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Knights launch new NRLW season with dominant win over Cronulla

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • The Newcastle Knights began their NRLW season with a decisive 18-4 victory over the Cronulla Sharks.
  • Despite the off-season departure of star playmaker Jesse Southwell, the Knights secured a dominant win with three tries to one.
  • The match featured heated moments, including sin-binning for both teams, and saw the Sharks dealing with potential injuries to key players.

The Newcastle Knights have kicked off their NRLW season with a strong 18-4 performance, defeating the Cronulla Sharks in a heated opener at Endeavour Field. This victory is particularly significant as it marks the team's first outing without star playmaker Jesse Southwell, who moved to Brisbane in a major off-season transfer. Questions had been raised about how the Knights, last year's preliminary finalists, would fare without her.

Newcastle silenced their doubters by running in three tries to the Sharks' one. After Shanice Parker scored the opening try, the Knights faced a determined Cronulla defense. However, a crucial try in the 45th minute by Fane Finau, set up by an expert grubber from five-eighth Kirra Dibb, shifted the momentum. Dibb later sealed the win with a penalty goal, and interchange player Simone Karpani scored her first career try.

Coach Ben Jeffries had a big emphasis on us playing some free-flowing footy, and not having a fear of that freedom.

— Olivia HigginsKnights hooker Olivia Higgins on the team's playing style and coach's instructions.

Hooker Olivia Higgins praised the team's performance, highlighting the emphasis on "free-flowing footy" and the effective play of halves Georgia Roche and Kirra Dibb. The game was not without its intensity, as Sharks centre Annessa Biddle was sin-binned early for a hip-drop tackle, and Knights' Roche received a similar penalty just before halftime for contact with opposing number seven Chantay Kiria-Ratu.

Cronulla managed a second-half try through Rhiannon Byers, but the Knights ultimately controlled the game. The Sharks are now facing concerns over the fitness of Stephanie Faulkner, who sustained an ankle injury, and prop Caitlan Johnston-Green was placed on report for a crusher tackle. With captain Tiana Penitani Gray already sidelined by a knee injury, these potential further losses could impact Cronulla's prospects for replicating their previous season's success.

I'm super proud of the girls, especially our halves. I think Georgia [Roche] and Kirra did a great job to allow us to play the style that we want.

— Olivia HigginsKnights hooker Olivia Higgins praising the performance of the team's halves.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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