Country rugby teenager Brooke McKinnon on course for NSW Waratahs women’s Super W debut

She’s been working in a burger joint to help fund her rugby dream. Now this country teenager is about to join one of the top women's sporting sides in the country. FULL TEAM LIST

Rugby teen Brooke McKinnon and fellow country talent Martha Harvey. Picture: Supplied

Broooke McKinnon was so determined to follow her rugby dream she finished her HSC exams one day, went to her formal the next and a day later relocated from country NSW to Sydney to train.

Now the 18-year-old is about to make her debut for the Waratahs women in Super W.

McKinnon is the last member of Campbell Aitken’s extraordinary Waratahs squad waiting to run out in blue for the first time.

She will be the 13th player to make her debut for the NSW Waratahs this season and the fifth teenager.

“It will mean the world,’’ said 18-year-old McKinnon who grew up in rural NSW at Bingara, population around 1000, on a cattle farm.

“When I started playing there was only league tag so I played with the boys until I was too old.

Rugby teen Brooke McKinnon and family at a trials match. Picture: Supplied

“Then I decided to give rugby a go because I missed the tackle but there’s not much football for us girls out there.

“There was a regional rep team, central north, and I played in city country in the under 18’s team last year. Campbell saw me there and contacted me and asked if I would be keen to do a pre-season with them and then he just kept me on.’’

Caitlyn Halse of the Waratahs passes the ball during the Super W match between Melbourne Rebels Women and NSW Waratahs.

McKinnon said being part of the Waratahs squad has been an extraordinary experience but making her debut will be something else.

“This is quite incredible. It’s always been my dream to play football at a high level,’’ said the five eight who moved to Sydney last November to join Aitken’s squad for the pre-season.

Brooke McKinnon will be the 13th Waratahs debutant this season. Picture: Supplied

“It was pretty scary but I found somewhere to live and I’ve been working in a burger place. They’ve been great. They are flexible around my training.

“It was super hard when I came down. I was very homesick. I missed my family and the farm but I had a good group of support with the girls.

“Not knowing anyone and making new friends was hard but the longer I stay the better it is becoming. ‘’

McKinnon has played with an assortment of teams, including the Inverell Highlanders and the Narrabri Blue Boars.

WARATAHS TEAM TO TAKE ON MELBOURNE REBELS

Brianna Hoy and Katalina Amosa return to the starting XV for the match against the Rebels and Ana-Lise Sio (16 caps) and Sera Naiqama (17 caps) team in the second row for the first time this season as Aitiken continues to test new combinations.

Tatum Bird and Claudia Meltzer will start for the first time.

The match against the Rebels is at 5pm on Friday.

1. Brianna Hoy – 6 caps, 2. Katalina Amosa – 3 caps, 3. Bridie O’Gorman – 18 caps, 4. Ana-Lise Sio – 16 caps, 5. Sera Naiqama – 17 caps, 6. Loretta Mailangi - 6 caps, 7. Leilani Nathan – 4 caps, 8. Grace Hamilton – 27 caps, 9. Tatum Bird - 7 caps, 10. Claudia Meltzer – 3 caps, 11. Desiree Miller – 5 caps, 12. Ella Ryan – 4 caps, 13. Georgina Friedrichs – 16 caps, 14. Jacinta Windsor – 1 cap, 15. Caitlyn Halse – 4 caps, 16. Brittany Merlo – 2 caps, 17. Emily Robinson – 24 caps, 18. Georgia Chapple – 1 cap, 19. Rossie Ebbage – 4 caps, 20. Bronte Wilson – 3 caps, 21. Iliseva Batibasaga – 25 caps, 22. Brooke McKinnon – Debut, 23. Maya Stewart – 14 caps.

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