Player Michaela Peck

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Michaela Peck

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Michaela Peck (born 21 April 1994) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership and the Valkyries in the QRL Women's Premiership.

Peck was born in Brisbane, Queensland and played her junior rugby league for the Stanley River Wolves.

In 2014, Peck played for the Beerwah Bulldogs in the Brisbane and District Women's Rugby League Division 1, playing in their Grand Final loss to the Souths Logan Magpies.

In 2018, Peck joined the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NSWRL Women's Premiership. In June 2018, while in the Royal Australian Navy, she represented the Australian Defence Force at the Women's National Championships. On 6 October 2018, she played for the Prime Minister's XIII in their win over Papua New Guinea.

In 2019, Peck joined for the Wests Panthers, and later that year, played in the Gold Coast Titans Women's Invitational. On 11 October 2019, she again represented the Prime Minister's XIII, scoring a try in their win over Fiji.

In September 2020, Peck joined the New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's Premiership team. In Round 2 of the 2020 NRLW season, she made her debut for the Roosters in their 22–12 loss to the Sydney Roosters. At the end of the season, she won the Warriors' Club Person of the Year award.

In 2021, Peck played for the Valkyries in the QRL Women's Premiership, captaining the side.

 

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Four Women's Invitational players selected in PM's XIII​

30 Sep 2019, 03:27 pm


Congratulations to four players that took part in the inaugural Women's Invitational side who have today been selected in the Prime Minister's XIII to take on Fiji in Suva on Friday, 10 October.

The Titans' hosted its first ever Women's Invitational match that was played prior to the club's Round 25 match at Cbus Super Stadium with local talent on show in what was a highly entertaining game.

Michaela Peck, Asipau mafi, Laken Paitai and Kristine Vaalepu have all had great individual years and have been rewarded for their efforts.

Coach Brad Donald expects the fixture to highlight some future NRLW players.

“We had 13 players from last year’s PM’s XIII women’s squad play in the NRLW this year, which shows the elite pathway is truly working,” Donald said.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for these women to be on show, empowering communities and women throughout to the Pacific both on and off the field.”

Four Women's Invitational players selected in PM's XIII

Congratulations to four players that took part in the inaugural Women's Invitational side who have today been selected in the Prime Minister's XIII to take on Fiji in Suva on Friday, 10 October.

www.titans.com.au

 

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Setbacks won't stop Michaela pecking away at league dream​

Mary Konstantopoulos
Fri 28 Aug 2020, 12:21 pm


Michaela Peck was so keen to play rugby league she didn’t rest until a competition was created in which she could play.

As a child, she played for South-East Queensland club Stanley River Wolves with, and against boys, but once that avenue was shut down when she turned 12, she had to hit the road to get a game.

During her teenage years, Peck played a bit of footy in school and made some district teams. But the hard reality for girls at that time was that there wasn’t much further to go.

There was even a point where Peck tried her hand at refereeing, so desperate was she to stay connected to the game she loved.
Then along came Kate Cross.

"Kate Cross was one of the NRL development managers for the North Brisbane region. I begged her, I pleaded with her to start a women’s competition in my area," Peck said.


Michaela Peck trains with the PM's XIII in 2019.©Nathan Hopkins/NRL Photos

"We had two-and-a-half teams. We ended up playing in a round robin competition where we would play each other over and over again."

Since then, Peck has played for many clubs across Queensland and NSW, including Bribie Island, Cronulla Sharks, Beerwah Bulldogs and now the West Brisbane Panthers.

Peck’s journey (and others like her) are what I find most inspiring about the women’s game.

Prior to the establishment of competitions in each state which now means that there is an unbroken pathway from young girls to the Australian Jillaroos, many women travelled the country so they could continue playing.

As well as the travel, Peck has fought her way back from two serious injuries. In 2011 she injured her neck and then in 2012, her first game back, she snapped her ACL and had a lateral and medial meniscus tear in her knee.

She also trialled for the NRLW’s “Top 40” in its first year, narrowly missing out.

There’s one thing that pushes women like Peck to keep coming back to rugby league.

"It’s because I love it," Peck said.

"I have always wanted to play at a higher level and even though I have moved around and had injuries, there’s still time for me to make that dream come true.

"I haven’t made it yet, but I love the game, so I still have the passion to keep pushing toward that goal. Even if I don’t make it, at least I can say I gave myself every opportunity."

Her commitment to making it at the highest level even resulted in Peck making a decision two years ago to give up her full-time job and shift to a casual role so she could continue to pursue her dream.

"Travelling with the Navy, I couldn’t be left at a location because I wasn’t at the elite level," she said.

"I made the decision to get out of the Navy so I could move back home to my support network and give footy a crack.

"The only way to be able to stay in a location and play consistent footy was to leave my job at that point."

While Peck misses the security of a full-time job she recognises it was the best decision for her.

Peck’s decision to commit to her footy has not gone unnoticed. In 2018 and 2019 Peck was selected for the Prime Minister’s XIII with games taking her to Fiji and Papua New Guinea.


Michaela Peck playing in the Holcim Cup last weekend.©Colleen Edwards/qrl.com.au

For Peck, that experience has been a highlight of her footy career, playing alongside Jillaroos and NRLW players.

That experience also gave Peck the chance to understand the training, nutrition and commitment it takes to compete at that highest level.
With data analytics becoming so prominent, there was nowhere to hide.

"Getting the chance to be coached by Brad Donald and Jamie Feeney was incredible. But there was so much support too," Peck said.

Even if I don’t make it, at least I can say I gave myself every opportunity.
Michaela Peck

"Having a physio to go to when you are injured and a doctor if you need anything is so helpful because you don’t have to get referral upon referral to get the care you need.

"It wasn’t an opportunity I ever thought I would get, but it happened and it has kept the fire burning."

As for an opportunity for Peck to play in the NRLW, Peck remains hopeful.

"You never know. I can only put my best foot forward and work hard," she said.

"I’ve lost six kilograms, I don’t know if that’s helped me in the forwards, but I’m a lot leaner than I have been in previous years."

As for the growth of the women’s game in recent years, Peck now truly feels part of the wider rugby league community.

"I love that young girls have the opportunity to play footy. It’s not a boys' game anymore. It’s a game for everyone and that’s really important."

Setbacks won't stop Michaela pecking away at league dream

Michaela Peck was so keen to play rugby league she didn’t rest until a competition she could play in was created.

www.nrl.com

 

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Warriors side shuffled for Roosters encounter​

Richard Becht
Tue 6 Oct 2020, 04:00 pm

Centre Shontelle Stowers is back from injury, hooker Michaela Peck comes onto the bench and there’s also a positional switch in the Warriors’ starting line-up for their second-round NRLW premiership encounter with the Sydney Roosters at Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta on Saturday (12.30pm kick-off local time; 2.30pm NZT).

Stowers was originally selected for the first-round clash against the Brisbane Broncos but was a late defection with injury.

She’s named again to start in a combination which will feature a new pairing on the right edge with Stowers lining up inside Kiwi winger Madison Bartlett. After being used in the second row against the Broncos, Bartlett has been moved to her more familiar position on the flank while veteran Hilda Peters, who was on the wing last week, has been switched to the second row.

The other change sees Peck brought onto the interchange with Teaghan Hartigan, a late replacement for Stowers last week, moving to the extended bench. Stowers and Peck are set to become the 13th and 14th players to make their debuts for the club after 12 newcomers were used last week.

The contest will have special significance for Stowers along with fullback Karina Brown, standoff Kirra Dibb and halfback Simone Smith, who’ll all line up against their old club; Brown and Stowers played for the Roosters and 2018 and 2019 while Dibb and Smith appeared for club last year. Second rower

Tazmin Gray was also with the Roosters in 2018 before switching to the Broncos last season.

The Warriors beat the Roosters 10-4 in the competition’s inaugural match in 2018 and then 16-12 when the teams again met in round one last season.

However, the Roosters broke their starting sequence with an 18-4 first-up win last week over last year’s beaten grand finalist St George Illawarra.

The Warriors began impressively against back-to-back premiers the Broncos in Canberra with halfback Smith and Australian Olympic Games rugby union sevens gold medallist Ellia Green both scoring in the opening minutes, Green just eight minutes into her first rugby league match.

The fast start was checked, though, as Brisbane regrouped and responded with 28 points before Green’s Olympic teammate Evania Pelite also marked her rugby league debut with a try. Green and Pelite finished the match as the Warriors’ top metre eaters, Pelite with 108 metres from eight runs and Green 94 from nine, the latter also having a clean sheet on defence making seven tackles without a miss.

Warriors side shuffled for Roosters encounter

Two players will make their Warriors debuts and there's also a position switch for the side's second NRLW outing against the Roosters.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

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From ADF to NRLW: Warrior Peck driven by family connection​

Alicia Newton
Sat 24 Apr 2021, 02:00 pm


Michaela Peck has experienced plenty of heart-warming moments in her life – both on and off the field – but marching alongside her grandfather on Anzac Day in 2018 is up there with the best.

Robert "Norm" Peck was one of 287,000 young Australian men who were sent to compulsory training in the Air Force, Army and Navy between 1951 and 1972 following World War II.

"That's something he is very proud of and I was very proud of, to march beside him," the Warriors NRLW representative says.

For Michaela, she's crafting out her own journey serving the country.

Peck served on the HMAS Adelaide for three years in 2016, travelling around Australia, Jakarta and Singapore, working in the engine bays section of the aircraft-landing ship.

"Dad served for a couple of years, obviously granddad was in the Nashos and my great uncles went to the wars but it wasn't really about following them," Peck tells NRL.com.


Michaela Peck with her grandfather Robert 'Norm' Peck.

"I wanted to explore and do something different with my life. I didn't know that's what I wanted to get into exactly but once I did I loved it.

"I felt valued and that I was giving back to the community by serving for my country. We'd go around and do lots of training in terms of working with other countries and building relationships.

"There's a purpose behind everything that we did. It's all about attention to detail and you need to have that if you were ever put into a combat situation."


Michaela Peck in action for the ADF at the NRL Women's Championships.©Jason O'Brien/NRL Photos

After standing still in her driveway last year remembering those who served before her last year with COVID-19 cancelling dawn services, Peck will pay respects to those, including Norm, on Sunday.

A long-time rugby league player in Queensland, Peck took a break from the Australian Defence Force in 2019 to pursue the game further with the NRL Telstra Women's Premiership firmly in her sights.

The crafty hooker has excelled over the past two years with selection in the Australian Prime Minister's XIII later earning her an NRLW debut at the Warriors under Jillaroos coach Brad Donald.

Her impact at the Warriors was quickly felt with the 27-year-old named club person of the year, while she was named in Queensland's 32-player extended squad last week ahead of women's Ampol State of Origin on June 25.

However, Peck's rugby league journey hasn't all been smooth sailing, as profiled by NRL.com in August last year.

The lack of financial security in the women's game has also now put her in a difficult spot to choose between her love for the game or returning to the ADF again – this time as a medic in the airforce.


Michaela Peck marching on Anzac Day, 2018.

"I'm getting to the age where I have to make a living so you have to make a choice," Peck said.
"I'm only 27 but the young girls coming through in the game are really starting to shine.

"I'm a reserve at the moment with the ADF but looking to get back in full-time because I miss that – the comradery and the mateship that you gain.

"I guess it's a bit like footy in that you have no idea who someone is but you can sit down with them and chat and you become mates with them for life.

"But I'm really proud of what I've been able to do in the last few years with my footy and will always keep my options open the best I can."

From ADF to NRLW: Warrior Peck driven by family connection

Michaela Peck has experienced plenty of heart-warming moments in her life – both on and off the field – but marching alongside her grandfather on Anzac Day in 2018 is up there with the best.

www.nrl.com

 

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