner out of retirement for the season, but she is still a few weeks away from taking the field.
Although she has smashed the fitness tests, Bremner didn’t do an NRLW pre-season and the club wants to ensure she’s contact-ready over the next few weeks before she takes the field.
With a shortage of options, NSW and Jillaroos star Kelly will fill in at No.1 against the reigning premiers Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Meanwhile, rising Queensland talent Skyla Adams will make her NRLW debut for the Broncos on Saturday as five-eighth Gayle Broughton deals with an ongoing lower back injury.
The Olympic gold medallist had surgery at the end of last season and was on track to play round one against Parramatta, but the pain has resurfaced.
“She’s OK, I think she’s more frustrated than anything, it can just go day by day,” said Broncos skipper Ali Brigginshaw.
“It feels great one day and then not the next, but she’s doing absolutely everything she can to get on the field.
“We’ve got support in and faith in our medical staff and we know she’s getting the right care, I just want her to be able to play footy. It sucks seeing one of your mates hurt like this.”
She joins Maroons centre Shenae Ciesiolka on the sidelines, while winger Bree Spreadborough will also make her NRLW debut against the Eels.
“Hopefully in the next couple of weeks she’ll be back, we should get Shenae back as well with her thumb, so there’s a couple of girls who are a few weeks away.
“Round two or three we should be all right.”
Elsewhere, former Tigers winger Jakiya Whitfeld has been named to make her debut for the Cowboys in the centres against Cronulla on Saturday.
ROUND 1 TEAMS
Thursday July 25, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Knights
1. Tamika Upton 2. Sheridan Gallagher 3. Shanice Parker 4. Abigail Roache 5. Isabella Waterman 6. Georgia Roche 7. Jesse Southwell 8. Tayla Predebon 9. Olivia Higgins 10. Caitlan Johnston 11. Laishon Albert-Jones 12. Yasmin Clydsdale 13. Hannah Southwell
Interchange: 14. Nita Maynard 15. Kayla Romaniuk 16. Rima Butler 17. Grace Kukutai
Reserves: 18. Jacinta Carter 19. Lilly-Ann White 20. Jayde Herdegen 21. Viena Tinao 22. Evie Jones
Roosters
1. Isabelle Kelly 2. Taina Naividi 3. Jessica Sergis 4. Jasmine Strange 5. Mia Wood 6. Jayme Fressard 7. Tarryn Aiken 8. Millie Elliott 9. Keeley Davis 10. Pani Hopoate 11. Otesa Pule 12. Olivia Kernick 13. Aliyah Nasio
Interchange: 14. Jocelyn Kelleher 15. Eliza Lopamaua 16. Samantha Economos 17. Mya Hill-Moana
Reserves: 18. Imogen Hei 19. Tiana Davison 20. Sam Bremner
Saturday July 27, PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Sharks
1. Jada Taylor 2. Cassie Staples 3. Tiana Penitani 4. Annessa Biddle 5. Georgia Ravics 6. Emma Tonegato 7. Tayla Preston 8. Ellie Johnston 9. Quincy Dodd 10. Holli Wheeler 11. Talei Holmes 12. Rhiannon Byers 13. Brooke Anderson
Interchange: 14. Georgia Hannaway 15. Chloe Saunders 16. Vanessa Foliaki 17. Tegan Dymock
Reserves: 18. Manilita Takapautolo 19. Grace-Lee Weekes 20. Leki Leilua 21. Nakia Davis-Welsh 23. Pia Tapsell
Cowboys
1. Francesca Goldthorp 2. Krystal Blackwell 3. Jakiya Whitfeld 4. Jasmine Peters 5. Vitalina Naikore 6. Tahlulah Tillett 7. Kirra Dibb 8. Tallisha Harden 9. Emma Manzelmann 10. Makenzie Weale 11. China Polata 12. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith 13. Bree Chester
Interchange: 14. Alisha Foord 15. Lily Peacock 16. Harata Butler 17. Essay Banu
Reserves: 18. Shaniah Power 19. Sareka Mooka 20. Lillian Yarrow 21. Shellie Long 22. Ebony Raftstrand-Smith
Saturday July 27, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Broncos
1. Hayley Maddick 2. Julia Robinson 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Lauren Dam 5. Bree Spreadborough 6. Skyla Adams 7. Ali Brigginshaw 8. Annetta Nuuausala 9. Jada Ferguson 10. Brianna Clark 11. Mariah Denman 12. Romy Teitzel 13. Keilee Joseph
Interchange: 14. Lavinia Gould 15. Chelsea Lenarduzzi 16. Tazmin Rapana 17. Jasmine Fogavini
Reserves: 18. Tafito Lafaele 19. Hannah Larsson 20. Bridget Hoy
Eels
1. Abbi Church 2. Zali Fay 3. Rory Owen 4. Rosie Kelly 5. Monique Donovan 6. Cassey Tohi-Hiku 7. Rachael Pearson 8. Elsie Albert 9. Rueben Cherrington 10. Madeline Jones 11. Boss Kapua 12. Mahalia Murphy 13. Kennedy Cherrington
Interchange: 14. Taneka Todhunter 15. Tyla Amiatu 16. Jade Fonua 17. Ruby-Jean Kennard
Reserves: 18. Tafao Asaua 19. Rosemarie Beckett 20. Chloe Jackson 21. Kate Fallon 22. Pihuka Berryman-Duff
Sunday July 28, WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Dragons
1. Teagan Berry 2. Maatuleio Fotu-moala 3. Keele Browne 4. Bobbi Law 5. Margot Vella 6. Zali Hopkins 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa 9. Sophie Clancy 10. Jamilee Bright 11. Shenai Lendill 12. Charlotte Basham 13. Alexis Tauaneai
Interchange: 14. Kasey Reh 15. Sara Sautia 16. Bronte Wilson 17. Steph Hancock
Reserves: 18. Madison Mulhall 19. Alice Gregory 20. Kimberley Hunt 21. Tayla Curtis 22. Kaarla Cowan
Titans
1. Evania Pelite 2. Karina Brown 3. Jaime Chapman 4. Niall Williams-Guthrie 5. Emily Bass 6. Taliah Fuimaono 7. Lauren Brown 8. Shannon Mato 9. Brittany Breayley-Nati 10. Jessika Elliston 11. Zara Canfield 12. Shaylee Bent 13. Georgia Hale
Interchange: 14. Lily-Rose Kolc 15. Rilee Jorgensen 16. Dannii Perese 17. Laikha Clarke
Reserves: 18. Georgia Grey 19. Ngatokotoru Arakua 20. Georgia Sim 21. Hailee-Jay Maunsell 22. Matekino Kahukoti-Gray
Sunday July 28, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
Tigers
1. Botille Vette-Welsh 2. Harmony Crichton 3. Leianne Tufuga 4. Rikeya Horne 5. Tess Staines 6. Pauline Piliae 7. Losana Lutu 8. Sarah Togatuki 9. Salma Nour 10. Christian Pio 11. Kezie Apps 12. Shaianne McGlone 13. Najvada George
Interchange: 14. Sophie Curtain 15. Tara Reinke 16. Natasha Penitani 17. Brooke Talataina
Reserves: 18. Jessica Kennedy 19. Tiana-Lee Thorne 20. Rebecca Pollard 21. Claudia Nielsen 22. Imogen Gobran
Raiders
1. Apii Nicholls 2. Madison Bartlett 3. Cheyelle Robins-Reti 4. Mackenzie Wiki 5. Alanna Dummett 6. Zahara Temara 7. Ash Quinlan 8. Tommaya Kelly-Sines 9. Chante Temara 10. Sophie Holyman 11. Monalisa Soliola 12. Hollie Dodd 13. Simaima Taufa
Interchange: 14. Emma Barnes 15. Grace Kemp 16. Kerehitina Matua 17. Sereana Naitokatoka
Reserves: 18. Felice Quinlan 19. Jaida Faleono 20. Tatiana Finau 21. Georgia Willey 22. Relna Wuruki-hosea
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