News Australia has joined forces with THE ICONIC to bring the nib Newcastle Knights’ 2026 NRLW season to life through fashion, lifestyle and storytelling.
This builds on THE ICONIC’s recent announcement as the exclusive online retail partner of the Knights’ women’s team, marking the brand’s first venture into sports sponsorship in its 15 year history.
The centrepiece is a bespoke gloss player poster, published in The Sunday Telegraph on June 28 leading into the NRLW season launch. The double-sided poster features Newcastle Knights players Yasmin Meakes, Olivia Higgins and Botille Vette-Welsh in their playing kit on one side and styled in a premium fashion shoot dressed by THE ICONIC on the reverse side.
The photo shoot underpins a three-part behind-the-scenes social video series, titled ‘Beyond The Jersey’ published across Code Sports and The Daily Telegraph, profiling the stories of Meakes, Higgins and Vette-Welsh beyond the game.
Across the series, the videos explore themes of leadership, confidence, belonging and heritage. This content will also feature across THE ICONIC’s social platforms, website and app.
THE ICONIC will also feature in News Australia’s eight-page NRLW Season Launch Guide on July 1 across The Daily Telegraph and The Courier-Mail which will preview each of the 12 teams ahead of the 2026 season. The guide includes season predictions, team rankings, players to watch and profiles of the top players.
“THE ICONIC’s first-ever sports sponsorship was never going to be about simply putting our logo on a jersey. Partnering with the Newcastle Knights women’s team is about backing the extraordinary momentum in women’s sport, connecting with one of Australia’s most passionate sporting communities, and showing how naturally sport, fashion and culture can come together,” said THE ICONIC chief marketing officer Joanna Robinson.
“News Australia gives us the platform to share that message in a way that is authentic, expansive and deeply connected to the fans”.
“THE ICONIC’s move into women’s sport is a powerful cultural statement. It’s a bold move to step into a new space and News Australia is proud to work collaboratively with THE ICONIC to amplify this story,” said News Australia head of commercial content, news sport and prestige, Jessica Montague.
From a stunning gloss poster to an immersive social video series featuring three incredible athletes, we’re connecting THE ICONIC with passionate sports fans in a way that is meaningful, creative and elevated”.
