RAYMOND Terrace rugby league warrior Shanice Parker is ready to play a leader’s role with the Newcastle Knights in next year’s NRLW competition.
Parker, a dual premiership-winning centre with the Knights, shapes as a key player in coach Ben Jeffries’ 2026 squad after strong performances this season in the domestic and representative arena.
The loss of international halfback Jesse Southwell to the Brisbane Broncos has rocked the Knights, who were beaten 30-6 by the eventual premiers in a Grand Final qualifier at Suncorp Stadium back in September.
Jeffries will look to the experienced Parker to spearhead the back division with her bustling running style, ball skills and solid defence – a feature of the Newcastle winning blueprint in 2025.
Shanice is the daughter of former Jillaroo Danielle Parker and has signed on with the Knights until the end of the 2028 season.
The powerful centre represented New Zealand at this year’s Women’s Pacific Championships and scored a try in the Kiwi Ferns’ 40-8 loss to the world champion Jillaroos in the Cup final staged at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium last month.
Parker has also pulled on the New Zealand Maori and NSW jumpers in recent times and was the Knights’ NRLW Player of the Year in 2022.
She began her NRLW career with the Sydney Roosters in 2019 before linking with Newcastle and proved a key figure in the club capturing back-to-back premierships during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
By Chris KARAS
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