Western Clydesdales skipper wins Queensland league’s biggest award

After leading her side to within 70 minutes of a first ever BMD Premiership grand final spot – Western Clydesdales’ Tara Reinke has capped off her year in near perfect fashion. Find out how she won one of Queensland’s rugby league biggest awards here.

Tara Reinke in action for the Western Clydesdales. Picture: Benny Hassum Photography.

It has been a year of firsts for Tara Reinke.

The powerhouse prop was one of the first players to join the Western Clydesdales inaugural BMD Premiership squad, the club’s first co-captain and she debuted for her new NRLW club Wests Tigers.

Those achievements however are topped by her latest ‘first’ – winning the 2024 Steph Hancock Medal which is awarded to the BMD Premiership best and fairest.

The achievement is made all the more special by the fact Reinke played alongside Hancock for the Clydesdales.

“It means so much to me, even with Steph Hancock playing in our team this year being a great friend and giving me great advice,” Reinke told QRL Media.

“I am so grateful.

“She (Hancock) played an instrumental role for me.

“Every captain’s run, every training she would give me great advice on what I could do better in the game, what I did well.

“She really helped me this season grow to the player I am.”

Reinke had a breakout 2024 season even by her high standards – leading the premiership in runs and tackles made and she finished fourth in run metres (1291)

Her goal for the season was simple though.

“I think I was really focused on giving a good season for our new team and making the region proud because that’s where I grew up and where I started playing in Gatton,” she said.

“Hopefully I did that. Hopefully I can look back and some of the girls can see me and see what they can achieve but I am forever grateful.”

Zoe Cook (left) and Tara Reinke wrap up a Tweed Seagulls player. Picture: Benny Hassum Photography

Inaugural Western Clydesdales BMD Premiership coach Mitch Sargent has had several moments throughout his coaching career that have stood out for him – including being an assistant coach to Brett Kimmorley for the Wests Tigers NRLW side.

However, that do not compare to the pride he felt seeing Reinke take home the award.

“It was the best moment of my coaching career so far to be there on Friday to see her get up on stage to receive the award,” he said.

“It is such a well-recognised award and to get it from one of her teammates, that was something very special.

“To be teammates and to be two local girls as well, Steph being a local Warwick and Collegians girl and Tara being a local Gatton rugby league player it was really special (for her) to be crowned the best and fairest across the state.”

With Reinke making such meteoric rise through the rugby league world while representing the Darling Downs, Sargent believes the inaugural co-captain was the perfect role model and inspiration for aspiring players.

“Tara is a perfect example of the pathways system here in Queensland with the rugby league competitions,” he said.

“You go one year from playing local league, to the next year playing state league to the following season an NRLW contract.

“It is something that is one of our best stories here at the Clydesdales to see her grow from year upon year but the hard work that Tara puts in on and off the field, it is a credit to her.

“Because I’ve seen obviously for the six months she was with us at the Clydesdales, how hard she worked to get her body prepared to be the best footballer that she could.”

Sargent revealed what impressed him the most about Reinke during the Clydesdales’ run to the semi-final in their inaugural campaign.

“Her never give up attitude was the best thing about her and her competitiveness,” he said.

“But the way that she became a leader – she has never been a captain of any sort of team – and I’ve seen her leadership qualities from the first time I met her.

“To see her and Shenae (Ciesiolka) take the team and make the team grow as individuals and as teammates that’s a massive strength of Tara’s to bring a team together, so she did a really good job of that.

“When the going got tough Tara was the first person to step forward and everyone followed her.”

Reinke was also named in BMD Premiership Team of the Year alongside fellow Clydesdales Georgia Sim and Leianne Tufuga.

Tufuga was a force to be reckoned with this season leading the competition in run metres (1540) post contact metres (785m) and tackle breaks (77).

Playing her first ever rugby league games Sim finished as the Clydesdales second highest try scorer and earned an NRLW contract with the Gold Coast Titans.

Sim and Tufuga also played on the same edge during the BMD Premiership season and formed a lethal duo capable of changing a game in an instant.

“They’re two tremendous players and the way they could take a game by the scruff of its neck and turn it upside down in the blink of an eye was phenomenal,” Sargent said.

“I’m extremely proud of both of them for different reasons.

“Lei for moving her entire life away from her family to continue playing rugby league at the BMD time just so she was ready to go when it came NRLW.

“Georgia obviously having a child less than six months previous to starting training with us and also being her first time playing rugby league.

“It was absolutely phenomenal for both those two and really heartwarming to see them get the recognition.”

Originally published as Western Clydesdales skipper wins Queensland league’s biggest award