Corbyn Baxter is one of the pioneers of modern-day professional NRLW, but her sporting journey
actually started with a love of netball, something she refused to give up as she went on to raise
her son from the age of 16.
While managing motherhood, Corbyn discovered the lure of rugby league and hit the ground
running, going from spectator to Gilleroo's player within 12 months.
Channeling her self-described calmness and positivity, she went on to captain the Maori
All-Stars and eventually captain the Roosters to premiership success in 2022.
My name's Sophie and I'm the producer here at the Female Athlete Project.
Chloe caught up with Corbyn heading into this year's NRLW Grand Final as her Roosters were
preparing to take on the Sharks.
While the Chookies got the Chockies, Corbyn cheered on from the sidelines as she rehabs
This chat proves that patience and resilience will take you a long way.
We hope you enjoy it.
Corbyn, welcome to the Female Athlete Project.
Thank you for having me.
It's great to be here.
I'm looking forward to having a chat.
You've actually rocked out the day after the Dalliams, but you're fresh.
You're looking fresh.
I felt like I probably should have downed a couple of champers before going on stage
because the nerves hit me.
I was cool all day.
We had rehearsals and then I think just like when we were going out for our first
segment with Lara, that first segment was like quite free-flowing and questions for
me, but the rest was very heavily scripted, which I wasn't nervous about.
But the first part I was like, don't stumble over my words or whatnot.
But no, it was a really good night and yeah, a little bit of a different side to what I
I'm usually there as a player, so being backstage and doing some of the presenting was fun.
Yeah, it's really cool seeing that side of what you do, right?
Because it's kind of like adding on layers of you.
As a person, which I feel like that sounds really corny, but it's like, you know, just
And I guess I'm sort of like towards the back.
I'm signed for two more years, but I'm going towards the back end of my footy career.
And it's funny, like you don't want to think about what you're going to do post, but you
sort of need to if you're smart.
You think about things that you enjoy doing.
And I love that media side of things and coaching as well.
So the more that I can sort of dabble in it before I eventually retire is, yeah, a good
And yeah, I enjoy it.
I enjoy it as well.
Take us back to the beginning, born over in New Zealand.
What were you like as a little kid?
Oh, I was a little tomboy.
I have four brothers.
So yeah, I just remember doing a lot of knee footy in the lounge room with them and a lot
of fights and whatnot.
And yeah, I was just a rough little Maldi girl that was running around barefoot and
running off to the neighbor's houses and just being a little menace.
But yeah, I just remember always loving being active and loving sport and just having fun
And yeah, like really grateful for those moments.
Like I know it's a long time ago, but you do some of those moments stick with you.
And I think they make you realize that it shapes like who I am now.
So yeah, I am just a family girl that loved, you know, having a bit of fun with her with
What were your main sports as a kid?
My main sports were tennis.
My main sport was netball.
I played a lot of netball from like the age of, I think mum put me into little netball
at four years old.
And then I played all the way through until after I had my first son, Carter, when I was
I think I played for another year or two after that.
Oztag, touch footy, but yeah, netball was my main sport.
But I tried lots of things.
It was, yeah, a little bit of just trying different things and mum taking me all around
Not the country, but more.
Like Sydney and just, yeah, doing whatever I wanted to do, which I was very, very lucky
I chatted on our weekly podcast last week or a couple of weeks ago with Bez, who I co-host
And we actually talked about sometimes like the privilege that comes with having a family
who is willing or has the ability to drive you around to a whole range of different sports.
Like I think as a kid, you just don't realize.
And I was very privileged with that.
My mum and dad were, yeah, allowed me to do whatever I wanted to do.
And it's interesting now that I'm a mum and I've got, you know, a 13 year old that is
doing the exact same and, and playing lots of different sports too.
He loves his footy.
He plays touch and tag.
And sometimes I catch myself.
I'm like, oh, you've got to pick one.
Cause I can't run you around jumping.
And then I'm like, Corbyn, this was you.
And just like, I just have to remind myself how much I love playing all different sports
But it's a challenge cause I'm still playing.
So that side of it, like I would love to be able to get kind of to everything, but that's
And I find myself in, it's obviously a bit different to my mummy wasn't playing sport
when I was young.
So I do as best as I can.
And I'm lucky to have a great husband and my parents were around to, to get my boy to
all of his sports too.
So I know I was privileged and I try my best to give my son the same opportunities.
So when Carter was born, were you still playing netball?
What was it like back then?
Because I think 13 years ago, we've seen real progress being made in that space around
And for athletes returning from pregnancy and all those things, but you wouldn't have
had a lot to rely on.
No, there wasn't much at all back then.
I was, yeah, I was playing netball still when I fell pregnant with Carter.
And when I came back, I, yeah, I went back and just played some club netball.
And I loved it for me.
It was just getting back into what I love doing.
That was playing sport, played Oz tag and touch as well.
So did that for a couple of years and yeah, it was sort of just make it up as you go.
I just listened to my body.
I was lucky that I was very young and.
Um, was able to bounce back pretty well.
Um, but yeah, it was just a matter of just listening to how I felt after having him and.
Um, just slowly getting back into it.
And, um, yeah, it was, it was, I was lucky to be able to do that pretty quickly.
When did you first have an inkling that you wanted to try play a bit of league?
Um, I first had an inkling when I watched, I remember watching a test match between the
Jillas and the Kiwi Ferns and, um, my sister-in-law, Maddie Stutton.
And Sam Bremner, some girls that I played touch footy with at Cronulla were playing in it.
And, um, I didn't know it was a thing.
It was literally the first game I'd ever watched, heard of because of the people I knew.
And I fell in love and, um, I just had Carter maybe a year before and, um, I knew that I
wanted to give it a go eventually.
I think it was the next year that I started playing rugby league eventually.
But, um, yeah, as soon as I saw the product, um, and it was quite raw back then, but it
just looks so fun.
And, um, that collision side of things, um, I just wanted to give it a go and, um, yeah,
sort of fell in love with it from there.
I read somewhere that you went from being a spectator to representing your country in
the space of about a year.
Does that sound right?
It does feel like that a little bit.
Um, it did happen really quickly.
I feel like, um, I was playing for the Helensburg Tigers with Maddie and Sam and Alana Ferguson
and, and just my mates having a run around.
I know we had a gun team back then.
Um, and then, yeah, I got selected in the New South Wales squad back then.
It was the interstate challenge.
It wasn't, um, branded the origin yet, but still a massive honor.
And yeah, I was a bit shook.
Like I was literally just playing.
I'd played maybe a handful of rugby league games and found myself in that squad and,
um, eventually made the team and played in my, my first ever interstate challenge that
So it was pretty wild.
Um, and yeah, looking forward to it.
Looking back on it, like just made me fall in love with the game and more just the opportunities
that opened for me.
I was playing like a little bit of sevens.
I was dabbling in both, but, um, I just feel like the opportunities that opened for me
in league and, um, the game was probably a bit more suited to me as well.
And, um, yeah, it was a bit of a whirlwind looking back 10 years, 10 plus years ago at
how it all started is pretty crazy.
That's really cool.
I am a big advocate for like, you know, when people always ask questions about their kids,
for kids playing a range of different sports.
How do you think you're like, what did you bring from netball into league?
Oh, it's really funny when people ask what your sport is.
And I say netball, like you get some of the people that have no idea about netball, sort
of like turn their nose up at you, like, oh, netball, like it's a bit of a nothing sport,
but it's so physical.
And I just, I think you've got to have the athleticism to beat an opponent without just
crashing into them.
And that's what I, um, like the agility and, and you've got to, you know, have good hand
eye coordination.
I think that's all.
Um, the skills that I've been able to translate into my game, um, you know, I started in the
center, so that was really important.
And yeah, like, I just have a lot of admiration for, for the game of netball.
And, um, there's a few girls like Julie Robinson was a netballer.
There's a few others in the game that have transferred over really well.
And I just think it comes from those core skills that are, um, yeah, transferable to
I was a basketballer, so I don't know netball well, but I feel like from watching the Giants
girls that play netball that, that I know, I feel like.
There almost seems to be like, like you said, you have to be able to beat an opponent without
crashing into them.
It seems like a lot of like anticipating and forward planning around like positioning and
where you're going to be.
You almost like beat your opponent before the ball even gets there.
And just that spatial awareness and yeah.
Like when you think about, you put like the mental game and smarts of your game into physically
being able to execute your plan as well.
I think, yeah, it's, I'm the same.
Like, I don't know much about basketball, but I imagine it's, it's.
It's quite similar that, yeah, there's a lot more to it than just being physical, which
I love about rugby league, but it just, you know, it just adds a little bit extra to when
you can transfer over to it.
How did it feel pulling on the Australian jersey for the first time?
Oh, it was amazing.
I, um, I remember the first time I put it on was, um, in the nines tournament, actually
we played in the Auckland nines, um, back then.
And, um, it was, it was really fun.
It was a really awesome environment that sort of similar to sevens, a bit of a party
So we played over, um, in New Zealand and, um, we won that series.
It was the best of three series.
So, um, that was, wait, am I lying?
I think that was the second year.
I think the first year we actually lost a series.
Just say you won.
I say just no fact checking.
I put on the jersey, so I won.
Um, but no, it was special.
And then playing my first test match, um, was.
Was amazing to the, the Kiwi fans were really dominant back then.
We definitely lost that first game I put on, but, um, yeah, being able to represent my
country, um, the first time that I've been able to do that in any sport was, yeah, something
that I'll cherish forever.
And it's a long time ago, but, um, yeah, I, I can remember that like it was yesterday.
How does it feel?
Cause I played with a few girls in sevens, um, for those sevens who, um, were from New
Zealand may have grown up there or grown up here.
What does it feel like when there's like a really big rivalry between the.
Those two teams, but you, you were born there, but you represent Australia.
Um, yeah, it's a, it is a weird feeling.
I feel like I moved to Australia when I was so young.
Um, and for me, like Aussies always felt like home just cause I grew up here.
Um, a lot of, you know, made all my friends while I've lived in Australia too.
So those early years, um, you know, um, I was Aussie through and through and I didn't
really feel a massive connection, um, to the Kiwi.
Ferns and like, I get asked that question a lot.
Like, why didn't you play for the Kiwi Ferns?
And to me it's because, you know, I play, I grew up playing all of my sport in Australia,
um, played rugby league here for the first time.
And then it just happened with New South Wales and Aussie.
So it just felt right.
Um, so yeah, I, I didn't feel like I was torn at all and playing against them.
They were just the enemy to me, but it's interesting as I've gotten older and I've
been able to play with the multi, um, with the.
All-stars and, you know, play alongside some Kiwi Ferns at club level now too.
It's definitely a different story.
And, um, like in saying that, uh, I'm a jewelry through and through, I still love my, my multi
heritage and, and coming from New Zealand, but yeah, it just feels natural to, um, pull
on that green and gold and, and go out against the Kiwis.
So, um, you captain the multi all-stars team and you play against the indigenous all-stars.
It's, I feel like league do a really good job.
Um, and I think league do an amazing job of, of recognizing people's different cultures
What does that mean to you?
Yeah, it, it's really special.
I growing up in Australia, wasn't immersed in my multi culture.
Um, so that week is always really, um, like special is the word that comes to mind.
Like I get to learn about my culture.
I get to be around strong, powerful, multi women as well.
um, you know, our, our multi leaders who come in and, and tell us stories and teach us more.
And we were just able to immerse ourself in it for a full week and yeah, I love that rugby
league is so, um, inclusive of, you know, all the different cultures within rugby league
because there are so many, um, and yeah, it's just, it's just, uh, an amazing opportunity
to be able to, um, you know, spend that time and, and learn, and also for the indigenous
Same thing and then bringing both cultures together.
It's just beautiful.
Um, and you sort of forget about the game of rugby league at the end of the league and
it's, it is a lot about, you know, the, the buildup and, um, coming together and celebrating
both those cultures.
It's really special.
Do you remember the moment you found out that NRL W was coming to life?
I remember it so clearly.
We literally just, um, won the 2017 world cup and I think I was with real on Sims and
to maybe a interview or back to our team room or something
and our media manager at the time, Tom Gallimore, told us,
hey, this wasn't supposed to happen for a couple of years
but it's going to get announced tomorrow that the NRLW
is going to kick off next year.
Can you two come in and do like a press release like next week?
And Ru and I were like, what?
Like we were just so shook from it.
Like we had been told that it was in the talks
but probably wasn't going to happen for a few years.
So the fact that, you know, the quality of the game was getting so good
and we were, you know, pretty much forcing it upon, you know,
the big dogs to get it going earlier was pretty amazing.
And, yeah, it was really cool because we've been waiting
for something like that and the fact that we got it, you know,
that little bit earlier, which has, you know, propelled the game sooner,
which is what we're after.
So, yeah, it was a really cool moment with Ru.
It's quite interesting.
Like that period.
Because even the AFLW, I think it was a really similar story
where there'd been talks about like it's going to happen in a few years
and then it was almost like the heads of competitions were like,
we need to keep up here almost.
And I think there's been, like I know in league there's a lot
of like union players that have come across.
It's almost like there's always been this level of competition
between the different coach, which I think in women's sport
is a really positive thing.
I think so too because there's so many amazing female athletes out there.
And I love seeing the cross code.
It's obviously a bit hard if the competitions clash around the same time,
but any opportunity for women to be able to, you know,
go over and show their talents in other codes is awesome.
And we've seen that with, you know, some AFL girls, soccer girls,
the Rugby Sevens girls coming to league.
Don't see so much league girls go elsewhere.
What do you think that's about?
I think rugby league in the most respectful way is quite a simple game.
And you could probably pick it up.
Like I couldn't imagine me going to try and learning to play AFL.
It's just like not everyone kicks in rugby league.
You've got to obviously have that skill to go and play AFLW
and rugby union's quite technical.
I just, yeah, in the most respectful way,
I think that you can sort of pick up rugby league.
It takes some time.
There's definitely some intricacies that you've got to learn.
You can sort of pick it up a little bit quicker.
So being a part of the Roosters, what was it like?
How did it feel with this, this new competition and leading the team?
Yeah, it was amazing.
I, I ended up missing the first season.
I dislocated my shoulder in the women's state of origin the year before.
So I missed out, but the girls like, I was pretty devastated about that.
I wanted to be part of the first one, but
it was cool to watch it from the sidelines and, and see, you know, the first ever NRLW Premiership
take off, although it was, it was quite short and looking back, like it was a bit laughable
when you, when you look at it, but we had to start somewhere, you know, and it was the
three round season with a straight ground final.
And yeah, we, we, I remember we had a giggle about it through it and looking back, we still
have a giggle and think how was, how was that a competition, but yeah, got to start somewhere.
And, um, the fact that it's come.
To the point where it is now and, um, at quite a steady pace, I think has been important
for the growth of NRLW, but yeah, we started there and, and made the most of it.
And, um, I I'm really proud to be a part of, you know, that inaugural year in some capacity
and was, yeah, chomping at the bit to, to get back out there in the 2019 season.
So I had a lot of fun with my chookies.
I want to touch on the 2021 semifinal against the Broncos and you're the captain of the
You're down 16, nil in the semi-final.
What do you remember the feeling amongst the group?
Do you remember anything about how you were trying to hype the girls up?
I, um, we were 16, nil in the like early minutes of the game, like the first half of the first
half, we actually gained back from memory, a bit of momentum towards the backend.
And so that made my job a little bit easier at halftime.
It's while we were out there for that first 20 minutes, it was hard to, to get some motivation
I was on to the girls, um, but we were actually, yeah, we actually gained back a little bit
I think we scored a try or two and we reined it in a little bit and we could feel the tides
turning a little bit.
So I remember my chat was like, we have an opportunity here to make history.
The Broncos had won three back-to-back premierships.
And, um, for that year, it wasn't our best year.
Um, we, we lost, I think our first two or three, two games, I think, and then, um, finished
We lost against the Dragons.
So that semi-final, but points worked in our favor and we just snuck into the top four.
Um, so to knock off the Broncos, um, in that semi was probably my favorite game.
I mean, winning the premiership, the game after that was awesome too, but just the way
we did it, like no one, everyone had, um, written us off.
Most people probably turned off the telly at halftime because we were down by so much.
But, um, I just remember like trying to get the girls to believe in themselves.
I think that was our motto.
Of that year, just to have some belief and, um, yeah, we turned things around and, um,
got that win and, and it was literally the best feeling ever.
And, uh, I love Millie.
She's obviously my team.
I never liked seeing like tears come up out of her eyes.
It made us so happy.
That's really cool.
That's very cool.
Being in a leadership capacity.
So we, we touched on the Maldi All-Stars, but also leadership at the Roosters.
What do you think it is about you?
Like, what is it about you?
What is your skillset that makes you a good leader?
Uh, I think I'm, I'm quite a positive person.
I, um, I'm quite calm.
That's sort of my leadership style.
I'm probably a bit more on the, on the laid back style of leadership.
Whereas, you know, I've been lucky enough to, to captain alongside Isabel Kelly, who
is, um, just a leader who leads by example on the field and, um, can really get into
you and, and, and be vocal as well.
But like people really respect that.
And my style is a bit more being a calming influence and positive.
And I think that served me really well that year that we won because, um, heads were down
after, you know, that second, third round thinking that we were out of it.
And, um, you've got to find a balance of being, you know, you don't want to be naive and just
be like toxic positivity, but I found that just trying to, um, yeah, just stay, stay
clear minded and, um, try to show that I'm a good leader.
I know the girls that there was still an opportunity and, um, like it wasn't over yet
and, and just try to keep their head in the game and we turned that season around.
So I think it served me well that year.
And, um, that's just who I am quite a, um, a chill and positive person.
So I'm never going to change that.
I'm not someone to, to yell at the girls unless, unless we deserve it.
But, um, that's just not my style.
And, um, yeah, I have a bit more of that relaxed approach.
People talk a lot about like, sometimes like the,
the coach or the captain that are good at like the halftime sprays and things.
And sometimes they are necessary, but I do reckon it's underrated that
ability to stay calm under pressure.
Like I think as a leader, if you can, cause people feed off you, like whether or not you're
saying things out loud, if you're leading people, they can sense your body language
And if you're looking frazzled and stressed, then they might be the same.
Whereas if you can be calm, they can kind of follow in your footsteps.
And I think that's the power of having.
Like a captain or co-captains or, um, someone else who can sort of step up in the leadership
group because, um, yeah, when that was me and I stayed calm, I could have drawn someone
else to come in and, and when we needed that spray, they just naturally stood up and gave
And, um, yeah, so it works well.
It's all about dynamics, right?
Yeah, absolutely.
Looking at 2022, you gave birth to your second son.
What was that process like?
Um, I guess going through pregnancy and childbirth and then
returning in a professional environment compared to years earlier with your first son.
Yeah, very, very different scenarios.
Um, yeah, I, uh, I had Bowdoin in, in 22, so I missed that season and worked, oh, sorry,
in 2021 and then came back.
No, I had it right the first time.
22, came back for the 23 season.
Um, and yeah, just so much better supported obviously throughout the pre the pregnancy.
Um, I still stay.
I stayed involved in a coaching capacity, which was great and, and kept me around the
girls and, um, yeah, the sport that I got from our physio team and, and SNC just to
keep me on, I wouldn't say fit for football at all, but just to keep me healthy, obviously.
And then post having, um, having Bodes to, to slowly get back into, um, some training
and, and just listening to my body.
I've always been quite instinctive and, and pretty good at listening to my body.
continued with that and, and did that, but just knowing that I had that support there
and I could lean on them whenever I needed.
And I, I did, um, you know, when we got back into our sort of pre, pre season, um, and
yeah, just in support, it's not even like giving me programs and things like that.
It's more just like, I was obviously very, um, dialed into to be as fit and strong as
possible and get my body right.
But just, you know, our SNC saying corpse, like this,
this day, you're literally sitting on the couch and watching TV all day, like your body
You, I wasn't sleeping great because I had a newborn and just, you know, just doing the,
the bare minimum just to make sure that my body could rest.
I'll be stressed.
No, I can't get to the ice bath or the ocean today.
They're like, just relax, go lie down, have a sleep, get on the couch, just stuff like
that, which made me feel so much more comfortable.
And, um, like just took the stress off, um, thinking that I had to take every single box
and just, um, allowing me to, to be a mom and, and balance.
The, the two, um, and that came from, you know, head coach John strange as well.
And, um, yeah, I think that's what made the difference and, and took the pressure off
me thinking that I had to come back and be my absolute best, but more just being able
to work with me and make sure I came back safely and my body was as well recovered as
We've had Gretel Boetta on the podcast before the netball, formerly Gretel Tippett, um,
and she talked about when she went through her first pregnancy experience, the medical
The sports stuff around her were amazing, but they were almost going into uncharted
territory because they didn't really have anything to follow.
Was that experience similar for you with working with your S and C physio medical team around
like kind of making it up as you go along?
It is because you know, there's not that many moms in the game.
And especially like when you break up into the clubs, like I think myself and Sam Bremner
were the only moms in the last few years that have played at the Roosters.
So it's, um, yeah.
It's definitely just a collaborative experience and, um, knowing that, you know, they're there
and they're learning as well.
And we're doing that together, but, um, you know, they're smart people and you, you rely
on them and you lean on them when you, when you need their expertise and to tell you just
mainly just to slow down and, um, yeah, cause as athletes, we just want to go, go ham and
it's just them just pulling us back and making sure we're smart about it.
You've had a couple of injuries.
You're currently rehabbing an ACL Rico, which we'll get to in a second.
But can you put into perspective for people who may not have had a baby and play elite
sport, what that postpartum recovery is like, cause you're in rehab, right?
You're trying to return to being an elite athlete in comparison to maybe like a soft
tissue injury or your shoulder rehab or, or something like that.
It's, um, it's, uh, it's been a lot more of a slow burn, um, the ACL, uh, it's obviously
a longer recovery.
It's that nine to 12 months.
I know some, some people can push earlier and it's amazing to see that.
It's about patience I've learned so far I'm nine weeks post operation and yeah, with my
shoulder and my ankle, I was sort of able to push on early.
Um, I was, you know, I was in rehab straight after my ACL, like the next day.
They, they try to get you going.
Literally the next day they come in and they measure it all up and see where you're at.
And, um, my meniscus has sort of stiffened me up a little bit.
So I think that's what's slowing down the initial part of, of my rehab.
So I'm still trying to get to a straight leg and, and working on the flexion as well.
So it's, um, it's definitely taught me to, to be patient.
I, um, was pretty cool in the first four weeks, but I think the, the latter four weeks, um,
I've a little frustration starting to creep in just cause I, I just wanna be able to walk
around and, you know, being a mom, I wanna pick up my boy and, and, um, be able to do
stuff with the family.
So it's, yeah, it's definitely taught me patience and, um, I'll, I'll be able to get back up
and running soon.
So it's just making sure I, I do the right things and don't push too early.
Um, because yeah, an ACL can be pretty tricky if you, um, try to push things too early in
the gym or start running too early as well.
What's your self-talk like through that process, like injuries, as you touch on, like you can
go through those seasons of like, it's rough, right, mentally, like you, you get into dark
places sometimes, particularly, I think obviously you miss out on playing and that's hard in
But I think when it has such a huge impact on your life outside of footy, like you being
a mom and, and not being able to pick up your kid, like that's hard.
And, um, yeah, football aside, it just makes you be really grateful to have good health
and, and literally just be able to drive around and do stuff with your family.
So, um, it's just been telling myself that like, I'll get there eventually.
And I'm, I'm, I'm over that hurdle now I'm able to do all those things.
So it, it comes around pretty quickly, but when you're in the thick of it, it can feel
It can feel like you're striking out and, and you want to want to get moving, but yeah,
Yeah, absolutely.
Let's take a look at the weekend.
So this is going to come out on Thursday after the grand final, but your team into the grand
final this weekend, a bit of a preview has a group feeling.
Yeah, they're feeling really good.
Um, it was, it was nice last night where the Daliens to catch up with a couple of the girls
and it's a big week leading into a grand final, you've got all your, um, club presentations
And fan fest and stuff.
So I think, um, that's good in a sense.
It can sort of take your mind off the game, but then you also don't want to get overwhelmed
and burnt out before the weekend kicks off.
Um, but I guess both teams are up for having to do those, um, do those things, but they're
I, um, I was able to get in there on Monday and they did a bit of a review and, and flash
and, um, I think they're just taking a business as usual and try not to get overawed by, by
And, you know, they've been in grand finals before, so they've got that experience, which
I think they've got the edge over Cronulla.
It's their first grand final.
Um, so yeah, it's all, it's all pretty calm.
Um, and business as usual.
I was, um, that was a big win by the sharks.
It was, they were impressive.
I'll always have a soft spot for the sharks being a Cronulla girl.
And I played all my, you know, early years of, of footy there too.
So I'm, I, this is like my dream grand final.
I wish I was out there playing.
Um, but like, I've been there.
I'm pumped for them.
I think they, they deserved it.
They won those first six games.
They were really, they came out, they were just like consistent as a team, they seemed
really connected.
It wasn't like anyone was like amazing and standing out.
They just all played really well as a unit.
And then obviously dipped a little bit in the last three rounds, but the way they won
against the Broncos, like holding them to zero points, just goes to show how they started
They were defensively the best.
And if they can go into that with the roosters.
They're one of the best attacking sides.
I think it's, yeah, it's going to be a really tight one.
I can't wait for it.
Can we go to score prediction?
Oh, I think it's going to be close.
I think the roosters are going to win by a try.
I like how this is coming out afterwards.
So we're going to know either way.
Who are you tipping?
Oh, I, I'm going to so get in trouble if I, oh, cause I have way too many of the sevens
girls playing for the Sharks.
I actually think your point.
Your heart and your head are telling you different things.
But I'm going to go.
I think your point around roosters experience in the big moments.
I'm going to tip roosters.
No, we love the Sharks girls.
Um, one question that I've been asking everyone on the podcast is what is your favorite failure?
That's a hard one.
I feel like favorite failure.
The whole concept is kind of like trying to readjust.
How we view failure.
And I think as athletes we're so hard on ourselves and I think it's about like, what is something
that didn't go right that now that you reflect on it, you're like, I'm kind of, I get, I'm
kind of glad that that didn't go right.
Um, I'm just going to talk more about like probably a mindset.
I feel like, um, a lot of times I can go into games thinking that like worrying too much
about the outside.
And I distinctly remember actually the all-stars game at the start of this year.
We got smashed and it was, um, like, yeah, the indigenous just tout us up.
And I remember like at the start of the game to make it up and who's the freight just like
ran straight to the team straight through me.
And like, I got so down on myself and, um, that sort of like took on, um, a bit of a,
a flow on effect for the whole game.
And, um, we lost, I didn't have my best game at all and I was really down about it, but
I remember reflecting on it.
And I remember sitting after and thinking like, yes, the indigenous girls play bad,
but like my mindset there, um, was quite low.
And I think that pulled me out and made me realize like, if I want any chance of playing
good footy that I can't be thinking like that.
And, um, I feel like this year, I mean, I didn't get to play any club footy, but played
And although we, we weren't successful in that, I made sure that, um, that failure,
I didn't take that seriously.
I didn't take that mindset into the game.
And, um, I was really proud with how I played in, in that origin series.
And I think I, um, was really focused on having, um, a better mindset around it.
So I would say that like it w it was a failure in, in how I, um, how I thought about myself
and my, my value and, and how, um, what sort of athlete I presented that night, but, um,
I just was able to, to turn that around and think about.
Hey, um, I can't be a good player if my mind's not in it and just making sure that I can flick
that switch and be positive and no matter what, like my value is not attached to me
as a player and I can come out and, and, um, still be proud of whatever performance I put
So I think that would be mine.
We didn't even touch on origin actually.
Is that like, I don't know how we haven't touched on origin cause it's such a huge part of what
Um, and, and the push for you guys over a number of years to get three games that it
was like the men's.
Having the decider.
What's that process been like?
And how much have you loved playing origin?
Oh, it's, it's been a long time coming.
We've spoken about wanting to have that three game series for a while, but, um, I was honored
to be a part of the first time, first ever, um, three game series.
And although we lost, I, um, I just think it was a great representation of, of women's
rugby league and, um, yeah, I, the last year when we had the two games, like everyone knows
that was just random and like why like ticking a box to just add another game.
So it was an achievement in itself to, to, um, get to the point where we're playing in
a decider for state of origin and the fact that we got that and it was as exciting as
And, you know, we broke records each and every game with attendance and, and, um, viewers
So, um, that's a win for women's sport and, um, yeah, I was, I was really proud to be
I felt like I almost jinxed it because I was like, I wanted there to be a thing.
I was like, I want a third game decider just in the first year that it happened.
You know what I mean?
I was like, I so want the blues to get up, but I'm like, oh, it just like, because the
players had been pushing for it for so long, there was kind of that weird being a bit torn.
Did you guys feel that?
I mean, we would have loved to, to seal it up in that second game in Newcastle, but I
understand from a, from a viewer's perspective at how exciting, like watching the men's,
you want to see a decider.
So I understand the girls when you're a player, you want to see things happen differently.
And, um, I think that's what hurt me the most.
I think it hurt the most that we were so close in that second game and, um, that could have
won us, um, that series, but you know, Queensland credit to them, like they, they stuck in there
and they were awesome, especially in those last two games.
And yeah, that last one in Townsville, um, that's one that I'll, I'll never forget the,
our first ever origin decider was, was pretty cool.
Who has had the biggest impact on you as a person?
Ooh, um, so many people.
I think my parents have, that's a bit of a cheesy answer, but I'm here for it.
I just think that, um, they've literally been my biggest supporters for my whole life.
Um, when it comes from having the privilege to, to play every sport and get driven around
by them as a young one to, um, continuing to support me through my journey as an athlete
and as a parent myself, and I've relied heavily, heavily on, um, you know, them and they've
helped me so much with my kids so that I've been able to go off and, and train and play.
And they've just been there from the very beginning.
Um, and then obviously my, my husband too, I've got to give him a shout out cause he's,
um, he's a super dad that holds it down while I'm running off to camps and trainings and
So I'm a big family girl, um, and yeah, definitely my parents and my husband have had the biggest
To finish us off, you kind of touched early around your role at the Dalliams last night,
around kind of building yourself.
To set yourself up for, for post-footy career, are there other avenues that you're going
down that path as well?
I love the coaching space.
I, um, I own a business with Kiana Takarangi, she's my best mate and, and we, um, we run
sports programs and do some fun stuff.
We're going to the Cook Islands early next year to do some stuff over there.
Um, she's from, oh, she was born here, but she has Cook Island heritage, so that's really
close to her heart and I, I love going there.
It's, it's a holiday.
We get to go and, um, share a really special experience with the kids that don't get much,
um, over there and, and they're rugby league mad.
They, they love it.
So, um, I love that space.
I love, um, the skill development side of things.
I do some, some coaching at a school, um, for the women's rugby league program.
So I'd love to jump into that space.
It scares me a little bit.
Um, like the thought of being a head coach would come with a lot of pressure.
Um, but I love seeing that.
There's more women sort of taking on those roles and, um, I've sort of like had a bit
Um, that's, I'm getting not pushed towards, um, I've still got a few years of playing
in me, but I can see a bit of a pathway there and I'd love to get my skin in the game, in
the game a bit more before I go into any sort of, um, head role coach, but, um, between
media and that coaching space, I think they're the things that I'm most passionate about.
Thank you so much again for your time today.
I've absolutely loved having a chat.
Thanks for having me.
Thanks so much for listening.
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