'Happy tears': Why Roosters gave Knights their NRLW blessing

Loyalty isn’t like what it used to be in rugby league anymore but representative forward Sarah Togatuki has it in spades at the Sydney Roosters.

The 2021 Karyn Murphy medal winner has knocked back approaches from rival clubs in recent years, including the Eels, to stay loyal to a club she’s been at since 2018.

So when she watched on as five of her premiership-winning teammates defected to Newcastle in the off-season after claiming the club’s maiden NRLW title in April, there were happy tears.

But why?

“They made more sacrifices than any of us last season,” Togatuki says.

Former Roosters Hannah Southwell, Yasmin Clydsdale, Tayla Predebon, Olivia Higgins and Simone Karpani all hail from the Hunter and would regularly commute to Sydney for training and games.

Newcastle were eager to bring them home, particularly Southwell, and their recruitment strategy was simple - sign all the players who she carpooled with.

Despite the Knights entering an NRLW side in 2021, the five players wanted to play one last season at the Tricolours and help try and win a maiden premiership, a feat achieved, hence the tears.

“In our farewell when we celebrated the season there were tears but we told them not to cry, we all understood that they weren’t just walking out,” Togatuki said.

“It was a no-brainer for them and I would’ve done the same.

“The travel between Newcastle and Sydney would be a lot for anyone when you tie in costs and the fact a lot of these girls have day jobs. The history we created last season still lingers on.”

Fast forward to Allianz Stadium on Sunday and it appears both clubs have won out massively by the decisions.

The Knights are 3-0 and have booked their first NRLW finals appearance in club history with two rounds left of the competition while there is an argument to suggest that Roosters are even stronger.

Togatuki is unlikely to play against her former teammates on Sunday after limping from the field against the Dragons last week but her replacement, Pani Hopoate, is just one who has helped the Tricolours continue their momentum in the NRLW.

“We had a pre-season camp [in July] and what we did was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done, it brought a new meaning to resilience,” Togatuki said.

“Pani forgot to bring her joggers but did the whole run by the beach in her sneakers.

“There were times where we were all tiring and didn’t think we could all finish, you know, the moments where we learned to dig deep and find that extra effort to get to the finishing line.

“Pani was someone that we all looked around and thought well if she could do it in sneakers… because she smashed it.

“Your environment makes you who you are. I love the squad we have and particularly seeing how those young girls like Pani respect the returning players.

“The last thing we want is to have any of the girls feel left out. We try and get them involved more than we do. The young talent we have pushes us just as much as we push them.”