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Newcastle Herald

National

Renee Valentine

Quick plays: All you need to know from a weekend of sport in Newcastle

Max MasonHubers Warners Bay (Organization) NNSW Lambton Jaffas Newcastle Olympic No2 Sportsground NPLW NRLW Newcastle Knights NPL

Newcastle Knights and fans celebrate their maiden NRLW premiership on Sunday. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

NPLW NNSW grand final action between Warners Bay and Newcastle Olympic at No.2 Sportsground on Sunday. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

NPL NNSW grand final action between Lambton Jaffas and Maitland Magpies at No.2 Sportsground on Sunday. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

At the start of the season they were described by those inside the club as a breath of fresh air.

And, after seven games, the Newcastle Knights NRLW side have won the whole city over with their no-nonsense, skilful and leave-nothing-out-there brand of rugby league.

As they powered to the club's maiden NRLW premiership with a 32-12 grand final triumph over Parramatta at Accor Stadium on Sunday, fans got the feeling this was just the beginning.

It was a pleasure to watch as this group of inspiring women gave everything they had for the Knights badge and the city they represented.

Knights co-captain Millie Boyle gave a nod to the past when she announced the victory "was better than LEGO" as the team returned to the "NEW-CAS-TLE" chant ringing out at Wests City on Sunday night.

Injured co-captain and home-grown talent Hannah Southwell said she had never experienced anything like the fan reception.

Southwell's younger sister Jesse capped an outstanding first season of NRLW by playing a key role in the grand final triumph.

Fullback Tamika Upton did as she has done all season, producing an outstanding performance that included scoring a try, setting up two others and making 181 metres throughout the 70 minutes to earn the Karen Murphy Medal.

Clinical Warners Bay finish what they started

It took six years and four more grand final appearances, but Warners Bay finally secured a second championship in Northern NSW Football's women's top-flight competition with a 4-2 win over Newcastle Olympic.

The Panthers were 2016 champions but lost grand finals to Merewether in 2017 and 2018 then went down to Newcastle Olympic 3-2 in 2020 before turning the tables at No.2 Sportsground on Sunday in an action-packed title decider.

Warners Bay were tipped as the team to beat from the outset after signing Newcastle Jets trio Cassidy Davis, Tara Andrews and Lauren Allan. They also picked up Adriana Konjarski, who scored 39 goals in 23 appearances this year to surely put herself back in the frame for a national league recall.

Allan, Andrews and Davis continued their clinical form to set up the 4-2 win over Olympic.

The scoreline probably flattered the Panthers, who got off to a flying start with two goals from corners inside the first 16 minutes of play.

It was a battle from there.

Olympic, who finished the season fourth and survived two sudden death finals to make another grand final, closed the gap to trail 2-1 at half-time after captain Laura Hall scored from the penalty spot.

There was plenty of twists and turns in an entertaining second half.

Warners Bay scored from an Olympic defensive blunder. But again Olympic fought back only to concede a late goal that has to be seen to be believed and is sure to give goalkeeper Natalie Wiseman nightmares for years to come.

The win sealed a premiership-championship double for the Panthers in the first year of the new competition, which transitioned to National Premier Leagues status this year.

But, if the rumours already circulating are to be believed, Warners Bay's squad could look a fair bit different in 2023.

Jaffas seize title but Magpies go down fighting

The NPL NNSW men's grand final earlier at No.2 Sportsground on Sunday had nowhere near as many goals - Lambton won 1-0 over premiers Maitland - but no less action.

Unfortunately, a melee, which erupted around the 20-minute mark and resulted in Maitland defender Zach Thomas being red-carded, put a huge dampener on the game and is sure to be the talking point for a long time to come.

Jaffas coach Shane Pryce quipped post-match "there will be no asterisk on this squad" after they turned the tables on Maitland 1-0 to give the club a third NPL men's championship.

A Kale Bradbery strike in the 51st minute was enough for Jaffas to seal victory.

But Maitland coach Michael Bolch questioned the consistency of refereeing after his side were left to play 67 minutes with 10 men.

"It's not sour grapes, they've won the grand final. It is what it is and we'll never know what would have happened if it was a different decision," Bolch said post-match.

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