During the Super W pre-season, I had the pleasure of catching up with an old friend, the amazing Sarah Riordan! After life took her to a few different parts of Australia, I’m stoked she has recently returned to Queensland and rejoined the squad! With several big pre-season wins under their belts, the Reds have been boosted by having Sarah back in the squad.
I hope you enjoy reading our conversation! (To catch up on an earlier interview I did with Sarah, click here.)
The Reds Super W season kicks off this week, away in Fiji, against the Drua! Their first HOME game will be next week:
*** Sunday 16th March vs Waratahs 2:05pm - at Ballymore Stadium ***
That’s all right! Thanks for coming! Twice in one week!
What's it been like returning back to Ballymore this year?
It's been really good. It feels like home. It's where I started, as you mentioned, in 2018, which was the first year of Super W. It's very different now, since I left in 2022, a few years ago.
But It's good, really good to be back playing Queensland rugby. I've missed it and I'm excited for the season. I'm sure you are too!
That’s an understatement! Who would you shout out as someone that's been working hard behind the scenes during the pre-season?
Hmmm… I would probably say most of the girls have been putting their little one-percenters in behind the scene. The ones that are coming back from injury, so you've got Cheetah, this weekend coming back, you had Nat Wright return, Layne return, those girls have been working extra hard, I'd say, behind the scenes just to get on the field, which is really good to see. [“Cheetah” is Bree-Anna Cheetham, or Bree-Anna Browne. She's married now!)
A lot has changed since you were last playing here. What are the positive changes you have seen in Queensland rugby over the last few years?
As mentioned before, obviously the facilities here are very different. It's good to see that we have access to all of this as well with the boys. It just gives us a good platform to work with and to build our program.
The program has stepped up a lot as well. Having someone like Nico in place to control and oversee it, to have someone purely dedicated to that, makes a big difference. And the talent, I guess, they're a lot younger, a lot faster, which is good to see.
We've got a 17-year-old and some 18-year-olds in the team, which is really good to see.
You have had an awesome career so far, you have represented your country and even played in a World Cup. I'd love to hear what you'd say some of your career highlights have been so far.
Probably what you just stated, playing for your country is always a big achievement. Playing in a World Cup and I got to vice-captain the Wallaroos when I was in the squad.
I think those few things are definitely a highlight. I guess going over to the other side, the dark side [rugby league], was a bit of a highlight as well, for me as an athlete.
I think coming back here to Queensland and playing with this one, Layne’s joined us…
[Layne Morgan joins in to say hi.]
Sarah: I was playing club with her in Newcastle and now we're playing Super Rugby together, which is cool to see.
Layne: That's scary, that was 10 years ago!
Sarah: I think I had just finished school and Layne was coming up through.
What would your advice be for young people wanting to play professionally?
Sarah: I would say, don't get caught up in the whole… Hype, yeah, the hype and the lights and the cameras and stuff like that. I think play until you enjoy it and I think once you find that passion and that happiness in playing, the rest will come.
Instead of chasing the jersey, just chase the passion and I'm sure the rest will come. That would be my advice. Don't get too caught up in it.
What's your favourite meal post-game?
To be honest, believe it or not, I don't eat much post-game. For some reason, I don't get very hungry.
But just something full. I don't really have a favourite meal because I don't eat. I'm more just fluids.
All the best for the pre-season game in Victoria this weekend. Can't wait to see you and all of the team run out at Ballymore very soon.
Thank you, and I can't wait to have you there and watch us run out!
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