‘Rat’ kicks NSW to Origin victory
Hay grown Rugby League champion, Rachael Pearson with her highly talented cousin, Emily Bass, from the opposing Queensland team.
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery
Champion former Hay sportsperson Rachael Pearson (aka Rat) played a huge part in the NSW Rugby League State of Origin victory over Queensland at Canberra GIO Stadium, on Friday.
Rachael’s goal kicking success proved to be the difference between the two teams as she lands four goals from five attempts in the Blues 20-14 victory.
The win enabled NSW to claim the State of Origin Shield for the first time since 2019. The match was played before a record SOO crowd of 11,321, showing how much the Women’s game has grown in such a short period of time.
Rachael was up against current Australian captain and Dally M Medal winner Ali Brigginshaw, one of the most experienced players in the game, and held her own. Apart from one bad miss in defence, Rachael was very solid in leading the team around the paddock.
She gained good metres with her kicking in general play, and her selective passing gave team mates plenty of opportunities in attack. Rachael’s form has been consistent all season, and Friday night’s victory would be a compensation for her Club team St George loss in the NRLW Grand Final to Eastern Suburbs Dragons.
She figured very prominently in media discussions in the lead up to the representative fixture, both in print media and on televised Sports Programs.
Rachael’s roots to Hay, and her journey to become a state representative have been well publicised.
Rachael must be in a good position to be named in the Australian Women’s Rugby League squad to play in the World Cup which will be played in England at the end of the year.
If Rachael can attain that honour, she will emulate the reaching of international honours of her uncle Geoff Milliken who toured the Sub-continent with the Australian Under 19 Cricket Team.
Rachael’s cousin, Emily Bass, grand-daughter of her Aunt Diane Pedrana, had a really strong game for Queensland on the left wing, and was a danger every time she touched the ball.
Meanwhile, Rachael has re-signed with St George Dragons for the new and extended competition which commences later on this year.
She was named in the NRLW “Team of the Year” after a stellar debut season.
The competition has expanded with the addition of four new Clubs (Wests Tigers, Canberra Raiders, North Queensland and Cronulla).
In a major change for the 2022 season, clubs will be subject to a $350,000 salary cap imposed for squads of 24 players while additional development players can also be signed on one-season contracts.
NRLW clubs had until the end of May to lock in at least 22 of 24 squad members for the 2022 season with clubs to announce signings in their own time. The remaining two players can be signed by August 1 with teams to begin a short pre-season of preparation throughout July.
