Five North Queensland Toyota Gold Stars have signed with the Newcastle Knights ahead of the start of February’s NRLW season.
Fullback Romy Teitzel, half Tahlulah Tillett, hooker Emma Manzelmann, outside back Katie Green and second-rower Rangi-Marie Edwards-Bruce have been named in the Knights’ inaugural NRLW squad.
Teitzel, 22, was crowned the QRLW’s Player of the Year for 2021, leading the competition in points (86) and tries (9) in her eight games. The Tully product also led all backs with 135 metres per game to go along with 5.3 tackle breaks.
A Cairns product, Tillett led the Gold Stars in try assists (8) and line break assists (8) in 2021, while finishing third in the competition in kicking metres. The 23-year-old starred in North Queensland’s Round 5 win over Valkyries, scoring a try and setting up two more.
Despite only being 19-years-old, Manzlemann proved to be one of the standout dummy-half in the QRLW competition in her maiden season. The Mackay junior finished third in the league in line breaks (8) and tackle breaks (44), along with making 169 tackles at 95% efficiency.
Edwards-Bruce, 24, averaged 80 metres per game and scored two tries in 2021. A native of Kaitaiai in New Zealand, Edwards-Bruce was one of the Gold Stars best in the narrow semi-final loss to the Burleigh Bears, running for a season-high 134 metres, including 54 post-contact, and three tackle breaks.
25-year-old Green finished third on the Gold Stars try scorers list (5), to go along with 17 tackle breaks and four line breaks. The Mackay junior was a standout in North Queensland’s 30-4 win over the Tigers, scoring two tries and running for 112 metres.
Earlier this year outside back Jasmine Peters and second-rower Shaniah Power signed with the Gold Coast Titans for their inaugural season.
