Laishon Albert-Jones excited for first crack at NRLW with Newcastle Knights: 2023

Laishon Albert-Jones has all the time been a eager observer of NRLW from afar.

So, when the chance arose to get a bit nearer to the motion, the Auckland 25-year-old didn’t hesitate.

The twice-capped New Zealand worldwide, who can be the niece of New Zealand rugby league nice Stacey Jones, took a leap of religion to play in NSW Rugby League girls’s premiership for Mounties this 12 months.

The apprentice automotive spray painter rapidly got here to the eye of NRLW coaches.

“I made the transfer in February,” Albert-Jones stated.

“My participant supervisor gave me a name and he stated Mounties are on the lookout for gamers after which two weeks later I used to be on the airplane heading over.

“My companion stated it’s important to take the chance as a result of if you are going to simply sit right here and never take the chance you are not going to get an opportunity in NRLW.

“I came visiting right here not anticipating to get something immediately. I used to be considering I might need to return again over once more and have one other crack, and I used to be completely nice with that. Then I performed one full recreation and was getting provides.”

A kind of provides got here from Newcastle Knights NRLW premiership-winning coach Ronald Griffiths.

“I had a chat with Ron and the chat was actually good and he made me really feel actually comfy being round him,” Albert-Jones stated.

“I am a extremely shy particular person, so having the ability to really feel comfy round an individual, particularly one who’s the pinnacle coach, made me need to come right here.

“I additionally knew a few the opposite ladies that have been right here from Kiwis so I believed I will take the prospect and get out of my consolation zone, go someplace fully totally different to the place I used to be earlier than.”

Albert-Jones, who can play within the halves however was utilised at lock for Mounties, signed a two-year contract with the Knights and is eager for her first style of NRLW.

“I watch each single recreation [of NRLW], by no means miss a recreation,” she stated.

“It is all the time been a extremely good watch, particularly watching a few of the ladies which have come over earlier than from residence.

“Clearly, I need to play. I am positively aiming to get a shot in spherical one, however I am simply attempting to take in the learnings.

“If I can take something away from right here, if I’ve learnt one thing from right here, then I am proud of that too.”

Albert-Jones scored a attempt to kicked three objectives in her worldwide debut in opposition to Tonga final 12 months earlier than being included in New Zealand’s squad for the Rugby League World Cup in England in November.

“It was positively a superb studying expertise for me,” she stated.

“I learnt quite a bit whereas I used to be over there about being an expert athlete, what it’s important to do on a day-to-day foundation to be an expert athlete. I did not get a lot recreation time, which was completely nice as a result of I took quite a bit away from it.”

MORE NEWS:

The Level Chevalier Pirates junior is a part of a 28-player squad, together with 4 improvement gamers, assembled by Griffiths for his second season in cost.