History has been made in the Hunter as the Newcastle Knights have not only won their first ever NRLW but they've done it in style with a 32-14 victory over the Brisbane Broncos.
The Knights started fast and it was the rookie Jesse SOuthwell who showed that all the praise is well and truly justified as she just set the game alight when she put on the footwork to go through a gap after a step that left the defence grasping at air.
Brisbane were able to hit back soon after when Julia Robinson got her first as she had to fight her way to the line and got the ball just to the ground to score. A missed conversion meant the Broncos still trailed by 2.
Extending their lead, the Knights used the experience of Tamika Upton to draw in the defence and put Autum-Rain Stephens-Daly in the corner. The Knights were able to score again and it was Jesse Southwell who set it up again when she burst through the middle out of nowhere to put the Knights into attacking position before the next tackle, Romy Teitzel used her strength to get over to score.
Right on the stroke of half time, the Broncos got themselves back into the contest when Tarryn Aiken was able to get through desperate defence to score.
The second half started strongly for the home side again when Tayla Predebon was able to charge at the line from close range and get the ball down for her first NRLW try, Kirra Dibb converted to push the margin out to 12.
Ali Brigginshaw showed why she is still a master of the women's game when she was able to spot an overlap out wide and took advantage of it via the boot finding Julia Robinson for her second. The conversion was missed and kept the margin beyond a converted try.
It didn't matter for the Broncos because the Knights took control of the finish as Caitlan Moran charged over from close range to get the ball down for her first NRLW try before just shy of full time Bobbi Law put the icing on the cake.
Next weekend, the Knights have a trip to the Gold Coast to take on the Titans whilst the Broncos are playing host to the Roosters on Saturday afternoon.