She's one of us: Knights embrace 'Newy girl' Georgia

Her Knights team-mates call Yorkshire-born Georgia Roche an honorary Novocastrian. 

It is the ultimate compliment for the 26-year-old English international and illustrates the impact Roche has made and the high regard in which she is held since travelling halfway around the world to join the Hunter-based NRLW club three years ago. 

After stints at Featherstone, Castleford and Leeds, where she stamped herself as one of the most exciting players in the English Super League, the then 22-year-old five-eighth backed herself on a leap of faith and signed a five-year contract with the Knights. 

"I think 'Rochey' has really embraced the Newy lifestyle," captain Kayla Romaniuk said after Newcastle's 32-20 loss to the Titans in Round 11.

"She loves it here – and she speaks so highly of the club and the coaching staff and her teammates. Rochey is such a good character to have around the club, and she's so smart when she plays her football. 

"She's gone up a different level this year and we've gone off the back of her. She's definitely a Newy girl now, but she's still our little English muffin as well. 

"She loves it here in Newy, and I'm so glad she's staying." 

Roche's initial five-year deal was due to expire at the end of 2027 but she signed a three-year extension last week that will keep her in Newcastle until at least the end of 2030. 

"There's a lot to love about the place, the town, the community," Roche told NRL.com. 

"I love everyone here, love the place, and more importantly the girls at the club. It means a lot to me and there's some very special people here. 

"I look around the sheds and there's not one person that I don't want to run out on to that field with, and I know they've got my back. 

"That's a comforting feeling, obviously coming from such a long way away. 

"These girls have made it like home and it was a very easy decision." 

Roche (2023) and Knights halves partner Kirra Dibb (2022) each took a turn playing five-eighth alongside Jesse Southwell in Newcastle's NRLW premiership-winning teams. 

On Saturday, when the Knights play defending premiers Brisbane in an elimination final at Totally Workwear Stadium, they will pair up to try to take down Southwell and Broncos veteran Ali Brigginshaw in the battle of the playmakers. 

Brisbane prevailed 30-12 when the teams met at the same venue in Round 4 but Roche fancies Newcastle's chances of turning the tables on Saturday. 

"When we played the Broncos at the beginning of the season it was a good game, so we've just got to bring the focus to us and what we're good at, fix up our defence, then go out there and perform against the Broncs," Roche said. 

"Finals football is a new competition, and if you look at the success of the club, that's the kind of football we love to play. It's a new season, it's the finals, and we're ready." 

Roche's left elbow was taped up after the loss to the Titans but she described it as a "stinger" and was confident it would not stop her from lining up against Brisbane. 

After losing home-grown Southwell to the Broncos in the off-season, Jeffries was happy to hand his team's reins to the English playmaker who now calls Newcastle home. 

"She challenged myself and the staff at the start of the year, wanting to be the 'seven', and she had a really good pre-season, and she's played really well this year," Jeffries said. 

"Obviously she's still getting used to playing halfback but she's only going to get better. She's in her mid-20s, so her game of football is only going to get better from here and it's our role to support her and put that belief into her. 

"It's important to have players like Georgia here for a period of time. She's made this her home, and we want it to be her home. 

"She's signed to 2030 now, which gives us stability around one of the main playing roles – well, halfback is the main playing role – so that's hers to keep. It also helps her belief that the club want her, and me personally, I want her for a long period of time as well." 

Roche complimented Jeffries, a former halfback, and senior Knights teammates for helping her make a smooth transition from five-eighth. 

"It's not just solely down to me. I've got a great group of leaders around me, and obviously a great partnership with Kirra," Roche said. 

"I say it all the time, it's not the traditional six/seven role, we both play our equal part, and obviously we've got a great 'nine' in Olivia Higgins who controls the middle for us. 

"So there's plenty of leaders out on the field that do their bit and help make my job easier." 

Apart from her on-field role, Roche works in Newcastle's pathways program and is proud of the progress of young guns like Emily McArthur and Charley Lahmert, who have made successful NRLW debuts in the past month. 

Roche should be one of England's key players in the World Cup starting next month but only has eyes on Newcastle's NRLW campaign. 

"It's super-exciting but our season's not done yet, so I'll keep my focus here with the girls and see what happens towards the end of the year," she said. 

As for being considered a "Newy girl", Roche laughed: "I don't think I've earned that yet". 

"To be called a Novocastrian, it means a lot to the club, and the town means a lot to the people that are from here," she said. 

"So I don't think I deserve that yet – but I'll still be the English muffin to these girls."