Lily Dick stands tall, club records fall: latest from North Queensland Cowboys NRLW pre-season

The countdown to the NRLW season has officially begun with a Cowboys club record obliterated on day 1 of pre-season. Find out why Australian rugby 7s star Lily Dick was always going to pick North Queensland.

North Queensland recruit and former Australian rugby 7s star Lily Dick is ready to make her dream come true after joining the Cowboys NRLW for pre-season training. Picture: Alix Sweeney / North Queensland Cowboys

North Queensland recruit and former Australian rugby 7s star Lily Dick is ready to make her dream come true after joining the Cowboys NRLW side for pre-season training this week.

Growing up as an avid league supporter, the 25-year-old forward has all the right attributes to make a seamless transition to her new code.

After winning a World Cup and a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Dick said she was ready to chase a new goal and the chance to join one of her “best mates” in Jakiya Whitfeld at the Cowboys was something she couldn’t turn down.

“I’m just ready for a bit of a change. I’d always wanted to play rugby league. I have heaps of friends that have converted from union to league and said they love it,” Dick said.

“Talking to Jakiya (Whitfeld) a lot, she really enjoyed the culture and the atmosphere up here, and I think that was a big part of the reason for the change and to choose the Cowboys over anyone else.

North Queensland recruit and former Australian rugby 7s star Lily Dick is ready to make her dream come true after joining the Cowboys NRLW for pre-season training. Picture: Alix Sweeney / North Queensland Cowboys

“The Cowboys are doing great things for women’s rugby. I’m really excited to just play footy, if that’s in BMD, it’ll be BMD, if it’s NRLW that’s awesome.

“I’m hoping to make my debut. That would be a dream come true. I’ve always followed league growing up, so that’s definitely one of my goals.”

Dick suffered an ACL injury while playing for the Australian 7s team in Singapore in 2024, and she said her recovery was going well.

“I’m about 11 months post now, cleared for everything, just (not) a bit of contact, so pretty much fully back, which is nice,” Dick said.

“Probably week three or week four of pre-season, I’ll be able to fully train.”

Portrait of Australian Women's National Rugby 7's players Lily Dick, Evania Pelite and Emma Tonegato before they head to Europe to compete and qualify for the Olympics. They will be the first Australian team to qualify for Tokyo 2020. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Working at Kirwan State High School as a teacher aide, Dick is signed through until the end of the 2026 season and she is expected to work her way into the side via the second row.

Dick will compete with China Polata, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell, Najvada George, Bree Chester and Tallisha Harden for a backrow position in the team.

“That’s where I’ve been training and doing some extra sessions with the coaches on positioning, passes, where I’ll be running off the halves and everything – so it’s been good fun. A lot of learning but I’m enjoying it,” Dick said.

Lily Dick of Australia runs the ball in the Women's Cup Quarter Final 4 played between Australia and France during the 2019 Sydney HSBC Sevens at Spotless Stadium on February 02, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

“Coming from 7s, you play literally everywhere so I’m happy to go wherever is best for the team and my role.

“You have to have every skill set, really. I’m hopefully bringing my offload game, passing game, and my vision as well – just looking up and seeing what’s in front. Hopefully I can bring my assets to the game and help the team.”

Jakiya Whitfeld (L) and Julia Robinson of the Australian Jillaroos take selfies on the pitch during an NRL team Captain's Run at Allegiant Stadium on February 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Whitfeld made waves on the first day of NRLW training on Monday by obliterating the club’s record for the 1.2km shuttle run, known as the ‘bronco’.

The Jillaroos star ran a blistering 4:53-minute pace and Dick predicted her long-time friend would be even better in 2025.

“She’s one of my best mates, we’ve known each other since we were 17 or 18. She was at 7s with me and went over to league, and she’s just got better and better each year,” Dick said.

“I’m really happy for her, she puts in a lot of hard work. And yesterday, it showed with a new club record in the bronco – she flogged it, she was so good.”

The Cowboys’ NRLW season-opener is at home against the Titans on Saturday, July 5. Kick-off is at 5.15pm before the Cowboys play the Storm in the NRL.

Originally published as Lily Dick stands tall, club records fall: latest from North Queensland Cowboys NRLW pre-season