NRLW PLAYER – Romy Teitzel

Growing up my family were mad keen rugby league fans. We were always cheering for our local club, the Redcliffe Dolphins and my extended family are still huge Brisbane Broncos fans today. In my day, the girls sat on the hill and watched while the boys played footy. It has been exciting to see the growth of Women’s Rugby League and to now learn about NRLW pathmaker, leader and standout human 25- year-old ROMY TEITZEL in this once male dominated sport.

I have a granddaughter these days and to see the progress of women in sport, in my lifetime, warms this feminist granny’s heart. Not only is Romy Teitzel a brilliant sportsperson but she is studying teaching, and we all know we need more brilliant teachers, leaders and role models here in Queensland. As an ex-teacher and a footy tragic I knew I had to find out more about this inspiring young woman.

Romy Teitzel

Romy was not born with a football in her hands, but she was handed one soon after. Her dad, Craig played for the North Queensland Cowboys, and it was not just the love of the game she inherited from him. She still remains a proud North Queenslander even though she now calls Brisbane, and the Brisbane Broncos, home.

At just 25 years of age, this twice winner of the NRLW premiership, State of Origin winner and Brisbane Broncos leadership player is a flag bearing champion of women’s sport. But this achievement has not been without its challenges.

Romy is no stranger to financial challenges with NRLW players only locked into year long contracts, until recently, it made it difficult to plan life for a sportsperson and student. All this changed when she became an official Ambassador for Queensland Country Bank.  Now she can play, finish her studies and continue waving the flag for women’s sport across the country.

Growing Up

When Romy was growing up her dad, a butcher by trade, coached the Junior Rugby League team, the Tully Tigers.

“Back then there was a consensus that girls don’t play rugby league…so I took part in everything else I could – swimming, tennis, dance. If we weren’t out camping on the islands off Mission Beach, we’d be out on the farm riding motorbikes and horses…I was super active and into everything,’ said Romy.

While dance didn’t stick, team sports did.

She played her first game of Rugby League when she was fifteen. It was a Year 11 vs Year 12 match at Tully High School.

“We struggled to get two girls’ teams together, but it happened. There was a boys’ game every year, but this was the first ever girls’ game!”

Then came another first – she played in the inaugural North Queensland Marlins under – 16 girls’ team, a squad selected from right across that vast region. Romy had found where she wanted to be – on a footy field.

Romy’s North Queensland Marlins won that competition two years in a row. Then came another first when they won the first ever Queensland State Championships…and they did it again the next year.

Pathways

Cathy Freeman. Johnathon Thurston. Serena Williams. These are the three people Romy names as her greatest inspiration. The trend is clear – all three are fearless sportspeople who have all overcome challenges.

“Cathy Freeman was a huge idol of mine growing up and had a huge impact on Australian, and world sport. I really admire how she carried herself, how she stood up and performed under incredible pressure at the Olympic Games and was such a flag bearer in every sense of the word.”

Romy speaks with pride about the pathways now open to women in Rugby League.

“‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’ This saying is so important to me, because as a young girl, I couldn’t see myself playing professional Rugby League – there was no – one to see, no- one to look up to; but all that has changed.”

“Girls no longer have to stop playing at 12 years old. There are women’s competitions all over the state, and the national competition is world class. This is a real and important change… there are now genuine career paths for women in the game, and because Australia is such a Rugby League dominated country, other sports will follow.”

In 2018 NRLW kicked off, representing a seminal moment for women’s sport. A friend who’d played with Romy in the Marlins asked her to join the Western Lions in Townsville while she was studying at JC University. She played fullback that year in the inaugural Townsville Women’s Competition and they won!

Many more firsts followed with Romy now knocking on the door of the Australian Jillaroos.

Today

Romy is now saving a deposit for an apartment here in Brisbane and advises others to ‘slow down and take things one step at a time.’

She encourages others to, “Always recognise the small and big achievements you have made along the way and be proud of yourself.”

Now this proud North Queenslander is getting to know her new home of Brisbane. Romy shared her favourites. When not training or playing footy she enjoys a coffee from Industry Beans and a house – made breakfast from Nodo. She loves walks along the Brisbane River and running from the Storey Bridge to Kangaroo Point. Pilates is also a favourite morning pastime.

It sounds like the sky is the limit for this talented young Queenslander who is paving the way for the next generation of women in sport. She Society can’t wait to see what the talented Romy Teitzel does next. That is why #SheInspires