While rugby league runs deep in the Millard family, Illawarra Steelers Prop Hope Millard aims to create her own legacy, separate from her father, Shane, who played 272 first-grade games across the NRL and Super League.
That’s not to say Millard doesn’t enjoy receiving advice from her father, acknowledging that it benefits her development as a player.
“He tells me just keep working hard, get in there and get amongst it.
“Sometimes he tells me to run harder, and I need to defend with my shoulders,” Millard says with a smile.
Millard The Prospect
Although the thought of playing Open Women’s footy was initially daunting, the 19-year-old has come into her own since transitioning from the Illawarra Steelers Junior Pathways. She has found her way onto the team sheet every week since debuting in Round 1 of this year’s campaign.
As a member of the Steelers 2024 Tarsha Gale Cup premiership-winning team and winner of the U/19 State of Origin shield, Millard says that her experiences in both environments have prepared her for the open grade, and she has set her sights on more silverware.
“From both of those experiences just taking on what I have learned from those seasons and that experience and putting it into Harvey Norman.
“I think it’s helped others and made my footy a lot better.”
Two Peas In A Pod
It didn’t take long for Millard to find her partner in crime, fellow prop Mackenzie Lear.
Forming a formidable front-row partnership, Millard says Lear has been able to bring the best out of her.
“It’s been great. I love Kenz [Mackenzie]. We have a really good relationship on and off the field.
“That helps with my footy, and hopefully, that helps with her footy as well.”
Returning to her junior club after a two-year tenure in the Shire with the Cronulla Sharks, Lear appreciates Millard as a footy player and a friend outside the game.
“She’s probably playing a lot better than I ever did in my first year.
“She runs pretty bloody hard and tackles even harder.
“We both get on so well, made great friendships. I think that’s why we play so well together. I’m expecting a lot of that for the rest of the year.
“She’s a big part of our team, and I love putting on that jersey beside her,” Lear said.
No Size, No Problem
Coach Jamie ‘Scissors’ Szczerbanik admits they have one of the smallest forward packs in the competition but is proud of their performance week in and week out.
“They carry on like they are six-foot-four and 120 kilos.
“The way they turn up every week and what they put their body through, it’s unbelievable what they do,” Szczerbanik said.
Lear supports this notion, saying that despite her side’s stature, their technique has brought them to second place on the ladder.
“Being that smaller body, we don’t have that mass behind us, and we can’t use that.
“So, techniques a big thing for us, and we’ve worked on that a lot with Scissors, and it’s coming to show now.
“Technical-wise, we have to be pretty spot on,” Lear said.
Back Home For Bulldogs
Returning to Collegians Stadium this Saturday for the first time since their Round 3 win against the Parramatta Eels, the Steelers will look to maintain their 100 percent winning record on the ground this season against fifth-place Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Lear says that her side is ready for the clash and is identifying areas of the opposition to remain cautious about.
“They’re a big forward pack; we know they are quite fit.
“It’s going to be a tough competition, but I reckon we’re ready to grind it out as well.”
Words: Joshua Houldin