Newcastle's NRLW rivals have put the Knights on notice, telling them to "watch their back" and that they won't win a third straight premiership.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Knights kick off the NRLW season on Thursday night with a headline home clash against arch-rivals the Sydney Roosters at McDonald Jones Stadium.
With the vast majority of their back-to-back premiership-winning squad still intact, the Knights enter the competition as one of the favourites.
They have the game's best player in fullback Tamika Upton, the premier prop in Caitlan Johnston-Green and a rising star halfback in Jesse Southwell.
But rivals are adamant an NRLW three-peat won't come easy.
"They will have to watch their back," St George Illawarra and New Zealand captain Raecene McGregor said.
"There are going to be teams coming for them, we all want that.
"They've got a good squad, but at the end of the day sometimes it's whoever wants it more.
"They are going for that three-peat, and there will be teams going to knock them off."
Now in its seventh season, the evolution of the NRLW means the majority of squads are largely unchanged after the introduction of multi-year contracts.
That should help the likes of Canberra, Cronulla, North Queensland and Wests Tigers, who all entered as new franchises last season.
Gold Coast also stand to benefit, after reaching last year's grand final and leading the Knights 18-12 with 25 minutes to play before losing 24-18.
"We've definitely reflected on it and cast back," Titans captain Georgia Hale said.
"In the heat of the moment, it was disappointment. But over time it has shown you have to lose one to win one.
"There were a lot of learnings out of 2023. We can pick up where we've left off, which is a nice base."
"In previous years it's been new coaches, new players, new structures and you're starting all over. But we've got a base and foundation."
Hale is another player determined to knock off the Knights.
"They're not going to win three in a row, ok?" the Titans playmakers quipped.
"You do cast an eye on Newcastle. You don't know what they're going to bring, we haven't played them yet.
"But I would say every team in this competition is competitive now. It's a credit to where the competition and the product is."
Newcastle's push for a three-peat is not the first in the NRLW.
Brisbane won the opening three competitions between 2017 and 2019, but were finally knocked off in 2020 as teams came harder and harder at them.
"Whether it's after one premiership or two, they are coming after you when you have won the competition," Roosters five-eighth and former Bronco Tarryn Aiken said.
"They obviously know people will be coming after them, but that's just part of the game.
"They are still the team to beat. They've got Tamika Upton leading the way, and a good forward pack. But we're up to the challenge for round one."
Australian Associated Press
