Pearson’s award winning year

Hay's own Rachael Pearson won the 2024 Parramatta Eels NRLW coaches award, on the back of a solid season. Image: Parramatta Eels.

By Krista Schade

Local talent Rachael Pearson has scooped two important awards recently.

The NRLW and NSW Sky Blues half-back received the Parramatta Eels coaches award at their presentations last week.

This came on the back of recently being named the winner of the prestigious Apprentice of the Year at the 2024 NSW Training Awards.

Pearson is now a fully qualified mechanical engineer, having undertaken her studies while playing NRLW for the Parramatta Eels, and juggling representative football duties.

Pearson grew up in Hay, the daughter of Robyn and Robert Pearson. She excelled in a variety of sports as a child, and excelled in league tag with Hay Magpies before moving into women’s rugby league at the national level.