When a young Lily Peacock proclaimed to her dad at aged nine that she “wanted to play footy”, she never dreamt that eight years on she would be selected for the Cowboys Representative team.
In a few short weeks since the announcement, Lily’s life has changed dramatically – she moved to Townsville and at just 17 is living independently with other players, getting paid to play the sport she loves.
A total of 28 girls from all around the country, and two from Fiji, have been signed to play for the North Queensland Toyota Cowboy’s inaugural National Women’s Rugby League Team.
“I was pretty rapt!” said Lily.
“It was pretty awesome to hear that it was official!”
This week was the first training session for the new team and their initiation test was to work as a team to abseil down from the roof of the Cowboy’s stadium.
“The aim was to get over our fears and learn to work as a team,” explains Lily.
“Some of the girls were a bit scared but I absolutely loved it!”
From the age of six it was dancing and not football that Lily loved.
But when she was eight years old something changed, and she began playing team sports such as Touch Football.
At school, lunchtimes were all about playing footy with the boys and by nine, this self-proclaimed tomboy announced to her dad that she wanted to play for a team.
Lily made her debut with the Proserpine Brahman’s Under 11 team and played for the side for three years.
In her early teenage years, however, she took some time away from the sport and went travelling around the country with her family.
When she arrived in Darwin, she started playing for a team again and immediately knew her passion had been renewed.
“This made me realise what I really wanted to do,” said Lily.
“Watching older girls play on the TV – I knew this was where I wanted to be going!”
When Lily and her family returned to her home base in Cannonvale, she began playing again and at just 15 years old she joined the Walkerston Wanderers Under 17 team.
Then, last year she was picked to play for the Mackay Cutters Under 19 team and on ANZAC Day she made her debut for the Women’s team.
“It was awesome playing for the Women’s team and being picked for the Cowboys was the cherry on top!” she said.
“I love how football brings everyone together – no matter your background or even whether you like footy! – it’s a great conversation starter and brings everyone together.”
Lily Peacock and a team mate outside the Cowboys stadium. Photo supplied
The inaugural NRLW Cowboys squad abseiled down from the roof of the stadium earlier this week. Photo supplied
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