Formers Matildas football star Larissa Crummer opens up on new rugby league chapter

A former Matildas veteran has traded her shin pads for a mouthguard after storming into contention for the Sunshine Coast Falcons BMD Premiership side.

Sunshine Coast Falcons BMD Premiership player and former Matilda Larissa Crummer. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A former Matildas international star has traded her shin pads for a mouthguard after storming into contention for the Sunshine Coast Falcons BMD Premiership side.

Larissa Crummer, who retired from professional football last season to return home to the Sunshine Coast, is the newest name on the Sunshine Coast Falcons team list to start the 2025 season.

The former W-League star played for Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets before a horror leg injury put a hold on her career.

The 2015-16 W-League golden boot winner and young player of the year made her return to the football field in 2021 before joining Norwegian club Brann in 2023.

Larissa Crummer of the Matildas takes a shot on goal during the International Friendly match between the Australia Matildas and Thailand in 2022. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images.

The 29-year-old still had a year remaining on her contract with Brann but decided to hang up the boots in April 2024 after her wife Jodi fell pregnant.

“We were going through IVF at the time so as soon as I found out she had fallen pregnant I didn’t want to miss anything,” Crummer said.

“It was a lot easier to call it quits, move back home and it never crossed my mind to return to football.”

Crummer, who has played more than 30 times for the Matildas since 2015, grew up in Noosa and played for Coolum FC as a junior.

The former Sunshine Beach SHS and Kawana Waters SHS student also grew up playing touch football but gave that up to focus on football as a teenager.

“I really loved playing touch footy but it got to the point where I had to choose that or football and there weren’t any female rugby league pathways when I was younger,” Crummer said.

After returning to the region Crummer began playing social oztag and quickly impressed her teammates.

A conversation between a mutual friend of Falcons BMD coach Danny Gray led to an invitation to train with the under-19 representative women’s side.

After skipping local women’s footy Crummer continued to impress throughout the BMD pre-season before pulling on the yellow and black jersey for the Falcons first two matches of the season.

“I missed the trial games due to injury so it would’ve been nice to have a few more games under my belt but I also think there’s no better way of learning than being thrown in,” she said.

Sunshine Coast Falcons player Larissa Crummer in action. Picture: Nicola Anne Photography.

The Falcons went down in the round one fixture before claiming a 20-14 win over Wynnum Manly last weekend.

The rising winger has scored two tries in two matches this season as well as slotting two conversions in round two.

“I have a lot more knowledge around the NRL and NRLW now, I’ve seen a fair few football players and my touch football friends make it to the NRLW so I thought it would be cool to give it a crack,” she said.

“Tackling has been the biggest thing for me to learn but Danny and the girls have helped me understand the game so much more which I’m really enjoying and excited to keep learning.”

Sunshine Coast Falcons player Larissa Crummer lines up a shot at goal. Picture: Phil Bradeley Sports Photography.

She said the unplanned move had been an exciting one.

“At the moment I’m just enjoying it, learning more about the game and we’ll see what happens next,” she said.

“My wife is a big fan of the game so the whole family are big supporters and she’s really enjoying it.

“I’m back home, our family is happy and I’m having fun so it’s been great.”

Originally published as Formers Matildas football star Larissa Crummer opens up on new rugby league chapter