Also The Hay Halfback Rachael "Rat" Pearson brings up 25 NRLW Games on Sunday.
So proud of Rachael and the fact that she is a Hay girl, and a role-model for the young kids of the community.
I wrote an article about Rat and her contribution to sport in the community.
So pleased to see how far she has become.
Magpies legend Neil-John Nisbet had a lot to do with developing Rat's skills over the years. I'll bet the "Little General" is thrilled to see Rachael's success continuing at the top level.
There is so much of the 'trademark Nezzie style' in her play - apart from skill on the paddock, she has retained that humble personality that all champion sportspeople seem to possess.
Rachael’s sporting achievements are not just confined to Women’s Rugby League.
She has been the recipient of prestigious Sporting Blue awards presented by Riverina PSSA sporting association for her ability in representing NSW PSSA in cricket and touch football in National Championships.
She is also an accomplished Australian Rules player, and netball.
She was an excellent High Jumper, and held the Under 17 record at HWMHS for a long period.
She has also been a member of Young Matildas Soccer Squad - a squad that contained Sam Kerr.,..
Before turning her attention to tackling Rugby League, her record in LeagueTag for Hay Magpies in Group 20 Rugby League is amazing.
LEAGUE TAG RECORDS HELD BY RACHAEL PEARSON (as at 30 June 2018 Group 20 Player of the Year...2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015, 2016 Most tries scored in a match – 6 (v Yanco Wamoon 2015) Most goals in a match – 12/12 v Griffith Waratah Tigers 2016) Most points in a match 40 (6 tries 8 goals v Yanco Wamoon 2015)40(4 tries 12 conversions V Waratah Tigers 2016)
She is the only player in the Group 20 competition, up until the 2017 competition, to have posted 100 points in a season – and she has done it every full season she has played – with the exception of 2010 when kicks for goal were not allowed. That season she scored 88 from 22 tries. In 2011 she posted 184 in competition matches PLUS another 34 during the final series. 2012/2013 she was absent during studies in Canberra.
She returned in 2014 and posted 138 points, plus another 10 in the finals. 2015 Rachael's tally reached 194 – before finals. 2016 Rachael scored a record 262 points (30 tries 71 goals) 2017 Injury in final game of the season ended her year. She finished with 194 points (23 tries 51 goals) 2018 Rachael equalled her own point scoring record of 262 points - (28 tries, 2 field goals, 74 goals)
TACKLING RUGBY LEAGUE IN THE BIG TIME
Rachael joined the Helensburgh Tigerlillies in the Illawarra competition in 2019
Rachael was slotted into the half back position which suited her ability to ‘read a game’ and to use her ball skills to advantage
In her first season, she claimed the Top Point Scorer Award for the strong Illawarra Women’s Tackling Rugby League competition.
The award was announced at the Presentation Night for the very strong Illawarra competition , and apart from being the competition leading point scorer, with a record tally of 164 competition points, Rachael was named as Runner-Up in the Division’s “ Player of the Year” Senior Women’s competition.
She was an instant success, as everyone who had followed her exploits with Hay Magpies LeagueTag team in the Group 20 competition expected.
Rachael was slotted into the half back position which suited her ability to ‘read a game’ and to use her ball skills to advantage.
She played in the Greater Southern Opens Women's Trophy competition preseason - which featured teams from Picton Camden and Helensburgh, her team winning all three matches and she contributed a total of 34 points from 3 tries and 11 goals.
In the Country Championships, Rachael kicked a total of 8 goals for 16 points.
All up, her point scoring first season in Women Tackling Rugby League totalled 214 - not a bad debut season for the Hay champion.
Rachael was selected in the SouthCoast Illawarra Dragons team which competed in the inaugural Country Championship.
The Dragons went into the competition as warm favourites, and although going through the preliminary rounds undefeated, the side was defeated in the semi-finals, and eliminated from the series, won by the Riverina Bulls team which included Hay Magpies Luci Lugsdin.
Rachael’s other ‘recognition’ in Tackling Rugby League, included being named as Helensburgh TigerLillies “Player of the Year” - an outstanding recognition in a team with several Australian and representative players in its ranks.
Congratulations Rachael on achieving your 25 games in the NRLW competition. The community of Hay is SO PROUD of our little champion.
www.parraeels.com.au
www.nswrl.com.au
