Women’s Rugby League World Cup: Meg Ward could have playing for Matildas rather than Jillaroos
JILLAROOS winger Meg Ward could’ve been preparing for an Olympic football campaign. Instead, she’s on the verge of winning a rugby league World Cup.
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JILLAROOS winger Meg Ward could’ve been preparing for an Olympics. Instead, she’s on the verge of winning a rugby league World Cup.
The athletically-gifted 23-year-old has revealed how she quit a flourishing football career playing alongside a string of current Matildas because she wanted to play a more “physical’ sport.
A former midfielder for the Australian schoolgirls and in the women’s premier league in Brisbane, Ward once scored three goals, including one from a bicycle-kick, in a semi-final.
But having played soccer from the age of 5, Ward told how she made the decision to switch to rugby union, where her journey to league officially began.
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“I think I was becoming a little too physical in soccer, so it was time to have a crack at something else,’’ Ward said.
“I was going into tackles a bit too hard. I had the potential if I had of stuck with it (soccer).
“Some of the girls that I was fortunate enough to play with are now with the Matildas and doing amazing things.
“Mackenzie Arnold, Chloe Logarzo and Hayley Raso (all Matildas), I was fortunate enough to play with them.
“So for me, I possibly could’ve pushed for it. But I had played since I was 5 until 18, so I was looking for something fresh, something new.’’
Having played rugby union for three years, Ward then moved to Katherine for work with the air force.
“I was looking for a sport to play and I wanted to give league a crack,’’ Ward said. “I called up the Northern Territory women’s coach and she lined me up with the team.
“I now drive three hours each way to play. It sounds far, but when you love a sport, you just do it.’’
Ward made her Jillaroos debut on Thursday, scoring a try in their 58-4 rout of the Cook Islands.
Ward will line-up against England at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Sunday afternoon where the Jillaroos will look to improve again on their first-up performance.
“There’s obviously little areas we can fix, but that was an awesome start for the girls and I’m really excited to be part of it,’’ Ward said.