NRL great keeps Southwell's career kicking along nicely

The Advertiser

05-08-2025

The great North Sydney Bears and Canterbury Bulldogs goal-kicker Daryl Halligan retired five years before Jesse Southwell was born, but the young Newcastle Knights NRLW star is reaping the benefits of his knowledge right now.
The 20-year-old Southwell is on a season streak of 21 goals straight from six matches - a 100 per cent kicking record.
Even in the wind and wet of the NRLW Magic Round at her home ground McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday, she landed all three conversions in the 18-0 win over the Raiders.
"I did feel pressure because it's been spoken about a bit," Southwell told AAP in the Knights' sheds.
"It was the ones in front I was stressed most about, (thinking) 'don't miss these Jesse'. But the girls have been scoring near the posts for me, so that's been brilliant."
And her brains trust off-field is the man who still sits in the top 10 (No.8) for the NRL's greatest points-scorers with 2034 from 855 goals and 80 tries in 230 games (1991-2000), even though he retired 25 years ago.
Halligan is a kicking consultant with the Knights.
"I'm doing heaps of stuff with him when he's in town," Southwell said.
"He wants me to make sure my processes are the same in training as in games.
"He also helps with the pressure moments, and I'm actually enjoying my kicking - just trying to make sure I keep hitting it in the right spot."
It's not just Southwell's goal-kicking skills that have impressed her skipper and NSW Origin teammate Yasmin Clydsdale and helped the Knights to third spot on the NRLW ladder off the back of four straight wins.
Southwell has five try assists, five line-break assists and eight forced drop-outs, and averages 305 kicking metres a game.
"She's only 20 and has so much composure on the field. We're extremely lucky to have a player like her in our team," Clydsdale said.
Coach Ben Jeffries echoed that sentiment.
"Really proud of Jess - she's kicking really well at the moment, and her decision-making and patience for a young player is remarkable," he said.
The great North Sydney Bears and Canterbury Bulldogs goal-kicker Daryl Halligan retired five years before Jesse Southwell was born, but the young Newcastle Knights NRLW star is reaping the benefits of his knowledge right now.
The 20-year-old Southwell is on a season streak of 21 goals straight from six matches - a 100 per cent kicking record.
Even in the wind and wet of the NRLW Magic Round at her home ground McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday, she landed all three conversions in the 18-0 win over the Raiders.
"I did feel pressure because it's been spoken about a bit," Southwell told AAP in the Knights' sheds.
"It was the ones in front I was stressed most about, (thinking) 'don't miss these Jesse'. But the girls have been scoring near the posts for me, so that's been brilliant."
And her brains trust off-field is the man who still sits in the top 10 (No.8) for the NRL's greatest points-scorers with 2034 from 855 goals and 80 tries in 230 games (1991-2000), even though he retired 25 years ago.
Halligan is a kicking consultant with the Knights.
"I'm doing heaps of stuff with him when he's in town," Southwell said.
"He wants me to make sure my processes are the same in training as in games.
"He also helps with the pressure moments, and I'm actually enjoying my kicking - just trying to make sure I keep hitting it in the right spot."
It's not just Southwell's goal-kicking skills that have impressed her skipper and NSW Origin teammate Yasmin Clydsdale and helped the Knights to third spot on the NRLW ladder off the back of four straight wins.
Southwell has five try assists, five line-break assists and eight forced drop-outs, and averages 305 kicking metres a game.
"She's only 20 and has so much composure on the field. We're extremely lucky to have a player like her in our team," Clydsdale said.
Coach Ben Jeffries echoed that sentiment.
"Really proud of Jess - she's kicking really well at the moment, and her decision-making and patience for a young player is remarkable," he said.
The great North Sydney Bears and Canterbury Bulldogs goal-kicker Daryl Halligan retired five years before Jesse Southwell was born, but the young Newcastle Knights NRLW star is reaping the benefits of his knowledge right now.
The 20-year-old Southwell is on a season streak of 21 goals straight from six matches - a 100 per cent kicking record.
Even in the wind and wet of the NRLW Magic Round at her home ground McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday, she landed all three conversions in the 18-0 win over the Raiders.
"I did feel pressure because it's been spoken about a bit," Southwell told AAP in the Knights' sheds.
"It was the ones in front I was stressed most about, (thinking) 'don't miss these Jesse'. But the girls have been scoring near the posts for me, so that's been brilliant."
And her brains trust off-field is the man who still sits in the top 10 (No.8) for the NRL's greatest points-scorers with 2034 from 855 goals and 80 tries in 230 games (1991-2000), even though he retired 25 years ago.
Halligan is a kicking consultant with the Knights.
"I'm doing heaps of stuff with him when he's in town," Southwell said.
"He wants me to make sure my processes are the same in training as in games.
"He also helps with the pressure moments, and I'm actually enjoying my kicking - just trying to make sure I keep hitting it in the right spot."
It's not just Southwell's goal-kicking skills that have impressed her skipper and NSW Origin teammate Yasmin Clydsdale and helped the Knights to third spot on the NRLW ladder off the back of four straight wins.
Southwell has five try assists, five line-break assists and eight forced drop-outs, and averages 305 kicking metres a game.
"She's only 20 and has so much composure on the field. We're extremely lucky to have a player like her in our team," Clydsdale said.
Coach Ben Jeffries echoed that sentiment.
"Really proud of Jess - she's kicking really well at the moment, and her decision-making and patience for a young player is remarkable," he said.