After scoring a hat-trick in her NRLW debut with the Newcastle Knights, Keighley Simpson is determined to repeat the dose in the finals.
In amazing scenes at the weekend, the 20-year-old winger was pulled off the bench as a concussion substitute at the tail end of the squad’s game against the St George Illawarra Dragons on Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium.
But, she quickly adapted to the role… and managed to secure three tries to set-up Newcastle’s 30-22 victory.
“It took a while to sink in,” Simpson said.
“I was up all night after I debuted, just thinking about it, my mind couldn’t turn off.
“It was just so surreal.”
The New Zealand native only joined the club’s Harvey Norman side ahead of the 2025 season, having played a full game the day before her debut.
“Going into the match, I just wanted to be there for the girls and prepare… just in case,” she said.
“You never know what is going to happen.
“So, just being there and getting the call up was pretty nerve-wracking.
“I didn’t have much time to overthink, which was actually good on the day.
“I just went and did my job.”
Now, the former 18th player has cemented her position in the squad for the Knights’ play-off showdown with the Gold Coast Titans.
The combatants will lock horns at McDonald Jones Stadim from 2.30pm on Sunday 20 September.
Newcastle Knights forward and Kurri Kurri product Kayla Romaniuk. Photo: Rod Thompson
While Simpson is keenly awaiting the showdown, so too is homegrown vice-captain Kayla Romaniuk.
The Kurri Kurri Bulldogs product remains confident Newcastle will give a good account of itself in the elimination battle.
“I think back to my first semi-final a couple of years ago, it was only my second game,” she said.
“So, it was quite nerve-wracking.
“But, I think in the squad now, we have some great leaders.
“We’ve got Yasmin (Clydsdale) and Olivia (Higgins) who lead us around the park.
“It makes my job a lot easier, just understanding what I have to do in my role and everyone’s the same.
“So, to be able to do that on the weekend, I think we’ll be fine.”
It marks the beginning of the finals series for the Knights, who hope to keep their spot high on the ladder.
“The new comp starts now, so we need to get the win on the weekend,” Romaniuk said.
“And, I have full confidence in the girls to do that.”
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