Clydesdales duo take on long road trip to live rugby league dreams

Pride in the jersey and a love for the game is driving two players to travel more 1200km between in effort to make their rugby league dreams a reality.

BRITTNEY Smith dreams of playing in the NRLW one day, and she’s not about to let something as “little” as a nine hour, 800km round road trip stop her from staking her claim.

The 22-year-old made the trek from Roma to Gatton to train with the Western Clydesdales as they prepare for the 47th Battalion competition later this month.

“We left Roma around 12.30-1pm and got to Toowoomba around 5pm. We hung around in Toowoomba for a little while and then headed down to Gatton for training at 6.30pm,” she said.

“It’s a big trip, but I love my rugby league, and there’s no opportunities to play it in Roma.

“I’d love to play in the NRLW one day, it’s a dream of mine, and if I want to make that happen these are the type of things I have to do.”

Brittney Smith makes the round trip from Roma to train and play with the Western Clydesdales open women's team.

After a number of years out of the game, Smith has returned to action, signing with Valleys in the Toowoomba Rugby League women’s competition and lining up for the South West Emus in the TRL’s annual pre-season showpiece event.

Her early pre-season trial form caught the eye of Clydesdales coach Dom Haak who asked her to consider trialling.

“I’ve played rugby league since I was kid and always loved it,” she said.

“This is my first season back after a fair bit of time away though.

“I guess I just decided I didn’t want to miss out on any opportunities to play the game anymore.”

Smith, who has a rigorous personal training schedule in Roma, said her teammates and coaches make the travel sacrifices worthwhile.

“I have my own training schedule, lots of gym and field drills, during the week at home,” she said.

“The Valleys and Clydesdales girls and the coaches are like family.

“They all recognise that I am serious and committed to helping the team succeed.

“At the same time I have to make sure I am working hard and trying to improve all the time.

“It’s great they give me the opportunity to play, and they recognise how committed I am with the travel, but you still have to earn your spot in the team and I’m willing to do that work.”

Smith is joined in the Western Clydesdales squad by another player who spends a lot of her life on the road.

Katelyn Anderson travelled from Goondiwindi to train with the Clydesdales earlier this week.

The Clydesdales will send men’s and women’s teams to Gympie for the 47th Battalion competition from April 30 to May 1 – the men’s side won last year’s competition.