2 weeks Ago By Renee Valentine
Teenage second-rower Evah McEwen is set to make her NRLW debut in the Knights' must-win clash against North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday. Login or signup to continue reading The 18-year-old development player has been named as a travelling reserve but the Newcastle Herald understands McEwen will come into the 17-player match-day squad for an important final-round exchange with the Cowboys. Experienced prop Rima Butler has been named in the squad but was carrying a knee injury from Newcastle's 46-10 rout of the Gold Coast last weekend and midweek was rated a 50-50 chance to play by coach Ben Jeffries.
The Knights, on 10 points, are fourth by points differential. They are level with fifth-placed Parramatta, who face the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, and will seal a finals spot for a third straight year by beating sixth-placed North Queensland (eight points). Newcastle's points differential is 74 compared to Parramatta's -10.
The Roosters, Cronulla, who sustained a shock 12-10 loss to the Wests Tigers on Thursday night, and Brisbane are all on 12 points in a tussle for top spot. McEwen is a NSW under-19 representative and will be the third teenager to debut for the Knights in NRLW this year along with versatile back Lilly-Ann White and utility Evie Jones , who have also headed to Townsville. White is listed as a reserve and Jones on the bench.
The debut will cap a big week in the McEwen family with Evah's 19-year-old brother Jermaine one of three players promoted to the Knights' NRL top-30 roster from the club's pathway system. Jermaine, a NSW under-19 representative forward, has signed a three-year deal to remain at the Knights until the end of 2027. Eighteen-year-old Australian schoolboy Cody Hopwood, also a forward, has signed a new contract to remain a Newcastle Knight until at least the end of 2028.
Athletic back Connor Votano, 18, joins the NRL development list in 2025. Meanwhile, Jeffries is after more of the same as the Knights look to lock down another finals appearance after annihilating the Titans for the club's biggest ever NRLW win . Powerful right winger Sheridan Gallagher produced a hat-trick of tries.
In all, the Knights ran in nine tries between Gallagher, second-rower Yasmin Clydsdale, fullback Tamika Upton, centre Shanice Parker and winger Tenika Willison. "Early in the piece, we struggled to get the ball to the edges, but now it seems to be a bit more free-flowing, and hopefully that continues this weekend," Jeffries said. "I'm really happy with how the halves and the spine are starting to combine and getting that ball out to the edges.
You see the centres and wingers are starting to reap the rewards." The Knights dominated possession and had a high completion rate in a strong performance against the Titans that came after an agonising 32-24 loss to the Broncos. Jeffries said it would be imperative to hold the ball again in what is expected to be hot Townsville conditions.
"We had our best completion rate last week, so it's pivotal to replicate that again and just play field position," Jeffries said. "Keep it very simple." The Knights flew north on Friday after a morning captain's run in Newcastle.
"We'll get there, have dinner, wake up, team walk, have a couple of hours then play," Jeffries said. "It's a bit of a FIFO [fly in, fly out] job. We're just going up there for business and coming straight back hopefully with two points.
" Kick-off at Queensland Country Bank Stadium is 3.15pm. Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle.
She is passionate about increasing the visibility of sportswomen in the media. Got a sports story, email Renee at r.valentine@newcastleherald.
com.au Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle. She is passionate about increasing the visibility of sportswomen in the media.
Got a sports story, email Renee at [email protected].
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