Knights NRLW Season Ends in Brisbane After Semi-Final Exit……
Newcastle Knights’ NRLW campaign came to a close in Brisbane on Sunday, with the reigning premiers falling short of a third consecutive grand final appearance. The Knights, who have built a reputation as one of the competition’s modern heavyweights, were undone by a sharp and determined opposition side in front of a vocal Queensland crowd.
The clash was fiercely contested from the outset, with Newcastle showing early intent through their forwards. Captain Hannah Southwell led from the front, producing a tireless defensive effort, while Tamika Upton threatened to ignite the attack on several occasions. However, the Knights struggled to convert territory into points, with handling errors and missed opportunities proving costly.
Brisbane capitalised on Newcastle’s lapses, striking with clinical precision to build a lead the Knights were unable to reel in. Despite a spirited late push, the defending champions could not close the gap, and the final whistle confirmed their season’s end in the semi-final stage.
Head coach Ronald Griffiths praised his players’ resilience but admitted the result was disappointing given the team’s ambitions. “We came here to defend our title, and while we gave everything, we weren’t as sharp as we needed to be in key moments,” Griffiths said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the effort, but at this level, execution is everything.”
For the Knights, the loss marks the end of a rollercoaster season that included memorable wins and standout individual performances. Emerging talents such as Jesse Southwell continued their development, while experienced heads kept the side competitive until the very end.
Attention now turns to the off-season, where Newcastle will regroup and rebuild for another title push in 2026.
