Parker Mentoring Future Roosters Through Inaugural NRLW Rookie Camp

She might be on the sidelines at the moment, but Brydie Parker is playing a major role in mentoring the Roosters' future stars in preparation for the upcoming NRLW season.

In the NRLW's first-ever rookie camp, nearly 40 players from all six clubs gathered at Caves Beach for a two-day retreat centring around wellbeing through a number of beneficial educational workshops. 

Roosters rookies Pani Hopoate, Otesa Pule, Shannon Rose, Jasmin Strange, Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa and Jada Taylor along with Club wellbeing and education manager Damon Spooner were on hand, with Parker invited in a mentorship capacity. 

“Essentially, it was a weekend of wellbeing and education,” explained Parker.

“We spoke about things from female health to mindset and resilience, social media, the code of conduct to financial advice, so it was a whole weekend of preparation to get the girls ready for the NRLW.

“There are obviously going to be a lot of rookies this upcoming season, not to mention next year with ten teams, and with a massive influx of players, the camp also included rookies from last season.

“You can get caught in the trap of labelling them purely as athletes, but the mental side is a massive component of the game, especially when it comes to dealing with certain situations and where to go to seek assistance if there are any issues.

It's really exciting to see how much support and opportunities there are for the young women coming through.

Brydie Parker On the inaugural NRLW Rookie Camp

“For them to be able to know where to go is incredibly important. It shows not only the growth in the game but the support that the NRL are putting behind it as well.

“They want the game to grow but they are also looking after the players as a whole. It just goes to show that they’re really valuing the players as individuals."

Having completed her fourth season in the Tricolours, Parker was called upon as one of the six current NRLW players to share their own career experiences and help guide the next crop of superstars. 

The 2021 Premiership winner was not only humbled by the invitation but was also thrilled to be part of yet another massive development in the growth of the women's competition.

“I found it really powerful,” she said.

“Being able to share my story and my own personal journey – obviously everyone’s journey is different – but to have a platform to speak on a personal level to these girls was special.

“To be there as someone they can look to and answer questions, I was really grateful to be invited and involved in seeing the growth of the game and how important it is to keep heading in the direction that it is going in.

“I know for myself personally, coming into my first Rugby League experience in the NRLW in 2018, it was a bit of a shock to the system, I didn’t realise the resources that were there for me.

"Just one example was the education grants, which at the time I didn't even know existed. So this camp was great to bring to light the opportunities and resources they have available to them so they’re aware.

“When you’re coming into an environment where you’re a rookie and a new face, it can be daunting. If they get into a situation where they feel like they’re uncomfortable to ask, they’re already equipped to navigate the situation themselves.