Newcastle have secured two more building blocks for the upcoming NRLW season and beyond by signing sisters Jesse and Heather Southwell to long-term contracts.
Key points:
- The NRLW signing blitz has continued with Hannah and Jesse Southwell re-signing with Newcastle for the 2023 season
- A series of Origin and Test stars, including Emma Tonegato and Kirra Dibb, will switch clubs for this season
- Four new clubs — Canberra, North Queensland, Cronulla and Wests Tigers — will join the league this season
The duo join Queensland Origin mainstay Tamika Upton and Jillaroos forward Yasmin Clydsdale in the Hunter long-term as the Knights look to secure more members of their 2022 premiership-winning side.
Jesse Southwell proved instrumental in that triumph, scoring a try and setting up another in the 32-12 grand final win over Parramatta after starring through the season at halfback at just 17 while Heather missed much of the year after suffering a knee injury in the club’s season opener.
Consolidation has been the name of the game for the Knights – they’re yet to announce a new signing after focusing on retaining their established stars.
One big name who won’t stick with the club is New South Wales five-eighth Kirra Dibb, who will join North Queensland as rapid movement across the league continued.
The hard-running and skilful Dibb will link with the Cowboys on a two-season deal.
“Kirra is a major signing for our club in our inaugural season,” said Cowboys coach Ben Jeffries.
“She is a highly rated representative player who brings a huge amount of experience and success.
“Like all good halves, Kirra is a strong communicator and gifted playmaker with a long kicking game as well as being an extremely accurate goal kicker.
“At the Cowboys we love our players to be competitive and highly driven on and off the field, which is why Kirra will be highly valued at our club moving forward.”
With free agency showing no sign of slowing down, Cronulla have made the biggest splash of the week by landing two Origin stars of their own in hooker Quincy Dodd and fullback Emma Tonegato.
The former Dragons pair are the club’s inaugural signings and signing Tonegato, a former co-Dally M winner, is something of a coup for the Sharks who have also been linked to Parramatta’s Tiana Penitani.
The Raiders have continued their own signing blitz, adding rising trio Chanté Temara, Tommaya Kelly-Sines and Felice Quinlan.
Temara, the younger sister of fellow Raiders signee Zehara, came close to Origin selection for Queensland last year, while Kelly-Sines is a two-time Indigenous All Star.
Canberra have also announced the signature of Mackenzie Wiki, daughter of former club stalwart Ruben, and English international Hollie-Mae Dodd.
Parramatta have landed just one outside signing thus far in New South Wales halfback Rachael Pearson but have also retained Jillaroos forward Kennedy Cherrington.
The Eels are also believed to be closing in on Papua New Guinea powerhouse Elsie Albert.