Knights powerless to keep Southwell if she wants to join Broncos superteam
August 20, 2025
The Newcastle Knights are in real danger of losing homegrown young gun Jesse Southwell as soon as the end of the year, with the Brisbane Broncos very interested in signing her as the club’s long-term halfback.
The blockbuster move, which was first reported by for the Daily Telegraph, has put the rest of the league on red alert, considering how strong the Broncos already are.
Win $500 Cash In Our Free Giveaway Here
Southwell is signed with the Knights through to 2027, but currently carries player options in her deal for the next two years – meaning she could feasibly leave the Hunter at the end of the current campaign as a free agent. The Sporting Base understands that’s the most likely possibility, as it stands.
Brisbane’s very keen and would love to plug Southwell in over five-eighth Gayle Broughton.
No surprise why either: A northern swap for Southwell would set the Broncos up as an out-and-out title threat every season alongside the already near-unstoppable Sydney Roosters, who lead the comp undefeated right now.
The Knights are firmly third in the modern NRLW triumvirate, but would fall away without their seven.
And, the Broncos would likely leapfrog the Broncos; Southwell is undoubtedly the game’s best halfback right now.
Win $500 Cash In Our Free Giveaway Here
The Knights are adamant they don’t want Southwell to leave, telling Renee Valentine at the Newcastle Herald as much this week, but with Southwell holding the power with her POs, the Hunter organisation would be powerless to keep her beyond 2025 if the 20-year-old actually wants to leave her home team.
“We would like to keep her here longer term, and the discussions have been positive and promising. The agent hasn’t provided me with any negative feedback on the club,” Parr told the Herald on Monday.
“But somebody of her profile and status in our game is always going to attract attention.”
That status only compounded when a breakout young Southwell (and then Knights fullback Tamika Upton) led Newy to two titles. Then Southwell was a leading figure in New South Wales’ two games to one State of Origin victory in 2025, where she coughed up several gamebreaking performances in the sky blue.
For now, though, everything rests on whether she wants more trophies or to stay at her home club.
August 20, 2025
The Baseline: They're not great yet, but calling Ryles' Eels rebuild 'a lie' is cooked
I was having my coffee this morning when I saw an NRL article on Jason Ryles and the work he's doing to turn the Parramatta Eels around after some serious down years for the Western Sydney Read MoreAugust 20, 2025
NRL: Rabbitohs Vs Dragons - Stats, Insights & Our Tips
The home team has won the first half in each of the last seven NRL matches between the Rabbitohs and Dragons We have put together a full list of essential insights that will help you bet on Read MoreAugust 19, 2025
Raiders the landing spot for Smith, if he wants to stay as second fiddle
The Canberra Raiders are very interested in signing Sandon Smith for next season and could get their man as soon as November this year if he's happy to leave the Sydney Roosters to parachute into a Read More
Tell Us What You Think Below