Coming into from the wing to start in the middle, Broncos lock Bree Spreadborough is loving life fulfilling her new role for the top-of-the-table Broncos.
Spreadborough – who made her NRLW debut in Round 1 last season as an outside back – developed her rugby league skills as a winger with the Central Queensland Capras in Rockhampton, Now, she is relishing the opportunity to be closer to the action, despite it feeling “surreal”.
“It's honestly a surreal feeling for me still to come from a wing and now in the middle of the field,” Spreadborough said.
“(Coach Scott Prince) said just play my footy and work hard and do all the hard tackles and take the hard hit-ups; literally same thing every week.
“Honestly, I love the grind and I'm starting to love that space and the girls I play with in the middle… it’s really fun.”
The shift in the position also see her achieve a special milestone, nabbing her first NRLW try in her side’s big win against the Titans last weekend in what was her fourth top tier game.
All she can remember of the try is thinking “I’ve got it down… oh my gosh, my first try”.
“Pretty exciting,” Spreadborough said.
Bree Spreadborough Try
“(Overall, I was) impressed with the team… we came out really strong like we wanted to and got the chocolates in the end so that was really good.
“They were coming off the back of a loss and we knew they were going to come out strong, but really good we could come out stronger and really happy with that result.”
Spreadborough said it would take another strong performance to beat defending premiers Sydney Roosters this round at Totally Workwear Stadium in a top-of-the-table showdown.
“Just that grind mentality, I think, and if we go out there and play our footy, I think we'll definitely stay strong and hopefully get the win as well,” Spreadborough said.
Personally, Spreadborough said she needed “to continue to believe in myself and continue to grow with the team… keep playing my footy and do the best I can”.
“I didn't grow up playing footy or anything, it sort of come late when I was 18… I still find it very surreal to be here.
“I'm trying to lap up every moment and yeah, loving it.
“(I am) learning heaps and still learning every week.
“I love that it ends up being almost easier when you get into this level because everyone just does their job and if you do your job, it makes your life easier as well.”
Jada Ferguson Try
One of the players helping set up the perfect start is hooker Jada Ferguson, who has been one of the form players in the competition so far.
Although well established in her role as the starting nine for the Broncos, achieving her State of Origin debut this year has seen the young talent take her game to another level.
“Origin was a massive achievement for me and I was really excited for that opportunity and I think you learn so much from it,” Ferguson said.
“Being around the calibre of coaching and the girls; I think it was just a cool experience and an eye opener for me, especially being young. I can develop and take that into my game and I think that’s helped this year.
“I know it’s only two games in, but it’s given me a lot of confidence for this season.
On this weekend’s game at home, Fergus agreed it would be a challenge taking on the Roosters, but also an opportunity to test themselves.
“I think it will be a good opportunity to play the Roosters, they are a strong side, so 1v2, it’s always a good match up.
“We took lots of learnings from that game (against the Titans); we started really well, but our second half probably wasn’t as good as we wanted, so I think that’s probably a learning to take into this game.
“Roosters can capitalise on that (errors), so if we can play a good first half, we just need to back it up for the second half.”
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