Australia co-captain Sam Bremner says she was “baffled” at feeling she had to decide between a sporting career and motherhood.
In April 2021, the 2013 World Cup winner – then with St George Illawarra – announced she was expecting her second child and would miss the following NRL Women’s Premiership campaign.
There was talk among the Australian press of retirement. Bremner had not played for Australia since 2016. She missed the 2017 World Cup after picking up an injury on the eve of the tournament. She had missed the 2019 season with the birth of her first child. She was now set to absent for a full league campaign for the second time in three years.
But for the player herself, a return to rugby league in 2022 was the “happiest” option. On Saturday, the mother of two will lead out Australia at Old Trafford in the World Cup final.
“I was baffled by the fact I felt like I had to make a choice,” she told the the BBC Radio 5 Live Rugby League World Cup podcast.
“I decided I wanted to have a family but I also loved my career. Women’s rugby league was taking off and both things made me so happy.
“I thought I’m going to do this so other women don’t have to feel this way. They don’t have to pick between two things that are so central for their happiness at that stage of their lives.”