Newcastle’s NRLW side defeated the Eels in last year’s decider and are among the favourites again this season after finishing top of the ladder.
“We’re trying to build a bit of a legacy and a dynasty at Newcastle,” Hannah said before the season. Now the Knights are on the cusp of a second grand final appearance in two years,but first they have to beat the Broncos at home in Sunday’s semi-final.
“We’ve still got a long way to go. We’ve got a job this weekend,and then hopefully we make the grand final,” said Hannah,as she reflected on her pre-season comments.
“But,yes,I can see it[the dynasty] slowly starting to happen for us. We just need to not get ahead of ourselves and make sure we stay in the here and now. I definitely believe in this team and in this club,and we’ve got great personnel around us and a great core group. Hopefully,it happens for us.”
The Knights have lost 10 of the players who were part of their 2022 premiership-winning team,including playmaker Kirra Dibb and co-captain Millie Boyle. There were questions about how they would back up in 2023.
But after winning eight of their nine regular-season games,including a comprehensive victory over favourites the Roosters in round eight,the Knights claimed the club’s first minor premiership – men’s or women’s.