Newcastle will take Meakes' influence into Saturday's elimination final against Brisbane at Totally Workwear Stadium.
The Knights have reached a fifth consecutive finals series, despite losing captain Yasmin Meakes to a serious knee injury.
Meakes tore her ACL against the Dragons in July, three matches into the NRLW season after NSW completed a 3-0 Origin series win.
Her mother, Sisi, died aged 59 less than a month later.
Although recovering from surgery and grieving, the 32-year-old has remained involved at Newcastle's Broadmeadow high-performance centre and will travel with the team.
New captain Kayla Romaniuk said Meakes' continued contribution had been vital.
"Obviously it was a devastating loss when Yaz got injured because she's a massive presence on the field for us," Romaniuk said.
"Then her wonderful mum passed and we all stepped in to help where we could.
"Yaz is selflessly still around the crew - she's still leading in different ways.
"She's there all the time with us doing her rehab and she's been in the video sessions, she's at every game for us, and she's really lent into helping the back-rowers at the moment because they're only young."
Fane Finau, 20, and Sienna Yeo, 21, now occupy the second-row positions, with two-time premiership winner Romaniuk at lock.
Romaniuk said Meakes had encouraged the young forwards and supported her after coach Ben Jeffries appointed her captain.
"I know I am the captain on the field right now but Yaz is still the captain in my eyes."