While they have only just taken their first few steps when it comes to assembling a playing roster, the Knights want to take the Mid North Coast region on the journey with them.

From Toronto to Taree, Lake Macquarie to Port Macquarie, Kotara to Kempsey and Cessnock to Coffs Harbour, Knights coach Blake Green and the club have their sights set on building a pathway to the top.

And beyond the Hunter Region is part of it.

"We wouldn't have applied for an NRLW licence and put our hand up unless we didn't want to create a genuine pathway for women in the game in that region," Green said.

"That extends all the way up and I'm sure we'll go as far as we can towards the border unless the Titans tell us to go away from the Tweed."

Newcastle successfully obtained a licence last month to join the newly-expanded NRLW competition in 2021 which was 12 months ahead of schedule.

And while Green has only had four weeks to assemble his roster, he is well aware the club has only one chance to lay the foundation for the future.

A key part of that is embracing the region outside the Hunter.

"When you're starting a new system the most important thing is to get it right from the start," Green said.

"You only get one go at a first impression and it would be crazy of us to not look outside the box, particularly in this first year."

The veteran of 181 games in the National Rugby League is aware the best way to change a perception the Knights don't care about areas outside their own is through a visual presence.

"If people from the coast can see there's a genuine pathway for them as a young female player in the game, we'd love for them to join our pathways system and follow the right steps to first grade," he said.

"We've got players who travel down from Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour once a fortnight in what we call our elite pathway system - and that's both male and female - from the 14 to 18 age groups.

"A lot are still at school and it's certainly something we're committed to and if we ever get the chance once this gets up and running off the ground, and COVID permitting, we would take the opportunity to come up to the areas up the coast for sure."

Green said the Knights were lucky they weren't battling other clubs for a smaller share of the talent pool which disadvantaged clubs such as those in the Sydney area.

"The whole North Coast is important for us not just in the women's game; we're lucky in that Sydney have got to share themselves between a number of teams," he said.

"We've got a massive region ideally we can have all to ourselves. We should have first pick of all that area before they decide to go anywhere else.

"The plan is to create that visual pathway for young girls that play rugby league to be able to play from the age of six all the way through and play first grade NRLW level for the Knights."

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