NRLW semi-final - Knights v Roosters - 4:15pm Sunday 29th September - Allianz Stadium

Even if Rima is good to go, I hope they put Laishon into the prop rotation and keep Evah at second row.
Middle forwards is where they have a big edge on us. I think we have them covered everywhere else.
 
You could probably argue that on form it should be Romaniuk but I imagine it’ll be one of Tinao, Predebon or McEwen making way, assuming (and hoping) Butler is back. If it's one of the middles Tinao seems like the obvious answer but Predebon was dropped over her earlier in the year, and Tinao hasn’t missed a game since. Get a bit more mobility in attack from Tinao, more just overwhelming size from Predebon. Both can be struggle laterally in defence at times.

McEwen’s drawback is just inexperience. If she was nervous on debut it didn’t show, but it might be a different story marking up against Amber Hall in a sudden death final.
 
The Roosters sides can’t compete with us at the business end. We’ll beat them again and they’ll **** and moan about it.
 
Funny moment in the after game comments today.
It was pretty much a Roosters love in and the commentator was trying to get the experts to tip a winner between Roosters and Knights. You could tell she wanted someone to tip Roosters - but it was no comment across the board.
 
I Isabelle Kelly is out it’ll be even tougher for them. However the form Tamika is in and the way team is working with her I don’t think roosters stand a chance to be honest. Their edge defence is where we’ll get them, Livy Higgins to work the middle over and Georgia Roach and Tamika to tear up edges.

Lot more comfortable with Tenika Willison on wing, she gotten strong each game. Hoping Rina is fit for some mobility up front and go forward, if not Predabon and Tinao had there best games in heat last week and need to back it up.

Still need to find a spot for McEwen though as it was t her traditional powerful runs that impressed me, it was her scramble and contact in D for 48mins straight on debut that really impressed me. Didn’t miss a beat.

Loved the teams response to coach challenging them after Broncos loss. They have dialled it up and ready to tear teams apart.
 
www.newcastleherald.com.au

'Nah, stuff this': The turning point that has the Knights firing for finals

They face a semi-final showdown with the Roosters.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Long article where Hannah Southwell talks about how much stronger the comp is this year and how much more professional they have had to be.
The bottom line is she says they were working harder and were not having fun.
After letting a winning lead slip against the Broncos they refocused using the Ted Lasso comedy series to bring back fun, but also focus and belief.

She never mentions Griffiths or Jefferies, but it sounds like Griffiths was good at keeping it all fun, and Jefferies has got them working harder and made them the better athletes they needed to be this year to compete in a stronger comp.

It sounds like they are now in the right headspace to give it their best shot.

Unusually, we have been thinking 2 tough road trips v Titans and Cowboys were bad, but Hannah says they were great for bonding. I suppose it's the old saying "what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger."
 
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1. Tamika Upton
2. Sheridan Gallagher
3. Shanice Parker
4. Abigail Roache
5. Tenika Willison
6. Georgia Roche
7. Jesse Southwell
8. Rima Butler
9. Olivia Higgins
10. Simone Karpani
11. Laishon Albert-Jones
12. Yasmin Clydsdale
13. Hannah Southwell (C)

14. Nita Maynard
15. Kayla Romaniuk
16. Tayla Predebon
17. Viena Tinao

18. Evie Jones
19. Evah McEwen
20. Lilly-Ann White
21. Jules Kirkpatrick
22. Jacinta Carter
 
Both sides could be wishful thinking. We have named Butler and Maynard.
Roosters have named Kelly to start and Sergis and Aitken on the extended bench.

Some of them won't start.
 
McEwen and Jones not named in the reserve grade team. White is back after missing last week as the NRLW replacement player.
 
www.newcastleherald.com.au

Hooking in: How Knight Olivia Higgins has taken her game to another level

They are set to play the Roosters in a semi-final showdown.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article on Olivia Higgins.
Says her improved fitness this year comes down to the 3 game SOO series which meant she had to train all through Christmas and came into the season the most fit she has ever been.
Says she has been averaging 63 minutes a game recently and she has been able to remain effective for much longer.
Talks about her being a recent convert to the game, but also coming from a league family from Raymond Terrace.

I remember when we had a pretty poor SG Ball side, but the standouts were two kids from Raymond Terrace, Peter Matautia and Liam Higgins - who is Olivia's older brother, but only a year or two older. Liam and his brother had long careers in local footy up till recently - both very good hookers.
 
Jeffries presser from yesterday

Butler and Maynard both good to go if they got through the training session last night.
Wasn’t asked and didn’t give any indication on possible late changes but said McEwen couldn’t have done more on debut.
 
Think Tinao has improved on efforts from last year, But if Romaniuk and Butler are prop rotation, Surely McEwen is the other bench spot for some mobile impact.
 
Even if Kelly plays, week recovery from dislocated elbow and heavy bandaging going to make defending against Tamika, Shanice, Gallagher and Laishon quite difficult.
 
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