marieclaire.com.au 71“Nothing beats the feeling of running
onto the field wearing the green and
gold jersey in front of a screaming
crowd,” says Corban McGregor, who has
played rugby league professionally for
three years and helped the Harvey Nor-
man Jillaroos win last year’s World Cup.
McGregor’s number-one fan is
seven-year-old Madena, who plays for
her local under-10s touch footy team
and has grand plans to follow in McGre-
gor’s footsteps and represent Australia
when she’s older. McGregor’s advice to
Madena is to work hard: “If you want
to do something in your life, make it a
priority and work your butt of for it.”
The fact that young girls can aspire
to be rugby league players is astoundingto McGregor. “When I was Madena’s
age, us girls had to stop playing footy
when we were nine or 10,” she says.
“Now, there are full competitions for
women and a pathway to a professional
career. The opportunities that are open
to girls now are amazing.”
And it’s players such as McGregor
who are paving the way for the next
generation of women in sport. “When
I started playing for the Jillaroos, I was
really nervous,” she says. “I only knew a
handful of girls. Some of the senior
leadership girls mentored me and it
really helped to have someone guide
me through. Now I’m doing the same
thing for the younger girls and it feels
really nice.”Corban McGregor, elite rugby league player,
24, with Madena Moussa, 7Grow
Up...
What does it take to
realise your dreams?
Four aspiring leaders
of the future meet
their professional
85B?5CD?V>4?ED
By Alley Pascoe
REAL PEOPLEWHEN I