NRLW Recruitment & Retention Thread

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How Origin stars have helped girls' participation boom in the Hunter

The number of girls playing rugby league in the Hunter has increased by almost 40 per cent this...
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article that says female participation across the region has risen by nearly 40% this year, including a first all girl under 6 side competing against mixed sides.
Lists several teams fielding their first female teams in the 12/18 age groups.
Says there will be a junior girls game before the main game tonight.
 
Profiles have been added and upgraded on the Knights site.
Leah Ollerton isn't as small as I thought she was. She is only 3 kg smaller than Olivia Higgins.
She was equal top try scorer in reserves last year with her ability to dart out of dummy half and make a lot of line breaks. She reads the ruck really well and will go from dummy half every time the marker isn't paying attention.
I can see her taking that bench hooker role.
 
I notice Kayla Henderson has been named at fullback in NSW cup.
Unless there are 2 fullbacks named Kayla Henderson, she would be 2 times Australian schoolgirls fullback who was described in zero tackle a few months ago as a rising star who has been offered a 3 year deal by the Panthers after playing Tarsha Gale for Bulldogs last year.
She sounds like she could be a good pick up.

1. Kayla Henderson
2. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala
3. Mariah Brown
4. Lucy Spain
5. Tess Staines
6. Keighley Simpson
7. Ashlee Harvey
8. Viena Tinao
9. Leah Ollerton
10. Grace Giampino
11. Fane Finau
12. Carissa Reid
13. Emily McArthur

Interchange:

14. Brandii Davis-Welsh
15. Sophie Butler
16. Aaliyah Paki
17. Makaah Darcy

Extended Bench:

18. Tyla Brown
 
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Kayla Henderson - Probably the girl who went so well in the last NSW cup trial at fullback.
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Yeah that’s her. Need something to happen at FB as know idea what happened to Macey Cox, ended up on being dropped to local
League. Sadly I feel like that was political over performance.
 
Re-signings in the juniors:

Stella Lewis (‘26-‘28 Top 24)
Lucy Spain (‘26 Development, ‘27 Top 24)
Rubie Drake-Brockman (‘27 Development, ‘28 Top 24)
Emily McArthur (‘26 Development, ‘27-‘28 Top 24)
 
mullenmagic said:
Re-signings in the juniors:

Stella Lewis (‘26-‘28 Top 24)
Lucy Spain (‘26 Development, ‘27 Top 24)
Rubie Drake-Brockman (‘27 Development, ‘28 Top 24)
Emily McArthur (‘26 Development, ‘27-‘28 Top 24)
Click to expand...
Stella Lewis straight into the top squad as soon as she is old enough is the right call. She doesn't look like it (skinny blonde girl) but she is a powerhouse.
A young, blonde, Yasmin Clydsdale.
She doesn't turn 18 till December, so no seniors at all this year.
 
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Lucy Spain has great instincts in attack - half the tries Tess Staines scored were set up by Lucy Spain, who knows exactly when she has committed the defence and gives the pass. Any good winger playing beside her will score heaps.
 
Saw a thing on facebook where they talked about Bree Chester as the most under rated player in the NRLW.
I was thinking that yesterday as she was the best player for the Cowboys in their strong win.
She was in our squad in 2022 and played 2 years of Tarsha Gale for us. She is from Mallabulla in Port Stephens (outer suburb of Newcastle for those not local).
Looking at her seasons for the Cowboys, in 2023 she had 84% tackle efficiency and ran less than 100 metres. This year she has 97% tackle efficiency for nearly 40 tackles a game and is running 136 metres a game - average 54 fantasy points.
I assume Ben Jefferies recruited her for the Cowboys.
I wonder if he still has her number - she might be homesick for Mallabulla, if that's possible.
 
mullenmagic said:
Jesse apparently toured another "out of Sydney" club during the week as well
Click to expand...
Maybe the club should just cut ties and not worry about her anymore

The season runs for what like 14 weeks, if you can’t sort you’re future out after the season even then do t worry about it

After starting season well her last 2 weeks have been ordinary, she blew a few scoring chances today going the short pass or pointless kick when there was overlaps

If she isn’t committed then we just need to focus on getting some big,athletic middles as that’s the main area we lacking at moment
 
Newygirl said:
Right because who needs the NSW halfback
Click to expand...
It’s more an assessment that she seems more focused on leaving at this stage than staying from all the reports
they were happy to let the Aus and QLD fullback and teams best player walk so wouldn’t suprise if they do the same with Jessie

Don’t forget rumours were around about her not happy and possibly wanting out last year also so is she fully focused and wanting to be here anyway
 
Looking at multiple clubs is a good sign.
It should mean she is looking at all her options and hasn't made a decision to go to the Broncos.
I expect she will come back to the club with her best offer, and see if we want to match it.
 
knights80 said:
It’s more an assessment that she seems more focused on leaving at this stage than staying from all the reports
Click to expand...
The “reports” are something someone said on a podcast which has then been taken up and run with by (Brisbane Broncos affiliated) News Corp journos.

It’s possible she’ll leave but there is absolutely nothing concrete linking her with a move away right now.
 
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