The Newcastle Knights have kicked off their premiership defence in style after weathering a hungry Roosters outfit in the NRLW season opener.
The Knights, who won the last two premierships in the women’s competition, survived a heavy onslaught from the Chooks to make a statement as they aim for their third straight Grand Final victory, claiming a thrilling 12-10 victory at home. The Roosters had the chance to send it to golden point with a late try conversion attempt, but it sailed wide in heartbreaking fashion.
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Despite being named at fullback, Origin star Isabelle Kelly made a late switch into the halves for the first time in her career, a potentially permanent move with former star Sam Bremner announcing her return from retirement earlier in the week.
“A lot of fun being a bit involved, especially when you’ve got Taz (Tarryn Aiken) as a seven,” Kelly said. “She’s just a natural leader, being a ball-player. Probably a little bit clunky on my end, but like Strangey said, we had a such a good connection with Corbs (Corbin Baxter) throughout the pre-season, so it was a little hard adjusting to that.”
The tricolours, who start the season as premiership favourites, dominated the opening 20 minutes of the clash, however came up empty-handed despite 15 tackles inside the Knights’ 20m.
“That’s one of the toughest 20 minutes I’ve played,” skipper Hannah Southwell said post-game.
The back-to-back premiers continually invited the Roosters into the game, Sheridan Gallagher dropping the ball cold 30 metres out from her own line, yet it would be the home side that opened the scoring minutes later.
Despite the Bunker denying Shanice Parker the season opener after her foot grazed the touchline, only for crafty hooker Olivia Higgins to dart over for the first try two plays later.
It was a fitting four-pointer for the No. 9, who scored her maiden NRLW try in the Roosters’ only premiership win back in early 2022, and now crosses the stripe as New South Wales’ starting hooker.
“Yeah I guess you saw tonight she (Olivia Higgins) did really, really well, and that’s why she got picked in the Origin side.
“I feel like it’s a few years too late, but full credit to her, she worked really hard in the off-season, and she’s come back as well fitter, faster, stronger,” Southwell said after the match.
The most pivotal moment of the half came with a tumultuous two-minutes for superstar Jess Sergis, who bombed a try on the right-edge after dropping a pass from Kelly for a certain try.
It was only moments later and 100 metres down the field when the centre was caught defending infield, creating a gap for Dally M medallist Tamika Upton to send Sergis’ opposite number in Abigail Roache over for Newcastle’s second.
Another Knights’ error, this time through debutant Isabella Waterman, opened the door for the Roosters to set up camp on Newcastle’s line again, firstly being denied their opened through Taina Naividi before former Knight Jasmine Strange bombed a try of her own.
The winger-turned-centre was completely unmarked after a short pass from Kelly, only to back herself and get cut down by Parker millimetres from the tryline, despite a wide open Naividi on her outside as the siren rang.
Similar to the opening stanza, the second-half had an emphasis on defence.
Gallagher was in everything after an uncharacteristic start to the game, earning reprieve through a number of runs out trouble, including an amazing effort to escape the in-goal after a perfect grubber from Tarryn Aiken.
However, as most season openers do, the rust showed as a stretch of errors crept into the game, inviting each side to attack, although neither side would crack until the final ten minutes on the back of some absolute razzle dazzle.
An Aiken chip from her side of halfway found Sergis’ chest, finding her halfback in support before an offload to Jocelyn Kelleher sent the supersub over for the tricolour’s first try of the game.
A Jesse Southwell penalty goal with three minutes to go seemed to seal the win for the Novocastrians, only for a final minute try to Sergis to leave the 3,921 Knights’ fans with their heart in their mouth.
A shift right found the hands of Aiken who dabbled a grubber along the turf into Sergis’ lap, only for Kelleher to miss the conversion, and send the two-time premiers home victors in the season opener.
SOUTHWELL SISTERS SET THE STANDARD
The 1990s were about the Johns brothers in the Hunter, the 2020s are set to be defined by the Southwells.
Whilst Upton is considered the game’s best individual star, Jesse has been a crowd favourite since her 2022 debut, losing just two games across her first two seasons in the competition, whilst skipper Hannah has been integral since her return from an ACL tear last season.
Whilst Jesse brought up her 100th NRLW point, it was the pair’s defence that stood tall, the young half cutting former teammate Millie Elliott down one-on-one in the first-half before Hannah stopped a certain try to Sergis midway through the second.
“Last year she probably missed a few key tackles but this year she’s come back fitter, faster and stronger.
“Definitely really proud of the effort she put in there and I think she definitely saved us a couple of times,” Hannah said of her sister’s defensive game post-match.
AIKEN SHAPING UP FOR KEY SEASON
When you have surnames like Sergis, Kelly, Davis, Elliott and Kernick in your line-up, it’s easy to forget about the rest of the stars, however halfback Tarryn Aiken showed she’ll be as dominant as anyone in this season.
Just weeks after scoring a try at McDonald Jones in a Maroons’ jersey, Aiken set up both Roosters’ four-pointers and looked dangerous in attack for the entire contest.
With the former Jillaroo at the helm and Bremner set to come into the fold, this side will go far in 2024.
With the former Jillaroo at the helm and Bremner set to come into the fold, this side will go far in 2024, and head coach John Strange sees the same in his star half.
“She’s a great player, world class player, one of the best halves if not the best half in the women’s game.
“For me, when she came to this team she was a genuine six, a great ball-runner. we’ve worked all pre-season about her being a halfback. Someone like her, you just want her on the ball a lot. She did a great job there, and setting up those tries there at the end, she’s someone you want to have the ball in their hand in crucial moments.
“She’s done a great job and she’ll get better as well.”
MCDONALD JONES STADIUM THE NRLW’S NEWEST FORTRESS
Tonight’s victory didn’t just mark Newcastle’s premiership defence, it marked McDonald Jones as a fortress to the rest of the competition.
It’s been 28 months since the Knights last lost at their home venue, losing two games in their maiden season before going unbeaten at the venue ever since.
Despite having just three more games at home this season, it’s hard to see them getting the wool pulled over them in the Hunter yet again this season.
New coach Ben Jeffries emphasised how important defending the kingdom was, and praised his side’s defence.
“Massive (focus on defence).
“Obviously it’s 50% of the game, we’ve talked about cleaning up our ruck and things like that. We’ll have to do some more work, but overall, to come out of that game like that, I could see other teams capitulating with the amount of ball the Roosters had tonight.”
Source Agencies
