Shattered Eels star's classy nod to teen rival

In the crushing hours that followed Parramatta's NRLW expansive last defeat, 1 thought went a small mode to easing Tayla Preston's pain.

The Eels halfback recovered joyousness successful the triumph of her rival No.7, Knights rookie Jesse Southwell.

Preston had classy words for the 17-year-old, whose important manus successful Sunday's 32-12 triumph rounded retired a imagination debut season.

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Jesse Southwell celebrates scoring a effort during the Knights' NRLW expansive last triumph implicit the Eels. (NRL Imagery)

"To beryllium 17 and travel retired connected this large signifier ... she perfectly killed it and she's got specified a agelong mode to spell successful this game," Preston, 23, told Wide World of Sports.

"Because she's lone 17 she could beryllium present for the adjacent 13 years.

"I thought she perfectly stood up to the sheet successful each azygous game. She's 1 to ticker retired for. She decidedly held her own. Looking astatine her you wouldn't adjacent cognize she's 17 due to the fact that she holds herself truthful well.

"(I'm) ever supportive for each miss that gets to propulsion connected an NRLW jersey."

An ACL rupture suffered by older sister Hannah successful circular 1 meant that she and Jesse played conscionable 32 minutes unneurotic successful the 2022 season.

Jesse's elevation to the NRLW and Hannah's power from the Roosters had made for a imagination sisterly scenario.

And though that script proved short-lived connected the field, Hannah's guidance for her sister has ne'er been successful question.

Tayla Preston connected the onslaught during the Eels' nonaccomplishment to the Knights successful the NRLW decider. (NRL Imagery)

"I emotion her to bits and I would bash thing for her," Jesse said of her 23-year-old sister.

"Playing without her was the toughest thing.

"It's beauteous chill (to beryllium astatine the Knights together). We already were beauteous adjacent ... it's been beauteous chill having her astir each the time, and I emotion her to bits. I wouldn't person it immoderate different way."

Since crossing from Brisbane during the off-season, Newcastle skipper Millie Boyle has witnessed the Southwell sisters' unthinkable enslaved first-hand.

"For them to beryllium capable to play unneurotic (in) their archetypal crippled successful circular 1 — that was truly peculiar for them and for our squad and for their family," Boyle said.

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"I deliberation Hannah's interaction connected the crippled ... and past her interaction arsenic an older sister connected Jesse keeps her a small spot level.

"(She) pumps her up erstwhile she needs it but past besides knocks her down erstwhile she needs it.

"Older sister and a younger sister, it's ever nether the limb and they're precise close — astir apt a spot person than maine and my sisters were increasing up," Boyle added with a laugh.

Knights manager Ronald Griffiths, sitting adjacent to Boyle successful Newcastle's post-match property conference, chimed successful arsenic the skipper fielded questions astir the Southwells.

"I deliberation wherever it's evident, too, is erstwhile we're doing tackling drills and Hannah picks her out," Griffiths said.

"Just keeps her successful cheque and lets her cognize that (she's) inactive the large sister."

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