History awaits as our nib Newcastle Knights NRLW side prepare for their maiden Grand Final appearance against the Parramatta Eels this Sunday at Accor Stadium.
After a tough pre-season, plenty of hours on the training paddock, five matches and one Semi-Final, it's all led to this Sunday for our women's team.
Having joined the competition earlier this year as part of the rescheduled 2021 season, the match will be the first time the Club has played in the Grand Final of the elite women's competition.
They will take on a tough Eels side riding high after their Semi-Final win over the Roosters and chasing their own piece of history.
This is your Ultimate Guide to the nib Newcastle Knights NRLW side's Grand Final against the Parramatta Eels.
nib NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Date: Sunday, October 2, 2022
Kick off: 3:55pm
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Where to watch: The match will be broadcasted on Nine, Fox League and streamed on Kayo Sports.
KEY INFORMATION
Be a part of our historic Grand Final week as we prepare to battle the Parramatta Eels at Accor Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Friday 30th September
NRLW FAN FEST
When: From 12pm
Where: Martin Place Sydney
Who: Grand Final Squad
Note: Free entry for all visitors
Southwell on making first Grand Final and playing for Newcastle
Sunday 2nd October
NRLW GRAND FINAL
Watch the match live on the big screen at NEX and welcome the girls back to Newcastle at our watch party.
NEX LIVE SITE: NRLW & NRL GRAND FINAL
When: 3pm - 11:30pm
3pm - Doors open to ticketed guests (including NRLW Members)
3:55pm – NRLW Kick Off
7pm - Doors open to the General Public
7:30pm – NRL Kickoff
10pm (approx.) – NRLW players arrive
Where: NEX, Newcastle Wests
Note: Open to NRLW Members from 3pm. Open to the General Public from 7pm. Buy tickets
Johnston on feeling among the group and home support
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 2021
Knights: 1
Eels: 1
TEAMS
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Knights is number 1 Tamika UptonFullback for Eels is number 1 Gayle Broughton
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Winger for Knights is number 2 Kiana TakairangiWinger for Eels is number 2 Zali Fay
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Centre for Knights is number 3 Shanice ParkerCentre for Eels is number 3 Abbi Church
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Centre for Knights is number 4 Bobbi LawCentre for Eels is number 4 Rikeya Horne
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Winger for Knights is number 5 Emmanita PakiWinger for Eels is number 5 Cassey Tohi-Hiku
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Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Kirra DibbFive-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Ashleigh Quinlan
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Halfback for Knights is number 7 Jesse SouthwellHalfback for Eels is number 7 Tayla Preston
Forwards
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Prop for Knights is number 8 Caitlan JohnstonProp for Eels is number 8 Kennedy Cherrington
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Hooker for Knights is number 9 Olivia HigginsHooker for Eels is number 9 Brooke Anderson
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Prop for Knights is number 10 Millie BoyleProp for Eels is number 10 Ellie Johnston
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2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Romy Teitzel2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Christian Pio
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2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Vanessa Foliaki
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Lock for Knights is number 13 Kayla RomaniukLock for Eels is number 13 Simaima Taufa
Interchange
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Interchange for Knights is number 14 Emma ManzelmannInterchange for Eels is number 14 Filomina Hanisi
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Interchange for Knights is number 15 Tayla PredebonInterchange for Eels is number 15 Seli Mailangi
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Interchange for Knights is number 16 Simone KarpaniInterchange for Eels is number 16 Najvada George
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Interchange for Knights is number 18 Caitlin MoranInterchange for Eels is number 17 Rima Butler
Reserves
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Replacement for Knights is number 17 Makenzie WealeReplacement for Eels is number 18 Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis
Match Officials
- Referee: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
TEAM NEWS
UPDATE: The squad remains the same with Caitlin Moran moving into the interchange and Makenzie Weale and Kyra Simon on the extended bench.
For the Eels, star centre Tiana Penitani will not feature in the side after she failed to overcome a quad injury. Penitani dropped out of the 19-player squad on Saturday. Parramatta are otherwise unchanged, with Kennedy Cherrington and Brooke Anderson named to start at prop and hooker respectively, after being named on the bench in recent weeks only to be late inclusions in the run-on side.
TUESDAY: Knights NRLW Head Coach Ronald Griffiths named his 22-woman squad for our Grand Final battle against the Parramatta Eels this Sunday at Accor Stadium.
The starting team is unchanged from that which defeated the St. George-Illawarra Dragons 30-6 in Sunday’s semi-final at Suncorp Stadium.
With a host of players set to play in their first NRLW Grand Final, the big game experience of Millie Boyle, Tamika Upton, Yasmin Clydsdale and Olivia Higgins will bolster the squad.
Clydsdale on Grand Final in Knights colours and preparations
For the Eels, centre Tiana Penitani has been included in the extended reserves as she battles to overcome a quad injury in time to take the field.
At this stage Abbi Church is named to play in the centres in her place, as was the case last week.
Parramatta are otherwise unchanged, with Kennedy Cherrington and Brooke Anderson named to start at prop and hooker respectively, after being named on the bench in recent weeks only to be late inclusions in the run-on side.
ROAD TO THE GRAND FINAL
The Knights booked their spot in the decider with a dominant 30-6 victory over last season's grand finalists, the St George Illawarra Dragons last Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
Going back to the start of the campaign, Newcastle kicked off their season with a 32-14 win over the Brisbane Broncos before travelling north to defeat the Gold Coast Titans 16-12.
The side took down their Grand Final opponent with a last-ditch try to earn a 18-16 victory in Round 3 before going down in reverse circumstances to the Sydney Roosters a week later 18-16.
The side finished their regular season with a win over the Dragons before backing up the effort with the Semi-Final win over the Red V.
NRLW Semi-Final Match Highlights: Knights v Dragons
For the Eels, they snuck into the top four with a win over the Broncos in the last game of the season before earning a 24-10 win over minor premiers, the Roosters, in the Semi-Finals.
KEY MATCH-UP
Millie Boyle v Simaima Taufa: Co-Captain Millie Boyle will go toe-to-toe with Origin teammate and fierce forward, Simaima Taufa in a huge battle on Sunday.
Since the opening whistle of the season, Boyle has led from the front leading the team to a Grand Final appearance.
The front-row forward leads the competition in post-contact metres (471) and run metres (1,137).
Eels Captain, Taufa, has also been an inspiring figure for her team with three tries, 1000 run metres and sits only behind Boyle on post-contact metres.
Upton on performance against the Dragons and Final experience
STAT ATTACK
A total of 10 players will play in their first Grand Final this Sunday - Kiana Takairangi, Bobbi Law, Emmanita Paki, Kirra Dibb, Jesse Southwell, Caitlan Johnston, Romy Teitzel, Kayla Romaniuk, Emma Manzelmann and Makenzie Weale.
After scoring two tries in last weekend's Semi Final, Tamika Upton has the equal most tries in NRLW history with 11 from 15 matches.
Kirra Dibb has the highest conversion rate in the competition kicking at 74 percent this season.
The match will also be the first Grand Final for Parramatta in the NRLW competition while halfback Tayla Preston finished the season with the most kick metres at 1,563.
