The nib Newcastle Knights squad for the upcoming National Rugby League Telstra Women’s Premiership is complete following the signing of Knights junior and Commonwealth Games Gold Medal winning Rugby Sevens player Jesse Southwell.
The 17-year-old signed on following her return from the Birmingham games last week, having appeared off the bench in Australia’s Gold Medal Game win over Fiji last week.
The goal kicking five-eighth commenced training with head coach Ronald Griffiths’ side late last week and could make her NRLW debut alongside her older sister, Jillaroos and NSW Origin star Hannah, this season.
Southwell’s signing completes the Knights 24-woman squad ahead of their round one clash with the Brisbane Broncos at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday 21 August.
Having helped the Knights charge to the Tarsha Gale Cup finals earlier this season, Southwell ultimately missed the Knights narrow Grand Final loss to the Roosters Indigenous Academy after winning selection in the Australian Rugby Sevens team for the World Series event in Langford, Canada.
She also featured in one game during the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, scoring a try and kicking five goals at halfback in a 34-20 victory over South Sydney in early May.
She would then secure Commonwealth Games selection following her second World Series event in Toulouse, France in May.
Southwell scored a try and kicked a conversation in her Commonwealth Games debut, a 50-nil rout of Scotland, before coming on late in Australia’s pool stage loss to Fiji.
After not seeing game time during Australia’s semi-final win over New Zealand, Southwell was introduced into the action during the second half of the Final, where Australia reversed its earlier loss to Fiji with a 22-12 victory to claim the Gold Medal.
