Willison plays it cool in pursuit of more golden moments

You would think an Olympic gold medal would be achievement enough for most elite athletes in any given year, if not their entire sporting career.

Tenika Willison, however, is eyeing off an NRLW premiership with Newcastle, and a chance to represent the Kiwi Ferns in the Pacific Championships, to go with the bling she brought back from Paris.

In just her third NRLW appearance since helping New Zealand win the Sevens tournament at Paris -- her second Olympic gold medal after Tokyo in 2021 -- Willison had two try assists in Newcastle's 34-10 rout of Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.

Switching from wing to centre to replace injured former Chiefs Super Rugby teammate Abigail Roache, and in her first game in front of her adopted home crowd, Willison threw the final pass for first-half tries to Georgia Roche and Lilly-Ann White as the Knights raced to a 26-0 half-time lead.

"It was cool, just learning a new game, to be chucked into this position. It was really cool to get a taste of what it's like a little bit further in," Willison told pan66.com.

"Obviously as a winger, you're striking and stuff like that, but at centre, you're more of a ball-player so you get a little bit more ball, but it was exciting and I really enjoyed it."

Willison scored a try on debut in Newcastle's 14-12 loss to Cronulla at PointsBet Stadium on August 18, then enjoyed her first win in her new colours when the Knights bounced back to beat Parramatta 36-16 at Eric Tweedale Stadium six days later.

As much as she enjoyed the challenges presented by those two games on the road, Willison was excited about playing on her new home turf on Sunday, and that experience did not disappoint.

The Knights dropped their intensity in the second half and the game fell away as a spectacle but the blue-and-red faithful cheered the two-time defending premiers to the final siren.

"It was so cool, to see the crowd come out, and the energy they bring, because I feed a lot off the crowd and the music and all that stuff," Willison said.

"So to play my first home game for the Knights, and even going around after the game mixing and mingling with the children who support us, it was really cool."

Newcastle coach Ben Jeffries said Willison, who has signed a two-year deal, had been outstanding since joining the Knights last month.

"She's going really well," Jeffries said. "I'm really happy with her. The whole staff's really happy with her.

"She's a professional. When she comes in to training, she does everything asked of her.

"She's gone from wing now to centre, and what that does is put a little bit of pressure on and brings some competition for places.

"With Abigail Roache out today, we deliberately rested her because she has a slight pec injury, and we don't want that to turn into something long-term.

"We're really happy with how 'Neeks' has progressed, in a very short amount of time."

Willison said she was still feeling her way in the NRLW but was pleased with her development, and overwhelmed by the support the Newcastle players and coaches had provided.

"To be honest, it's tough. I'm learning a new game, but I have to keep reminding myself, that I wanted to this and it was my choice," Willison said.

"But the girls have made it so much easier for me.

"They help me, they're always communicating to me, so it does make it a little bit easier for me.

"But we talk about ruthlessness, and that's something I want in the way that I learn, so that's something I want to keep building."

Having represented New Zealand Black Ferns XV against Australia in Brisbane in June, before embarking on their successful Sevens Olympic campaign in Paris, Willison has the chance to become a fully-fledged dual international at the Pacific Championships in October.

The 26-year-old code-hopper is considering several options at the end of the NRLW season, including returning to Sevens, but is excited about the possibility of representing the Kiwi Ferns.

New Zealand will play Australia in Christchurch on October 27 and Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on November 3, in the lead-up to the November 10 Cup final at CommBank Stadium.

"I'm still working through what the end of the year looks like for me," Willison said.

"There's a possibility, yes, but I'm unsure if I'm going back to Sevens, so that's something I'll work through post the NRLW season, but it would be a cool opportunity if I could jump in there.

"That's my choice. I'm not saying no to it, and that would be amazing to be able to jump in and get a taste of what Kiwi Ferns is like, so it's definitely on the cards."