Captain, my captain: Kayla full of praise for 'selfless' Meakes

Knights captain Kayla Romaniuk has paid tribute to her predecessor Yasmin Meakes for her courage and commitment to the team in the face of personal tragedy on and off the field.

After starring for NSW in their 3-0 Origin clean sweep, Meakes was just three games into the NRLW season when she tore her ACL against the Dragons in July.

Less than a month later, as Meakes came to grips with her season being over, her mother Sisi passed away at age 59.

Her teammates and club staff have rallied around the 32-year-old, who in return has continued to be a powerful presence at the Broadmeadow high-performance centre as the Knights reached their fifth finals series in a row. 

She will be on the plane to Brisbane with the Knights for Saturday’s elimination final against the Broncos at Totally Workwear Stadium. 

“Obviously it was a devastating loss when Yaz got injured because she’s a massive presence on the field for us,” Romaniuk said. 

“Then her wonderful mum passed and we all stepped in to help where we could.

“Her personality off the field is going such a long way to helping us each and every game.

“I know I’ve learnt a lot from her this season. She’s always been there for us girls as much as we’re trying to be there for her.

 “Yaz is selflessly still around the crew – she’s still leading in different ways. 

“She’s there all the time with us doing her rehab and she’s been in our video sessions, she’s at every game for us, and she’s really lent into helping our back-rowers at the moment because they’re only young.” 

Fane Finau, 20, and Sienna Yeo, 21, have been taking up the second-row slots with two-time Knights premiership winner Romanuik completing the back row at lock.  

“Yaz is getting confidence into them and always ready to give a rev-up team chat to the rest of us," Romaniuk said.

“That’s very exciting for me because I’m not the best at those kinds of rallying words. 

“She’s been wonderful and is such a good person to have around.” 

Romaniuk said she wasn’t daunted when coach Ben Jeffries asked her to take over as skipper for the remainder of the season after Meakes' injury.

“Our team has such good leaders in it – those who have played rep footy or have been around this club for several years," she said.

“I know I am the captain on the field right now but Yaz is still the captain in my eyes. 

“Our leadership group has tried to step into the void she’s left and they’re all doing a wonderful job. 

“Yaz has definitely been talking a lot with me and giving me confidence and I’m so very grateful for that.”