NRLW Recruitment & Retention Thread

The NRL are apparently hesitant to approve the Knights signing Portia Woodman-Wickliffe due to her having an ambassador role for the women’s World Cup that runs this year at the same time as the NRLW season. Ridiculous.

Hannah close to a deal with the Dragons, too.
 
mullenmagic said:
The NRL are apparently hesitant to approve the Knights signing Portia Woodman-Wickliffe due to her having an ambassador role for the women’s World Cup that runs this year at the same time as the NRLW season. Ridiculous.
Click to expand...

Not really, gives union free advertising on our air time.
 
It would almost be more of an ad for the NRLW, imo. "The face of the union world cup is off playing what other sport? 🤔"
 
There were players who missed the start of last season playing in the Olympics and that wasn't a problem. A legend of women's rugby with a huge following posting about the World Cup on social media while also obviously promoting the NRLW is an issue though.
 
mullenmagic said:
The NRL are apparently hesitant to approve the Knights signing Portia Woodman-Wickliffe due to her having an ambassador role for the women’s World Cup that runs this year at the same time as the NRLW season. Ridiculous.

Hannah close to a deal with the Dragons, too.
Click to expand...
So, could it get any worse?
But not at all surprised with the Knights, as anything is possible.
How do we keep doing it so badly?
You have to laugh, really.
 
mullenmagic said:
The NRL are apparently hesitant to approve the Knights signing Portia Woodman-Wickliffe due to her having an ambassador role for the women’s World Cup that runs this year at the same time as the NRLW season. Ridiculous.

Hannah close to a deal with the Dragons, too.
Click to expand...
What was it that happened soooo badly with Hannah at the Knights that she is now allegedly going to the Dragons, of all teams???
 
What is happening with our top squad is disturbing, but I have to say that what I saw yesterday from the Lisa Fiaola, Tarsha Gale and Reserve grade squads at Cessnock shows that our coaching team has been making a lot of improvements with a lot of players.

If Jefferies was brought in to bring a much more professional level of recruitment, coaching and development of young players. I think I saw that across the 3 games at Cessnock yesterday.

I don't think we will be a force in NRLW this year, but I'm thinking we can win Tarsha Gale and maybe reserve grade and our 2026 NRLW team will be the result of the work being done this year in the lower grades.
 
Billy said:
What is happening with our top squad is disturbing, but I have to say that what I saw yesterday from the Lisa Fiaola, Tarsha Gale and Reserve grade squads at Cessnock shows that our coaching team has been making a lot of improvements with a lot of players.

If Jefferies was brought in to bring a much more professional level of recruitment, coaching and development of young players. I think I saw that across the 3 games at Cessnock yesterday.

I don't think we will be a force in NRLW this year, but I'm thinking we can win Tarsha Gale and maybe reserve grade and our 2026 NRLW team will be the result of the work being done this year in the lower grades.
Click to expand...
Depth is looking strong and a big factor in Jefferies, he's at majority of lower grade games and coaching systems.

On top grade for this year, really wouldn't put them down. Still a quality squad.

1. Vete-Welsh
2. Gallagher
3. Parker
4. Willerson
5. Ann-White/Portia
6. Roache
7. Evie Jones/Southwell
8. Davidson
9. Higgins
10. Karpani
11. McEwen
12. Clydesdale
13. Kirkpatrick

14. Ollerton
15. Kukutai
16. Romaniuk
17. Finau

Very good quality squad that probably needs one front rower signing and another backline (hopefully Portia)

It may even work better to Roache at 13 and Jones/Southwell halves. Very good quality Juniors coming through. I really wouldnt worry about the team, they;ll be a force even this year.
 
If the England squad lines up in order as named, Georgia Roche has been named at lock.

That could work for us too.

We have a shortage of middle forwards and Georgia is a strong defender and could be a playmaking lock with Jesse and Evie in the halves.
 
I still think having her at lock would help us with a few issues - filling out the forwards and getting Evie into the side.
 
I'd try to sign 3 or 4 of that Illawarra Tarsha Gale side that destroyed our pack last week.

Watching the teams interact after the game, they were having a ball greeting each other, like they were long lost friends.

Many of these players would have played each other in 2 grandfinals last year, and probably partied afterwards.

I kept thinking, after the game, there's no cuddling and giggling in Rugby League.

Anyway, some of those impressive forwards from Illawarra looked like living in Newcastle wouldn't be the worst thing they could think of.

Before this game I thought we must have the best pack in Tarsha Gale, but they bashed us (except Fane Finau - she was the best forward on the field).
 
Season pre-view in the Herald today goes through the big name/high paycheck players who have left - Upton, Johnston, Southwell, Butler - and lists our signings as Joeli Morris and Fane Finau, plus upgrades for Lilly White, Evie Jones and Evah McEwen.

It's a pretty gloomy pre-view, but it does make you think we have a bucketload of money to spend still.
 
not sure it's worth mentioning but i was at Newcastle airport 2 weeks ago and saw Isabella Kelly sitting with 2 of our players heading for the Jillaroo Brisbane camp.
Thought it was strange she would depart from Newcastle and not Sydney. Maybe a cheeky meeting with the Knights. Fingers crossed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top