Sharks upset Knights in NSW Women’s Premiership

RAYMOND Terrace rugby league queens Olivia Higgins and Lilly-Ann White have experienced finals heartbreak with the Newcastle Knights.

Higgins, the crafty Jillaroos international and NSW Sky Blues Origin hooker, turned in a non-stop performance in the Knights’ 30-6 preliminary final loss to the Brisbane Broncos last Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.

The skilful dummy half and three time NRLW premiership winner tried hard to spark the Newcastle side against the powerful Broncos who had too many big guns across the park.

Former Karuah Roos centre Shanice Parker also had her hands full containing Brisbane’s slick back division, spearheaded by former Knights champion fullback Tamika Upton, but never stopped probing in attack.

Brisbane now meet the unbeaten Sydney Roosters in a clash of the titans in this Sunday’s NRLW Grand Final at Accor Stadium.

Emerging fullback White was a late withdrawal from the Newcastle side for last weekend’s NSW Women’s Premiership Grand Final against Cronulla-Sutherland at CommBank Stadium.

The young gun was drafted into the NRLW squad for the preliminary final tilt with Brisbane as a reserve and missed the Knights’ heartbreaking 18-12 loss to the Sharks.

White, an exciting prospect who alternated between wing and fullback in Ben Jeffries’ NRLW squad, played a role in Newcastle claiming the NSW Women’s Premiership minor title with 10 victories from 11 matches during the regular season.

The Knights defeated Illawarra 34-22 in their semi-final clash at Jubilee Oval but stumbled at the final hurdle against a revved up Sharks line-up, despite a second half revival.

By Chris KARAS