The appointment that brought Knights gun to tears

The Advertiser

24-06-2025

YASMIN Clydsdale thought her chances of captaining a team had past but Knights NRLW coach Ben Jeffries believes no-one is more worthy of leading her home town than the inspirational back-rower.
Clydsdale was announced captain of the Knights' NRLW team at the season launch on Tuesday, taking the reins from long-term skipper Hannah Southwell, who is now at the Dragons.
The 31-yeat-old has achieved everything in the game, winning three premierships as well as representing her state and country.
She now ticks the final box.
"I probably thought I had past this opportunity," Clydsdale said. "It is a shock but also a privilege and honour. I would almost put this No.1 [in my achievements].
"BJ (Jeffries) told me when it was just us two. It didn't really hit me until he announced it to the team. I started crying.
"This is my home town, the community I grew up in. To be able to represent and captain the team is something I didn't think would happen."
Clydsdale is the most experienced player in the Knights squad with 39 NRLW games. She has won pemierships with the Roosters and Knights, was part of the NSW team which beat Queensland this year and has won a World Cup with the Jillaroos.
But there is more to Clydsdale than just her playing record.
"She sets the standard on and off the field," Jeffrries said. "I don't know how she fits everything in. She aligns herself to the club's values and epotomises what this club is all about.
"This group adore her. I can't think of anyone more worthy than Yas to be the captain this season."
Cyldsdale was a gun touch and rugby sevens player - representing Australia at both - before embarking on a rugby league career.
Asked if she had ever captained a side, Clydsdale said: "No never. I don't know how I will go tossing the coin. Hopefully, I get a few wins. This is all very new to me."
While Clydsdale may not have had the C besides her name, the Scone PE teacher has loing been a leader.
"The way I lead is through communication," she said. "Being able to connect and communicate with the girls is something I pride mysefl on. I make sure I have conversations. Getting to undertstand them and getting to know them is something I do every year.
"I want them to feel comfortable in this environment, so they can flourish."
A new-look Knights open their 2025 campaign against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Friday July 4.
Southwell, superstar fullback Tamika Upton and barnstorming prop Caitlan Johnston-Green are among seven departures from the side which finished fourth in 2024, going down 25-16 to the Roosters in the semi-final.
Wests Tigers fullback Botille Vette-Walsh and Kiwi Keighley Simpson head the list of arrivals, while premiership-winning forward Tiana Davison returns from the Roosters.
NSW under-19 representatives Lilly-Ann White and Evah, McEwen and fellow home-grown talents Jules Kirkpatrick and Evie Jones will get more opprtunities.
They join established stars, hooker Olivia Higgins, NSW halfback Jesse Southwell, New Zealand outside back Shanice Parker and England five-eighth Georgia Roche.
"To be able to captain a team full of so much talent. I'm really excited," Clydsdale said. "It is a young team, but I feel everyone has leadership qualities and they all bring different quaities to the team.
"We have a great bunch of girls and we push each other to be better.
"I love that we are off the cuff and play what is in front of us.
"BJ has worked really hard with the strength and conditioning team and the physio to make sure all the girls are ready to go on paddock.
"We will take it one game at a time. We have two new teams coming in this year and it is a long season. I don't think anyone can be underestimated."
NRLW expands to a 12-team, 11-round competition this year with the additions of the Bulldogs and Warriors.
Jeffries has put the Knights squad through a gruelling preseason. The hard work showed in a 20-12 trial win over Canberra in Cessnock on June 15.
"We are a fitter faster group than we were," Jeffries said. "That is the way the female game is going.
"I'm really optimist about how we will go this year."
YASMIN Clydsdale thought her chances of captaining a team had past but Knights NRLW coach Ben Jeffries believes no-one is more worthy of leading her home town than the inspirational back-rower.
Clydsdale was announced captain of the Knights' NRLW team at the season launch on Tuesday, taking the reins from long-term skipper Hannah Southwell, who is now at the Dragons.
The 31-yeat-old has achieved everything in the game, winning three premierships as well as representing her state and country.
She now ticks the final box.
"I probably thought I had past this opportunity," Clydsdale said. "It is a shock but also a privilege and honour. I would almost put this No.1 [in my achievements].
"BJ (Jeffries) told me when it was just us two. It didn't really hit me until he announced it to the team. I started crying.
"This is my home town, the community I grew up in. To be able to represent and captain the team is something I didn't think would happen."
Clydsdale is the most experienced player in the Knights squad with 39 NRLW games. She has won pemierships with the Roosters and Knights, was part of the NSW team which beat Queensland this year and has won a World Cup with the Jillaroos.
But there is more to Clydsdale than just her playing record.
"She sets the standard on and off the field," Jeffrries said. "I don't know how she fits everything in. She aligns herself to the club's values and epotomises what this club is all about.
"This group adore her. I can't think of anyone more worthy than Yas to be the captain this season."
Cyldsdale was a gun touch and rugby sevens player - representing Australia at both - before embarking on a rugby league career.
Asked if she had ever captained a side, Clydsdale said: "No never. I don't know how I will go tossing the coin. Hopefully, I get a few wins. This is all very new to me."
While Clydsdale may not have had the C besides her name, the Scone PE teacher has loing been a leader.
"The way I lead is through communication," she said. "Being able to connect and communicate with the girls is something I pride mysefl on. I make sure I have conversations. Getting to undertstand them and getting to know them is something I do every year.
"I want them to feel comfortable in this environment, so they can flourish."
A new-look Knights open their 2025 campaign against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Friday July 4.
Southwell, superstar fullback Tamika Upton and barnstorming prop Caitlan Johnston-Green are among seven departures from the side which finished fourth in 2024, going down 25-16 to the Roosters in the semi-final.
Wests Tigers fullback Botille Vette-Walsh and Kiwi Keighley Simpson head the list of arrivals, while premiership-winning forward Tiana Davison returns from the Roosters.
NSW under-19 representatives Lilly-Ann White and Evah, McEwen and fellow home-grown talents Jules Kirkpatrick and Evie Jones will get more opprtunities.
They join established stars, hooker Olivia Higgins, NSW halfback Jesse Southwell, New Zealand outside back Shanice Parker and England five-eighth Georgia Roche.
"To be able to captain a team full of so much talent. I'm really excited," Clydsdale said. "It is a young team, but I feel everyone has leadership qualities and they all bring different quaities to the team.
"We have a great bunch of girls and we push each other to be better.
"I love that we are off the cuff and play what is in front of us.
"BJ has worked really hard with the strength and conditioning team and the physio to make sure all the girls are ready to go on paddock.
"We will take it one game at a time. We have two new teams coming in this year and it is a long season. I don't think anyone can be underestimated."
NRLW expands to a 12-team, 11-round competition this year with the additions of the Bulldogs and Warriors.
Jeffries has put the Knights squad through a gruelling preseason. The hard work showed in a 20-12 trial win over Canberra in Cessnock on June 15.
"We are a fitter faster group than we were," Jeffries said. "That is the way the female game is going.
"I'm really optimist about how we will go this year."
YASMIN Clydsdale thought her chances of captaining a team had past but Knights NRLW coach Ben Jeffries believes no-one is more worthy of leading her home town than the inspirational back-rower.
Clydsdale was announced captain of the Knights' NRLW team at the season launch on Tuesday, taking the reins from long-term skipper Hannah Southwell, who is now at the Dragons.
The 31-yeat-old has achieved everything in the game, winning three premierships as well as representing her state and country.
She now ticks the final box.
"I probably thought I had past this opportunity," Clydsdale said. "It is a shock but also a privilege and honour. I would almost put this No.1 [in my achievements].
"BJ (Jeffries) told me when it was just us two. It didn't really hit me until he announced it to the team. I started crying.
"This is my home town, the community I grew up in. To be able to represent and captain the team is something I didn't think would happen."
Clydsdale is the most experienced player in the Knights squad with 39 NRLW games. She has won pemierships with the Roosters and Knights, was part of the NSW team which beat Queensland this year and has won a World Cup with the Jillaroos.
But there is more to Clydsdale than just her playing record.
"She sets the standard on and off the field," Jeffrries said. "I don't know how she fits everything in. She aligns herself to the club's values and epotomises what this club is all about.
"This group adore her. I can't think of anyone more worthy than Yas to be the captain this season."
Cyldsdale was a gun touch and rugby sevens player - representing Australia at both - before embarking on a rugby league career.
Asked if she had ever captained a side, Clydsdale said: "No never. I don't know how I will go tossing the coin. Hopefully, I get a few wins. This is all very new to me."
While Clydsdale may not have had the C besides her name, the Scone PE teacher has loing been a leader.
"The way I lead is through communication," she said. "Being able to connect and communicate with the girls is something I pride mysefl on. I make sure I have conversations. Getting to undertstand them and getting to know them is something I do every year.
"I want them to feel comfortable in this environment, so they can flourish."
A new-look Knights open their 2025 campaign against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Friday July 4.
Southwell, superstar fullback Tamika Upton and barnstorming prop Caitlan Johnston-Green are among seven departures from the side which finished fourth in 2024, going down 25-16 to the Roosters in the semi-final.
Wests Tigers fullback Botille Vette-Walsh and Kiwi Keighley Simpson head the list of arrivals, while premiership-winning forward Tiana Davison returns from the Roosters.
NSW under-19 representatives Lilly-Ann White and Evah, McEwen and fellow home-grown talents Jules Kirkpatrick and Evie Jones will get more opprtunities.
They join established stars, hooker Olivia Higgins, NSW halfback Jesse Southwell, New Zealand outside back Shanice Parker and England five-eighth Georgia Roche.
"To be able to captain a team full of so much talent. I'm really excited," Clydsdale said. "It is a young team, but I feel everyone has leadership qualities and they all bring different quaities to the team.
"We have a great bunch of girls and we push each other to be better.
"I love that we are off the cuff and play what is in front of us.
"BJ has worked really hard with the strength and conditioning team and the physio to make sure all the girls are ready to go on paddock.
"We will take it one game at a time. We have two new teams coming in this year and it is a long season. I don't think anyone can be underestimated."
NRLW expands to a 12-team, 11-round competition this year with the additions of the Bulldogs and Warriors.
Jeffries has put the Knights squad through a gruelling preseason. The hard work showed in a 20-12 trial win over Canberra in Cessnock on June 15.
"We are a fitter faster group than we were," Jeffries said. "That is the way the female game is going.
"I'm really optimist about how we will go this year."
YASMIN Clydsdale thought her chances of captaining a team had past but Knights NRLW coach Ben Jeffries believes no-one is more worthy of leading her home town than the inspirational back-rower.
Clydsdale was announced captain of the Knights' NRLW team at the season launch on Tuesday, taking the reins from long-term skipper Hannah Southwell, who is now at the Dragons.
The 31-yeat-old has achieved everything in the game, winning three premierships as well as representing her state and country.
She now ticks the final box.
"I probably thought I had past this opportunity," Clydsdale said. "It is a shock but also a privilege and honour. I would almost put this No.1 [in my achievements].
"BJ (Jeffries) told me when it was just us two. It didn't really hit me until he announced it to the team. I started crying.
"This is my home town, the community I grew up in. To be able to represent and captain the team is something I didn't think would happen."
Clydsdale is the most experienced player in the Knights squad with 39 NRLW games. She has won pemierships with the Roosters and Knights, was part of the NSW team which beat Queensland this year and has won a World Cup with the Jillaroos.
But there is more to Clydsdale than just her playing record.
"She sets the standard on and off the field," Jeffrries said. "I don't know how she fits everything in. She aligns herself to the club's values and epotomises what this club is all about.
"This group adore her. I can't think of anyone more worthy than Yas to be the captain this season."
Cyldsdale was a gun touch and rugby sevens player - representing Australia at both - before embarking on a rugby league career.
Asked if she had ever captained a side, Clydsdale said: "No never. I don't know how I will go tossing the coin. Hopefully, I get a few wins. This is all very new to me."
While Clydsdale may not have had the C besides her name, the Scone PE teacher has loing been a leader.
"The way I lead is through communication," she said. "Being able to connect and communicate with the girls is something I pride mysefl on. I make sure I have conversations. Getting to undertstand them and getting to know them is something I do every year.
"I want them to feel comfortable in this environment, so they can flourish."
A new-look Knights open their 2025 campaign against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Friday July 4.
Southwell, superstar fullback Tamika Upton and barnstorming prop Caitlan Johnston-Green are among seven departures from the side which finished fourth in 2024, going down 25-16 to the Roosters in the semi-final.
Wests Tigers fullback Botille Vette-Walsh and Kiwi Keighley Simpson head the list of arrivals, while premiership-winning forward Tiana Davison returns from the Roosters.
NSW under-19 representatives Lilly-Ann White and Evah, McEwen and fellow home-grown talents Jules Kirkpatrick and Evie Jones will get more opprtunities.
They join established stars, hooker Olivia Higgins, NSW halfback Jesse Southwell, New Zealand outside back Shanice Parker and England five-eighth Georgia Roche.
"To be able to captain a team full of so much talent. I'm really excited," Clydsdale said. "It is a young team, but I feel everyone has leadership qualities and they all bring different quaities to the team.
"We have a great bunch of girls and we push each other to be better.
"I love that we are off the cuff and play what is in front of us.
"BJ has worked really hard with the strength and conditioning team and the physio to make sure all the girls are ready to go on paddock.
"We will take it one game at a time. We have two new teams coming in this year and it is a long season. I don't think anyone can be underestimated."
NRLW expands to a 12-team, 11-round competition this year with the additions of the Bulldogs and Warriors.
Jeffries has put the Knights squad through a gruelling preseason. The hard work showed in a 20-12 trial win over Canberra in Cessnock on June 15.
"We are a fitter faster group than we were," Jeffries said. "That is the way the female game is going.
"I'm really optimist about how we will go this year."