Haren’s chasing league dream
KATE Haren made a lot of people proud when she ran on to ANZ Stadium last week to play for the St George-Illawarra Dragons.
The Innisfail mum made her NRLW debut in the second game of the season and is now hoping she can help her side into next week’s grand final with a win against the Roosters tomorrow night.
“We have to win and we also need results to go our way, but we are confident we can get the job done,” Haren said.
The PE teacher at Good Counsel College said she had become a hero for her students and the Peninsula girls she coached.
“After the game last week I got all these messages from the girls saying that they want to be like me and that’s why they play rugby league,” Haren said.
The 32-year-old said the Dragons had been extremely accommodating since signing her.
While some of the other Dragons players are parents, none of her teammates have had to bring their kids along for the ride.
“All the others are at home with their families,” she said.
“But Ollie is enjoying it. He now has 21 new aunties.”
This year, Haren went to extraordinary lengths to play rugby league. She has been pulling on the boots for West Brisbane Panthers.
“My regular week involves working my full-time job which is usually 8am to 4pm and during some part of the day, whether it’s lunchtime or straight after work, I go to the gym twice a week,” she said.
“On Tuesday and Thursday nights, I train with my brother’s men’s team (Innisfail) at their rugby league training.
“Then Friday night, my son goes to my parents and I get up at 2am Saturday morning to leave home at 3am and drive to Cairns Airport, catch the 6am flight to Brisbane to play, then catch the 9.40pm flight to get back to Cairns around midnight and usually get home around 1.30am or 2am Sunday morning. And that’s just the home games in Brisbane.”
At a cost of around $500 each weekend for flights, Haren was forced to sell her car to fund the travelling.
“I made a commitment at the start of the year (to the Panthers), so I was determined to go through with it,” she said.
“Ultimately this was my end goal, to get to the Dragons.”
“When (the NRLW) got announced last year, I called the parents in and asked should I go for it. This is a family achievement thanks to mum and dad, my brothers, Robert and Graham, and Ollie.’’