'Express herself': Dibb ready to unlock Knights attack in Newcastle return
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Newcastle recruit Kirra Dibb is set to unlock a free-flowing attacking mindset as the Knights look to outpace their NRLW rivals throughout the upcoming season.
A premiership winner with the club in 2022, the playmaker is desperate to lead the club back to grand final glory in her return to the Knights.
After three seasons with the Cowboys, Dibb will step into the No.6 jumper in a new-look halves partnership with Georgia Roche when the NRLW season kicks off with a clash between Cronulla and Newcastle at Ocean Protect Stadium on Thursday night.
The pair have been tasked with filling the void left by departed halfback Jesse Southwell, who has joined the Broncos.
NRLW Creators: Kirra Dibb
A former NSW and Australian representative, it hasn't taken long for Dibb to leave her mark on a new-look Knights attack.
"Kirra's been great," Newcastle skipper Yasmin Meakes said. "It feels like a homecoming for her. Her parents have moved to Newcastle so it's cool she gets to spend more time with them.
"I'm so excited to be able to play with her again. It's been a couple of years but she brings so much experience to the squad and her kicking game is one of the best in the NRLW. I'm excited to see what she can do this season."
Match: Sharks v Knights
Round 1 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Knights
Venue: Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
The NRLW competition continues to grow with each successive year and is entering its ninth season.
The 12-team league has developed into the most watched women's competition in the country and the Women's State of Origin series continues to break records both on TV and in the stands.
Thursday's clash at Ocean Protect Stadium pits two premiership contenders against each other in an early-season showdown.
Newcastle claimed back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 and fell one week short of the decider last season when they were knocked out by the Broncos.
Broncos v Knights - Finals Week 2, 2025
The Sharks fell to the Roosters in a thrilling 2024 grand final before being edged by John Strange's side by a point in last year's preliminary final.
With Brisbane and the Roosters setting the benchmark leading into the 2026 campaign, the Knights are out to shake things up with an unpredictable attacking style.
"Jesse was a massive loss," Meakes said. "She brings so much not just on the field but off the field to our squad. But Kirra is phenomenal and I'm excited to see what she can do.
"[Coach Ben Jeffries] has given her a lot of freedom to express herself on the field. That's something she was lacking previously and with the confidence she's grown throughout the pre-season, hopefully that shows on the field."
Cronulla will be without skipper Tiana Penitani Gray on Thursday night as she continues to recover from a knee injury suffered during the State of Origin series.
Emma Verran will also miss the season as she approaches the birth of her child, however they have signed Australian sevens star Madison Ashby in a major coup for the game.
Newcastle have been bolstered by the arrival of former Shark Nakia Davis-Welsh and Kiwi Fern Cheyelle Robins-Reti. Meakes is also primed for a big season after claiming the player of the series award in NSW's State of Origin clean sweep.
The additions have the skipper confident leading into the campaign but she is preparing for a physical clash on Thursday night.
"Their forward pack is one of the best in the competition," Meakes said. "I'm expecting a battle and it's going to be won through the middle.
"Being a night game, whichever team can control the ball the most will probably come away with the win. That's something we're focusing on, completing our sets and controlling what we can control."
Don't miss the NRLW season opener when the Sharks take on the Knights. Kids go free with a paying adult and tickets are selling fast, so click here to secure your seats today.
