NRLW Recruitment & Retention Thread

mullenmagic said:
www.newcastleherald.com.au

Powerhouse Knights prop set to join Sydney NRLW club

The representative forward is set to depart at season's end.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Herald article on the Johnston news, but also has Jeffries saying the top 24 will be formally announced tomorrow. He says there was 22 already signed when he arrived but they've since signed a winger and a second-rower. By my count there had been 23 announced so something is off, whether he just misspoke or someone has moved on.

1. Abigal Roache
2. Caitlan Johnston
3. Evie Jones
4. Felila Kia
5. Georgia Roche
6. Hannah Southwell
7. Jacinta Carter
8. Jayde Herdegen
9. Jesse Southwell
10. Jules Kirkpatrick
11. Kayla Romaniuk
12. Laishon Albert-Jones
13. Nita Maynard
14. Olivia Higgins
15. Rima Butler*
16. Simone Karpani
17. Shanice Parker
18. Sheridan Gallagher
19. Tamerah Leati
20. Tamika Upton
21. Tayla Predebon
22. Yasmin Clydsdale
23. Viena Tinao
24. -

25. Evah McEwen (development)
26. Leah Ollerton (development)
27. Lilly-Ann White (development)

Rima Butler is the only one who hasn't been officially announced by the club, but she did have a player option so not making an announcement that she picked it up wouldn't be uncommon. She was at the all-grades training day a couple of months ago so it'd be surprising if she's gone now.
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Still hoping Emmanita Paki returns.
 
She'll be a bigger loss than Millie. Really shocked by it. Must have blown knights away offer wise. Can;t say anything against Caitlin as they need to make the money when they can.

Certainly be interesting who we aim for in 25. With the new teams coming in, we really need to nail some talent from lower grades.
 
Our best junior prop prospect already left for the Sharks before last season as well. None in Tarsha Gale Cup stand out as close to NRLW-level let alone a potential Johnston replacement. Biggest hope internally is Jacinta Carter hitting the ground running - she’s more similar to Boyle than Johnston in playstyle but I’ve seen her completely physically dominate her age group rep games a few times.
 
www.newcastleherald.com.au

'Long time coming': Butcher Birds take flight in new-look women's league

The competition will play a vital role in the Knights' pathway.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Backpage photo of Tarsha Gale prop Elizabeth Montgomery in the Herald today.
The article is about the start of the local women's tackle comp and Montgomery playing for the "Butcher Birds" - Central's new side in the comp. Article says Montgomery is 17 and has been playing league for 3 months and got the starting prop position in Gale already.
The article says the 9 team local comp will be a pathway to the Knights NSW cup side and Bec Young has done a lot of work to get it off the ground.
Other players mentioned as playing for the Butcher Birds were Tamika Bull and Monica-Lee Morris.
 
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mullenmagic said:
Our best junior prop prospect already left for the Sharks before last season as well. None in Tarsha Gale Cup stand out as close to NRLW-level let alone a potential Johnston replacement. Biggest hope internally is Jacinta Carter hitting the ground running - she’s more similar to Boyle than Johnston in playstyle but I’ve seen her completely physically dominate her age group rep games a few times.
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Yeah they have very high hopes for Jacinta. The other one for me is Rima Butler, who I think has potential to be more than just a battering ram who plays 15 minutes off the bench IMO. She moves really well for a girl of that size & obviously runs with a lot of power. I reckon if she really knuckled down and took her fitness super seriously she could be elite.
 
mullenmagic said:
Our best junior prop prospect already left for the Sharks before last season as well. None in Tarsha Gale Cup stand out as close to NRLW-level let alone a potential Johnston replacement. Biggest hope internally is Jacinta Carter hitting the ground running - she’s more similar to Boyle than Johnston in playstyle but I’ve seen her completely physically dominate her age group rep games a few times.
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Who was that?
 
MarCaya Bailous wearing Knights training shorts on social media again. Haven't seen her in any other teams' gear and Jeffries said we've signed a winger so seems a good chance it's her.

Still no full squad announcement after saying it was coming 2 weeks ago.
 
Summah said:
Not signed with Knights (at least not this season)
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Dont really need her this season, Leahti should get the other wing spot Jasmin left. Next season we'll lose Roach so we'll need Gallagher to step into centre role and someone to come into her wing spot
 
Leati is completely unproven, but even assuming she starts and nails down a position we still need depth.

Roache made the move to Newcastle year-round when the majority of out-of-towners are just here for the season and then leave. There’s also a large number of NZ players available and only 24 spots to fill (even fewer if you’re hoping to be playing top grade regularly). They can’t sign everyone. It obviously wouldn’t be a shock if she goes home but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion.
 
Speaking of the above - Roache has posted about a new sponsorship with Hunter City Motor Group who sponsor most of the biger name Knights girls. Not certain on the cap/TPA rules in the NRLW but considering they’re being given free cars you’d have to think it’s factored in. If that is the case it’s a pretty strong indication that a new deal has been signed. If it’s not the case it’s a really strange thing to randomly give to a lower-profile player already on an existing deal who could be out the door in 6 months.
 
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Yeah saw she had signed today. That's, her, Tamika, Yas and Southwell sisters that i've seen. Including Jessie's classic "what if I crash it"? haha
 
Official full squad lists have been released for all teams now which includes some more details on contract lengths/options.

The new info from the Knights squad:
New signings Kukutai and Waterman were reported as 2-year deals but are actually 1+options (mutual option for Kukutai, club option for Waterman).
Jacinta Carter is signed for 4 years but the last 2 are mutual options.
Herald reported a new 2-year extension for Romaniuk but not included on the list yet if true.
All 4 development players (McEwen, Ollerton, White, Ahsam) listed as joining the top squad in 2025.
They’ve also got Fane Finau listed as being signed on a 2-year deal in the top squad starting in 2025. I'm assuming that's a mixup and she'll start on a development contract as the coach said previously.

Some ex-Knights news:
Emma Paki still unsigned despite playing Origin last week.
Caitlin Moran not signed.
Mia Middleton now at the Eels.
 
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