‘I cried happy tears’: Young-gun gets call-up to join Rabbitohs

Nancy Sullivan at Crushers Oval in her Palmwoods Devils jersey: “You’ve got to train hard, play hard and just set your mind up good.”

by Janine Hill

IT was the call that promising rugby league player Nancy Sullivan hoped would come one day but she did not expect it yet.

“I went to the gym and I’d finished my sets when I got a call from my manager. He said, ‘How would you like to play in Sydney’?” she said.

“I said, ‘What? Really?’ and he said, ‘Yes, for the South Sydney Rabbitohs’.”

“I just couldn’t believe it. I was shocked. I cried happy tears.”

The Woombye 18-year-old will leave her parents Kenny and Loretta and her six younger brothers and sisters to start with the Bunnies in Sydney in September. 

Details are yet to be finalised but Nancy will stay with her mother’s aunt initially and the Rabbitohs have lined up full-time work for her.

Nancy has worked hard for her opportunity in the women’s NRL.

“I was hungry for it. I just wanted it. I was hoping that some day, I’d get a phone call from somebody,” she said.

“It’s what I wanted but I didn’t expect it so early.”

Nancy’s days start at 2.30am when she rises for a half-hour run to the gym, where she puts in an hour session before starting work at BFX, Yandina, which supported her to attend the Australian schoolgirls’ competition last year and also offered her a job when she left school.

The lock and part-time second-rower trains after work two afternoons a week with the Brisbane Natives and two afternoons a week with the Caloundra Sharks, and she plays for one or other, or sometimes both, of a Saturday.

“I enjoy my footy because it’s my life. I was brought up with it. I fell in love with it because you work as a team and you get to meet new people.”

Nancy is immensely grateful to her parents for introducing her to rugby league and driving her to training and matches over the years.

“I just don’t have the words,” she said.

Rugby league could well run in the family. Kenny played until a couple of years ago and Nancy’s younger siblings, Darquntah, Kenneth junior, Vera’Dawn, Nakoya, Manjadi all play for the Palmwoods Devils except for Chazaliah, who at 2 is too young to start.

Vera’Dawn, 11, recently made the Sunshine Coast under 12s schoolgirls team.

Nancy was keen to use her achievements to motivate and inspire younger athletes.

“To all the young kids who are playing sport, just keep pushing and chasing your dreams,” she said.

“You’re going to have ups and downs. You’ve got to fall down but get back up. Train hard, play hard, and just set your mind up good.”

Alas, dad and daughter may have to  update their allegiances because Kenny has been following the Storm while Nancy was a Roosters fan before the news.