Up and coming NSW Country prop forward Viena Tinao has signed on with the nib Newcastle Knights Telstra Women’s Premiership team ahead of the start of pre-season training next week.
Tinao’s signing coincides with confirmation that current Knights Tylah Vallance, Jacinta Carter, Tazmyne Luschwitz and Evie Jones have all signed development deals for the season ahead.
21-year-old Tinao was a standout for Illawarra in this year’s Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, starting at prop in all 11 of the Steelers matches including their eventual semi-final loss to the Bulldogs.
Her stellar season was rewarded with selection in the NSW Country Origin side, which defeated City Origin 18-12 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on 4 May.
The Wollongong product, who has previously represented Mounties in the state competition, was a member of the Steelers Tarsha Gale Cup winning squad in 2019, which accounted for the Caitlan Johnston-led Knights in that year’s Grand Final.
Her step up to NRLW level is the next evolution in a career which has already seen her feature in club teams alongside big names including Kezie Apps, Simaima Taufa, Gayle Broughton, Emma Tonegato, Taliah Fuimaono, Rachael Pearson, Keeley Davis and Teagan Berry.
“Viena had an outstanding year for the Steelers,” Knights NRLW head coach Ronald Griffiths said.
“Watching from afar, her game evolved weekly and her commitment to nailing those all-important effort areas became increasingly apparent as the season went on.
“She is a quiet, hardworking and humble person who we see as a great fit for our team and our club, with those kinds of traits being what the Knights were built upon.”
The Knights production line of talent continues to deliver with Vallance, Carter, Luschwitz and Jones all stepping up to train with the NRLW squad this season after outstanding seasons within the Knights state cup and pathways system.
“We are extremely excited to have such great talent in our development list players for the season ahead,” Griffiths added.
“Each player came with their own unique resume and all four will play an integral role in the long-term sustainable success of our Club.
“Their ability and commitment will see them well positioned to secure top squad contracts beyond 2023, and in the meantime, their skillset and quality will raise the standard of our sessions during the season to come.”
Vallance took out the Knights Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership Player of the Year award in 2023 after a season where she crossed for three tries and kicked 11 goals in nine matches.
The skilful centre is a graduate of the Knights Tarsha Gale Cup program and has a range of higher honours to her name, representing NSW Country Under 19’s in 2021 and also completing a Buildcorp Super W season with the President’s XV that same year.
Carter came of age in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership this year, with the former Queensland Under 19 and Wynnum-Manly front rower a mainstay in the Knights pack.
Her efforts were further rewarded with selection in the Queensland Rubys side for the recent Women’s National Championships on the Gold Coast, after which she was named in the Team of the Tournament.
Luschwitz is a Newcastle product who played Tarsha Gale Cup for the Knights in the competition’s inaugural season in 2018 before being a part of the CRL Newcastle squad that won the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership title in 2019.
The tough hooker, who has since had stints with the Central Coast Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs, featured in seven matches for the Knights in 2023 and has previously represented the First Nations Gems in the Women’s National Championships.
Jones was one of the stars of the Knights Tarsha Gale Cup side this season, taking out Player’s Player honours after lining up at five eighth in eight matches including the semi-final.
Another product of the Muswellbrook Rams junior system, Jones set the standard in pre-season and has been rewarded for her efforts with a development deal for NRLW season 2023.
