Corban Baxter: Tenacious

Since the foundations of the NRLW, Corban Baxter has become a central figure of the Sydney Roosters and will forever be remembered as the Club's first Captain to hoist the Premiership trophy.

*as of 2022

Arriving in Australia from Auckland, Baxter's athletic ability was apparent at an early age as a noted netballer and touch footballer, where she would go on to balance a number of roles as an athlete, sprint coach and young mother. 

Even with her busy lifestyle, the lure of Rugby League inspired her to take up the 13-man code with the Helensburgh Tiger Lillies in 2015 - where she would hit the ground running, making her debut for New South Wales in just a matter of months. 

Equally adept at filling in at fullback, five-eighth and in the centres, her meteoric rise continued as she went from spectator to competitor for the Jillaroos in a twelve-month period, making her Test debut before playing a pivotal role in Australia's 2017 World Cup Final victory the following season.

While the Roosters qualified for the Grand Final in the inaugural NRLW season in 2018, a dislocated shoulder sustained in the State of Origin match prevented the exciting young talent from making her debut in the Red, White and Blue - but Tricolours fanatics would get their first glimpse of her talent the following year. 

Featuring in all of the Roosters' matches in season 2019 at the back, Baxter's impact was immediately felt, and while the disappointment of not returning to another decider lingered, her leadership and influence would propel the side back into contention in 2020. 

Named as the Club's Captain ahead of their third campaign, Baxter's status as a leader was also recognised on the representative stage as she was given the honour of captaining the Māori All Stars in their very first match. 

Her natural leadership guided the Red, White and Blue back into the Grand Final - this time from the centres - and while the result would elude the tenacious side, success was on the horizon. 

With the impact of covid-19 delaying the upcoming 2021 NRLW season and after months on the sidelines, Baxter once again resumed the mantle as skipper of a youthful side following a mass player exodus, with her influence proving to be imperative to their title chances.

Despite missing out on the first two weeks of the new season, the tenacious skipper would push through with her return coinciding with a momentum swing for the Roosters as they completed an incredible turnaround to find themselves in finals calculations. 

The fearless leader then guided her team in their semi-final match from a 16-nil deficit against the reigning Premiers Brisbane as they completed one of the most memorable comeback victories in recent memory.

One week later in Redcliffe, the Roosters created further history in the Grand Final as they claimed a 16-4 win in an intense contest, with Baxter celebrating her 28th birthday in the best possible fashion as she the Premiership Trophy aloft, joining the likes of Dally Messenger, Dave Brown, Arthur Beetson, Brad Fittler, Anthony Minichiello Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend as a Premiership Captain for Easts. 

Away from football, Baxter continues to inspire the next generation with roles including the NRL Future Leaders Internship Program and as an NRLW Ambassador, continually taking time out of her busy schedule as a wife, mother and her full-time role in the workforce to positively contribute to the Rugby League community.

With plenty of unfinished business still to be done on the field, history will remember Corban Baxter as a tenacious leader who inspired her side to Premiership success.