The Illawarra Steelers’ season ended in disappointment after a 20-0 defeat to first-placed Newcastle Knights in the final round of the NSWRL Women’s Premiership.
The Steelers opened their 2026 campaign with four wins from their first five games, but a slump in the second half of the season, losing four of their last six, saw them slip to 8th on the ladder to finish just one competition point outside the top five and a finals berth.
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The Steelers started strongly, creating several try-scoring opportunities, but the Knights defence held firm, and the visitors were unable to capitalise on their early momentum.
The first try came in the 17th minute through Newcastle’s captain Tyla Brown, breaking through the left before bringing it around to score under the posts for an easy conversion, making it 6-0.
The points soon kept coming for the Knights, scoring in the 22nd minute through winger Mia Middleton, and further extending their lead with a try to centre Shikynah Pearson in the 29th minute after beating three defenders, pushing their lead and the halftime score to 14-0.
A tense deadlock developed after halftime, with momentum swinging between both teams. However, it was the Knights who eventually broke through again; centre Mariah Brown found space on the left edge to score. Halfback Sybella Pike slotted her second goal of the afternoon to make it 20-0 with just over fifteen minutes remaining.
In the end, the Knights defence proved too strong, keeping the Steelers scoreless to seal the win. The loss dashed Illawarra’s finals hopes, consigning them to 8th place, the first time the Steelers have missed the playoffs since joining the competition in 2023.
Words: Harrison Mellare
File Image Credit: Denis Ivaneza