Inside Brittany Breayley-Nati’s journey from Mackay to the big-time ahead of NRLW grand final

Friends and former teammates of Mackay’s Brittany Brealey-Nati reflect on her formative steps into rugby league ahead of the NRLW grand final. Discover her story.

Baggow and Breayley-Nati embrace after taking out the Mackay Indigenous Carnival with the Diamonds in 2018. Picture: Supplied.

Natasha Baggow remembers the day a shy 17 year old and her mate first rocked up to Magpies training well over a decade ago.

They had been roped in by a friend that played softball with the pair.

And that shy 17 year old was none other than Brittany Brealey-Nati, a future Jillaroo, Maroon and NRLW premiership player.

She has the chance to add her second NRLW premiership – and first as captain – when the Titans do battle with the Knights on Sunday.

But the bright lights of Accor Stadium are far removed from the humble grounds of Mackay that played host to Breayley-Nati’s first foray into footy.

Brittany Breayley-Nati snapped at the airport ahead of the Titans trip to Sydney for the NRLW grand final. Picture Glenn Hampson

“She didn’t understand the game really and had pretty much no idea what she was doing,” long-time teammate Baggow, who is also represented Queensland and the Indigenous All-Stars, recalled.

“She was just really quiet, stand-offish with all of us, as you are. We’d all played together for a couple of years before ‘Britto’ came along.

“The more and more she got to know everybody the more and more she opened up.

“Once you get to know her and end up being mates with her she’ll do anything for you. She’s got a heart of gold and she shows that on the football field. If there’s anyone you can count on the football field it’s Britto.”

Professionally, Breayley-Nati may be known for her exploits as a hooker, but Baggow revealed that was not where she began her career.

“She was in the centres to start with, that’s where we usually put new people to start with so that they’re not overwhelmed,” she said.

“She only played that one season and after that she was picked in every rep team.

Baggow (front centre) and Breayley-Nati (second from back right) playing for North Queensland in 2010. Picture: Supplied.

“It only took one season to get a hold of the game and work out what her job was and what she needed to do on the field. She just took it with both hands and ran with it.

Described by Baggow as “a natural talent in anything she plays,” Breayley-Nati had also been a promising softball player, even representing Queensland before she discovered her love for league.

Fellow Magpies teammate Tina Hancock said she remembered Breayley-Nati as a standout junior on the footy field.

“She was always a standout, definitely always in the top five or six players in Mackay,” Hancock said.

“She wasn’t the aggressive player, she just did her job, she was quiet, just really understood footy from a female’s perspective.”

Breayley-Nati was also fortunate enough to rub shoulders with the likes of Jillaroos Deanna Turner and Renae Kunst in her formative years.

She would figure in two Brothers premierships alongside Turner and it is a connection that is still standing today, with Turner an assistant coach at the Titans adding some extra Mackay flavour to the NRLW decider.

Brittany Breayley-Nati (left of trophy), Natasha Baggow (right of trophy) and Deanna Turner in the Brothers 2011 premiership. Breayley-Nati and Turner could add an NRLW premiership to their resumes on Sunday. Picture: Supplied.

Following the Brothers premierships in 2010 and 2011, a decline in numbers caused the Mackay women’s competition to struggle, causing Breayley-Nati to move south to Brisbane to pursue her dream.

Hancock said she believed the move enhanced her trajectory to the big time.

“She did the extra mile in moving to Brisbane and chasing someone to give her really good football knowledge and training,” Hancock said.

“Her football intelligence now is next level, it’s one of the best in that comp. She leads incredibly, she’s done the hard work to get there.”

Regardless of whether Breayley-Nati can become a Titans premiership captain on Sunday, there is an overwhelming sense of pride from those that have followed her journey since her tentative first steps into the sport as a shy 17 year old.

“It’s so good to see, it’s good for our young girls to see here that there’s a pathway, it’s just awesome to follow that journey and watch her grow,” Hancock said.

“I’m really happy for her.”

Natasha Baggow (left) watching Breayley-Nati on the NRLW stage. Picture: Supplied.

Baggow echoed a similar sentiment, and reiterated that Breayley-Nati had not forgotten her roots.

“She’s a role model to everyone here (in Mackay) and takes time to go out and watch the younger girls play,” Baggow said.

“It doesn’t matter what she’s doing or the fact that she’s one of the best players in the NRLW, when she comes home it’s still Britto.

“She gives back to her community, just hanging out at school kids games all helping us old girls relive our dreams playing All Blacks.

“She’s just a great kid and I’m so glad I got the chance to play alongside her in all our different teams over the years.

“She’s our girl.”