Georgie Coote is one of many young women who has successfully faced the challenges of being a talented female rugby league player living west of the Great Dividing Range.
She, and a mother determined that distance and location would not disadvantage a talented daughter, tackled obstacles and with their determination has become a part of a steadily growing avenue for regional female athletes.
Facing a five hour trip (10hour return) several times a week, time off school and work for her parents to attend training and games - all the while studying for her HSC, Georgie was not deterred and has succeeded in both her sporting career and her academic future.
From a very promising start in league tag as a youngster (her mother was worried that Georgie’s slight stature would open her up to injury as the only tackle league available to her at that time was with the boys), Georgie is now playing her second year in the Tarsha Gale competition for South Sydney Rabbitohs, after being sought out by coach Dale Jackson.
Indeed her very first game of league was a selection trial for secondary schools pathways, and while she succeeded in being picked as a fullback for the NSWCCC side the explosion of the Covid pandemic on the world stage saw the competition cancelled.
Once life was back to ‘normal’, she competed in the Australian all schools U18s competition, and represented in NSWCCC Rugby 7s.
Georgie hails from a small mixed farming property in Forbes in Central West NSW, where she grew up with her parents Gavan and Peita, and younger siblings Max and Ruby.
From an early introduction (at 1-month of age!) to outdoor sports like waterskiing, Georgie has relished an active lifestyle. She has been named age champion and competed at a state level in swimming and athletics at various stages of early schooling, and grabbed every opportunity to play a team sport. Even now she continues to run and hike and recently completed a trek to Base Camp at Everest with her mother - a trip that reinforced a gratitude for the life that she has and a belief in herself to overcome challenges.
For now, she continues to set goals to play in professional women’s rugby league, whilst starting her first year of a Physical Education degree at the University of Wollongong.
