It might be a while since Newcastle made a Grand Final – 21 years, in fact – but it’s worth remembering the Knights are unbeaten in deciders.
Legends like Paul Harragon and Kurt Gidley know what success looks like at the Newcastle club, and were on hand this week to pass that along to the current NRLW Grand Final squad, who will be looking to add their names to the premiership squads of 1997 and 2001 this Sunday afternoon against the Parramatta Eels.
That’s not to say they lack Grand Final experience: captain Millie Boyle and fullback Tamika Upton have played in three of the four NRLW Grand Finals to date and are also unbeaten in deciders.
When the two club legends addressed the group last week, it brought together the old and new at the Knights, and marked the culmination of a culture that was forged in the 2021 wooden spoon – in which the NRLW team did not win a game – and the built up to this point.
“It means so much to us as players to have amazing athletes like Kurt and Chief there,” said Boyle. “We grew up watching them play and win Premierships, idolising people like that.
“To have them in chatting to us – and Kurt brought his two daughters in as well to talk about how important it was for them to see a pathway if that’s what they choose.
Newcastle Knights NRLW team celebrate (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
“Chief is such a legend in the way that he played and still talks about the game. It means so much to us. They talked about being that player that everyone wants to play alongside and that’s what they built their success off. That’s what we want to create here at Newcastle.”
According to coach Ronald Griffiths, the 2021 season might not have yielded any wins, but it was vital in establishing a culture that was supercharged by the arrival of Boyle, Upton and other stars in 2022.
“From day one, we set out talking about one game at a time, but we set out to harness what the Newcastle way was about,” he said. “In the initial instance, we had Hall of Fame players come in and talk about what it means.
“Our objective was to put in performances on the field that our community and club could be proud of if nothing else. They laid that foundation.
“They had no money, but they had a certain set of values that they stuck to and that’s all we’ve focused on. From day one, we’ve included those people in our circle so we can understand the place and understand what it means to be a Newcastle Knight.”
Despite the lack of success on the field, Griffiths was able to use that culture to sell Newcastle to rep stars like Upton.
“When I first visited Newcastle I got to meet Ron and he put forward a vision of what he had in mind for the season,” she said.
“I was automatically in love with what he was saying. We knew we were going to be building and starting fresh and I think that’s what we’ve done.
“We’ve come together as a group from all different teams, but we have a good foundation with the local girls. I’m pretty stoked with what has happened in the season and I think it’s all gone according to plan.”
The addition of superstar talent from outside has helped to bring the best from the local juniors, in particular Caitlan Johnston, who bolted to stardom in a dominant Women’s Origin performance and consolidated well enough in the NRLW to be named alongside Boyle in the Dally M Team of the Year.
“I love playing with Caitlan,” said Boyle. “Not only in the front row – everyone loves having her on our team. She brings great energy to the group, she’s always got the tunes playing, she’s always taking the mickey out of someone. It’s always a good time.
“On the field, she plays so well and with so much grace.”
Now, the club stands on the precipice of a first first grade premership in the Hunter Valley since 2001 – a Grand Final in which they also faced Parramatta.
“Everyone came in, with had 27 players and the messaging was that there was a nice foundation that was laid earlier in the year and we’re going to work extremely hard to make sure we build off that foundation,” concluded Griffiths.
“I spoke to these two individually about what I thought their strengths were, but it’s more about us as a group where we build each other up and work hard for each other. We have a real simple style and plan of what we wanted to do and how to implement it.”
I’m sorry Newcastle, but this won’t be your year. Unless your whole approach can change. Kalyn Ponga’s Lisfranc injury may have cost him 12…
Phil Gould told 100% Footy that Jack Hetherington was taking the mickey in his tunnel stoush with Reed Mahoney. Meanwhile, NRL 360 panellist Paul…
Vision showed Hetherington confronting Reed Mahoney in the tunnel and having to be dragged away by staff after the pair were sin-binned. But journalists…
The St George Illawarra revival is now prompting a question that was on nobody’s radar heading into the 2024 season - can the Dragons…
Jack Hetherington could face sanctions from the NRL after vision emerged of the fiery Newcastle forward appearing to throw a punch at Bulldogs hooker…
Things got heated with just three mintues to play with Reed Mahoney and Jack Hetherington sent for ten.
