The Canberra Raiders are pleased to announce that local junior Krystal Blackwell has signed with the club until the end of the 2027 NRLW season.
The Goulburn Junior Stockmen player was part of the Raiders Tarsha Gale Cup team from 2019 to 2021.
Blackwell has spent the past three seasons at the North Queensland Cowboys, playing 27 games and scoring seven tries.
The 23-year-old will provide handy utility value to the squad, able to play across the backline as well as in the halves.
Raiders NRLW Coach Darrin Borthwick said he was happy to reconnect with Krystal and have her join the squad for the next two seasons.
“Krystal was in our KFS Academy we had when I first got here and performed really well in that and off the back of the National Championships with NSW Country, we put an offer on the table and the Cowboys got in before us,” Borthwick said.
“The main thing is that this is always home for her and we can say she’s coming home now.
“She has had some really good years up there at the Cowboys and it’s exciting to have someone like Krystal come back to our club.
“Coming through our Tarsha Gale Cup system as well, and being a pathways player, it’s always good to welcome players back.
“They come back here better players and she will definitely add to our team. She’s someone I know that the girls will look forward to playing with and I look forward to coaching her as well.”
Blackwell said she can’t wait to wear the green jersey again and return to where it all began.
“I’m really excited to come back to the club where it all started for me,” Blackwell said.
“The growth in NRLW has been awesome and the chance to come here and be close to Mum and Dad and see my family more often. My Dad travels to every game so I think he’s pretty excited to not have to travel every week.”
“My goals are to be in an environment where I’m comfortable and hopefully I can become a really good leader at this club.
“I look forward to playing alongside all of the girls and making good connections, because I feel like that’s really important to me as a player, building good connections makes you play better on the field.”
