NRLW Recruitment & Retention Thread

Said Roosters were all only playing for the Roosters cos the Knights didn’t have a team yet though.

In saying that, we should try to sign Keilee Joseph, Sydney’s much-vaunted first ever internally developed NRLW player. Because she’s really good, but more importantly because it would be really funny.
 
Newygirl said:
With Davison it was actually Kalyn commenting “retire happy” on her post that made me think she’s finishing up
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Retiring at 22 just as she’s starting to make a name for herself seems even less likely than switching teams but who knows. She had a promising career in rugby so maybe could switch back.
 
Billy said:
We had a standalone crowd of 12,600.
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It was still great to get that many out there, but they were giving away tickets to knights members. I would like to think they would have still drew out a crowd if they had to pay.
 
www.newcastleherald.com.au

Knights champion Tamika Upton scores two tries on Test debut

Upton and Knights teammate Caitlan Johnston help sink Kiwi Ferns.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article that says Upton is short odds to get the Golden Boot now.
She was a massive standout in yesterday's game, but I'd say Shanice Parker was the player who emerged from that game with the biggest boost to her reputation. I saw her coach called her one of the most underrated players before the game and he gave her every chance to shine by moving her to fullback, and she had a blinder.
We might have trouble keeping Shanice in future. She is clearly a top line player that most clubs would sign in a minute.
 
Billy said:
We might have trouble keeping Shanice in future. She is clearly a top line player that most clubs would sign in a minute.
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she’s 27/28 I think? Signed here until 25 possibly? Be interested if she’ll keep going after that. Might want a second bub or happy to go for another 3 yrs.

In a real purple patch right now. Good on her. Wonderful player and person.
 
Turned 25 this year and only signed for next season at this stage. I'll be very surprised if she leaves anytime soon though. Said in the article yesterday her plan is to play 3 or 4 more years and then retire, but admitted she'll probably feel different when it comes to that time.
 
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mullenmagic said:
Turned 25 this year and only signed for next season at this stage. I'll be very surprised if she leaves anytime soon though. Said in the article yesterday her plan is to play 3 or 4 more years and then retire, but admitted she'll probably feel different when it comes to that time.
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Ah thanks, thought I read somewhere she had plans, couldn’t remember it. On 25? Wow coming into her peak then. Will only keep getting better with Meeks inside her and I think she is one of the sponges likes of Tahu talked about, just takes everything on board and executes it. Let’s hope this e next 2-4 yrs are here. With a young family I think she’d rather stay put. No reason Knights would t want her either.
 
I think Shanice is one player we shouldn’t have any trouble keeping given she has a child. By the sounds of it she’s got enough on her plate with work, study and being a mother without adding a 4 hour commute to her days if a Sydney club came knocking. Plus her partner is here so she isn’t going to move away and the money in the women’s game just isn’t big enough to make it worthwhile. Fine for someone young and single like Tamika to move but nobody’s uprooting a whole family for a bit extra money.

I’m pretty sure the club value her and and are well aware of how good she is. She did win player of the year last year and all her teammates obviously know what she brings given she also won players player as well with Tamika, no small feat.
 
Not directly Knights related but the first confirmed player movement of 2024 - ex-Knight Jakiya Whitfeld signs a 3-year deal with the Cowboys. Apparently have made her one of the highest paid players in the comp and offered the fullback jersey, wonder what that means for Fran Goldthorp.
 
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Good get by the Cowboys. Will be interesting to see how much movement there will be for next year. The Broncos, Titans, Cowboys and Knights seem to have the most players locked up. Whereas the Eels, Raiders, Dragons, sharks, Tigers and the Roosters especially all have quite a few players unsigned for 2024.
Surely some of the lower teams would start going hard after the Roosters players.
 
Big get for Cows. I didn't see much in Goldthorpe, attack wise especially, but first yr so plenty of time to improve. If she is going for centre Jakiya she needs Fran to get some skillset. Reckon Cows will be the big movers next yr.

Side note, be interesting how the draw is done this yr. Newie got a lot of home games, so dare say NRL will want to even the field this yr.
 
BTP said:
Side note, be interesting how the draw is done this yr. Newie got a lot of home games, so dare say NRL will want to even the field this yr.
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I think we'll get plenty of games as long as we are getting the best crowds. Games look better on TV if a crowd shows up.
 
It's interesting that Parker, Roache and Leati have all had a crack at fullback and they've all looked OK.
I imagine our training is a lot about Upton practicing her playmaking skills and the other girls getting a good look at how the best in the business does it - like a master class in playing fullback.
 
Billy said:
It's interesting that Parker, Roache and Leati have all had a crack at fullback and they've all looked OK.
I imagine our training is a lot about Upton practicing her playmaking skills and the other girls getting a good look at how the best in the business does it - like a master class in playing fullback.
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Jayde Herdegen was shadowing Upton towards the end of the season. Upton has been mentoring her in that position even though she’s primarily a five-eighth/half back which is currently well covered. It’s great to see some diversity in the players to lessen the impact when a reshuffle is required due to injury or suspension.
 
Herdegen played fullback for QLD in the national championships earlier this year, Gallagher was a fullback in her couple of games for the Mounties, Roache went well there for NZ and Vallance who seemed to get promoted to the top squad late in the season can play anywhere in the backline too.

Nice to have strong options behind the best fullback in the comp. Parker was the backup last year but Upton played every minute this season so we never needed one.
 
I was just thinking on Upton....she is clearly the pre-eminent female rugby league player and I was trying to think of a good comparison from the men's game and then it hit me as clear as day - a footballer I spend my junior years playing with and the one I still rate as the most naturally gifted attacking player I ever saw.

That player is Brett Kenny. She even has his running style - it is a swerve rather than a step... and like Bert, she accelerates as she swerves and largely leaves oppositions just grasping at the air she filled half a second before.

The Knights recruitment and contract negotiators have been on point for the NRLW squad in securing the cream of the crop to long term deals. Lets hope Parr and co can continue to do that for the NRLW and also into building our NRL ranks in the coming years as well
 
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Bit on Tiana Davidson on NBN news yesterday and they called her a Knights forward and asked her about playing for NZ at a young age - so I suppose she is still a Knights forward.
 
Tamika Upton and Georgia Roche are both on the nomination list for the Golden Boot award (best player in international games in 2023)
 
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First batch of re-signings for the Knights

- Olivia Higgins 3 years (3rd year option)
- Simone Karpani 3 years (3rd year option)
- Viena Tinao 2 years
- Nita Maynard 1 year

2 from Tarsha Gale Cup, Lilly-Ann White & Leah Ollerton, have also signed 2-year deals but will be development players for 2024.

www.newcastleknights.com.au

Knights announce 2024 NRLW signings

The nib Newcastle Knights have kept the momentum rolling in their National Rugby League Women’s premiership program, announcing the re-signings of Olivia Higgins, Simone Karpani, Viena Tinao and Nita Maynard to further bolster their 2024 roster.
www.newcastleknights.com.au www.newcastleknights.com.au
 
Watching the interview with Parr he says there were already 18 top squad players under contract (now 22) but only 15 had been announced. He says Evie Jones is now in the top squad so she’s one of the mystery players. Jacinta Carter & Tylah Vallance were both promoted from the development list during the season so maybe they're the other 2.

There was talk of squads maybe increasing in size but Parr was still referring to it as the top 24 so looks like there’s only 2 spots left with Moran, Strange, Butler (PO), Gallagher & Davison still unsigned.
 
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