Newcastle halfback Jesse Southwell stars on debut as Knights claim first NRLW win over Brisbane Broncos

Tipped to make strides this season after recruiting a host of big-name players, the new-look Knights hit the ground running on home turf with a dazzling six-try display.

Their historic win, over the powerhouse Broncos - three-time premiers across 2018-20 - came in front of a reasonable crowd that stuck around after the men's NRL match.

After failing to win a game in their inaugural campaign earlier this year, Newcastle came out firing and scored three tries in the first half to take a 16-4 lead.

They slightly opened the door for the Broncos before and after halftime, but pushed on to claim an impressive first-up victory.

Fresh off winning a gold medal in rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games, 17-year-old half Jesse Southwell lived up to every bit of her hype.

Playing against women years beyond her age, in some cases more than a decade, she looked right at home as the chief playmaker.

The Cameron Park product used a strong right-foot step to score from close range after only five minutes.

She then made a 50-metre break that led to Newcastle's third try, darting through the defensive line and stepping the fullback before being brought down.

Romy Teitzel scored a few plays later on the right edge.

Teitzel, playing back-row rather than fullback where she did last season, missed a tackle a minute before half-time that allowed Brisbane to reduce the deficit to 16-10, but the Knights would score first after the break through interchange forward Tayla Predebon to re-establish a 12-point buffer.

Broncos winger Julia Robinson crossed in the 53rd minute to give her side a sniff, but Knights prop Caitlan Johnston came on and barged over five minutes later.

Johnston replaced Millie Boyle, who at that stage had made 146 metres from 17 runs and produced a stunning captain's knock without fellow skipper Hannah Southwell, who injured her knee early in the game.

Newcastle face the Titans on the Gold Coast next Sunday.

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