The 22-year-old Novocastrian, who still lives and works in the Hunter region, remains unsure where she'll line-up this season with officials looking to disperse talent across the newly expanded six-team competition.

It comes amid reports on Thursday that the Knights, one of three squads added last week, are struggling on the recruitment front for 2021 because many top players are already established with founding members the Roosters, St George Illawarra and Brisbane.

"I guess it's just all in the future," Southwell said about potentially playing for the Knights one day.

"I'm pretty committed to the Roosters. I love the club, what they're about and what they stand for.

"But I'd never put out of the question playing for a local club, just depending on the circumstances and what they're willing to have a chat to me about.

"I'm pretty committed to the Roosters and not really looking to leave any time soon."

Multi-talented Southwell, a Kotara Bears junior, returned to rugby league three years ago following successful stints at both rugby union sevens (Australia) and soccer (W-League with Newcastle Jets).

She played the inaugural NRLW with the Dragons in 2018 before spending the most recent two campaigns at the Roosters.

In 2020, Southwell received player of the year awards from the NRLW RLPA, Roosters, NSW State of Origin and NSW Women's Premiership.

She said NRLW expansion was "exciting" but it would be "interesting to see how all the clubs go this year". She added the introduction of the Knights was a chance to "showcase a lot of the local talent".

Southwell would eventually "love to play together" with her younger sister Jesse, 16. "I couldn't think of anything better," she said.

AAP reports the NRL has urged the Knights to be patient while contracts are sorted out over the coming weeks, but new coach Blake Green is eager to get started on his squad.

Most clubs are expected to start pre-season training next month with the competition set to kick off in August, coinciding with round 23 in the men's draw.

Southwell heads to Sydney on Friday to join her NSW teammates for a training camp ahead of next week's State of Origin clash with Queensland on the Sunshine Coast. The Blues are hoping to reclaim the trophy they relinquished last year.

Club wise, title holders the Central Coast Roosters are undefeated on top of the NSW Women's Premiership ladder with one round left before the finals.

A World Cup in the UK remains on the horizon later this year.

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