Try-umphant Broncos return for Werner
Werner feels blown away by, and incredibly grateful for, the level of support she has received since her judiciary hearing.
“I THINK I should get new business cards made with the title ‘resilience connoisseur’, because it’s definitely the buzzword of my life!” Ashleigh Werner – the first Jewish player in the NRLW – told The AJN on Monday, after experiencing every emotion possible in the first four rounds of her debut season.
The speedy 30-year-old former Australian bobsleigh representative, and Brisbane Broncos recruit, had to deal with copping a two-week suspension by the judiciary in the aftermath of being sent off in the second half of her first match in round one last month, for an alleged biting offence.
Maintaining her trademark positive approach and determination, she repaid the faith shown to her by head coach Scott Prince – who put her straight back into the starting line-up for round 4 – by bouncing back in triumph, scoring her first try in the 10th minute of the Broncos’ 22-12 win last Saturday in Brisbane, and contributing strongly on the left wing for the full 70 minutes.
Photo: Instagram
To make that incredible day even more special – if that was possible – her dad Dave flew up to Brisbane for the occasion, and a group of young girls in the crowd made their own sign for her, that read ‘Have no fear, Ash is here.’
“That was so beautiful, as I’d met those girls when they came to the team’s captain’s run the day after my judiciary hearing,” Werner said.
“I was a ball of emotion – I was honestly crying my eyes out … there was a lot of relief, and a lot of excitement.
“It was just nice to feel like I could do my part for the team again.”
The Broncos were coasting against the Eels, but when two Broncos players were sin-binned in the 50th and 51st minutes, Parramatta immediately scored to draw within four points, and it took an epic effort for Brisbane to regain the advantage, but they did, and moved up to sixth on the 10-team ladder.
“In situations like that, you’ve got to dig deep [in defence] for the person next to you, and we did. It really showed the type of team that we can be.”
Werner feels blown away by, and incredibly grateful for, the level of support she has received since her judiciary hearing.
“Anyone who knows me would know that I would never intentionally try to hurt anybody – it’s just not in my nature,” Werner said.
“Everyone at the Broncos club, from the CEO down, backed me the whole way, and it’s been really amazing to see that support and the support of the fans and obviously my family and friends.
“That’s been a huge motivator for me.”
Werner said she feels so lucky – and “still a bit awestruck” to have Australian and New Zealand rep players in the Broncos backline like Hayley Maddick, Mele Hufanga, Gayle Broughton and Ali Brigginshaw, to train and play with.
“It’s my first season, and I have a long way to go – and I’m quite aware of that – but I’m definitely in the best environment for me to be learning.
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