Remi Wilton: York hooker Valkyrie moves from outback cattle station to Women’s Super League | Rugby League News

Isis Downs is a cattle station in the middle of remote Queensland. It covers 2,327 square kilometers with a carrying capacity of up to 24,000 head of cattle and the nearest most populated place is the town of Blackall, 88 kilometers away to the east of the farm.

It’s where, over the last two years, you’d also find Remi Wilton, the former Canberra Raiders rugby league captain and former Australian rugby international, who went from chasing a ball across a field to rounding up cows .

The 27-year-old has now resumed her league career after moving to the UK to join reigning Betfred Women’s Super League champions York Valkyrie for the 2024 season and although she would have preferred not to even if his sporting ambitions are cut short, he regrets nothing. her life took a completely different path.

“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster,” Wilton said Sky Sports. “It was up and down and a few circumstances changed when I was on the verge of making the Wallaroos team.

“I ended up moving to another state in Australia, which, I look back on now, I wish I’d stayed, but it was what it was at the time, and I’m pretty happy all the same that I did this.

“I got to experience quite a few different things and even though it meant a bit of time off, it was definitely worth it.

“In a way, I think the break has made me hungrier and pretty keen to get back on my game, so it’s probably done me a bit of good and I’m really ready to feel good this year . .”

Wilton played both codes in his youth, first league until the age of 12 and then switched to the 15 code at the boarding school he attended. From there he would go on to play for the Raiders and then the Brumbies in the Super W competition.

While playing scrum-half for the Brumbies, she was called up to the national set-up, earning selections for the Australia A team during the 2019 Oceania Women’s Rugby Championship in New Zealand.

Wilton had originally intended to follow life on the railway on leaving school before rugby took precedence and when circumstances changed she jumped at the chance to move to Queensland and stuck around after of work in the mining industry.

“It’s very full and complete, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Wilton said of the nature of life on a cattle station. “It’s the best experience, even though we have so many flies and dust, it’s long days and (working) from dark to dark – but it’s totally worth it and it’s so rewarding.

“It keeps you busy and that’s what I like, so it was great to be able to do that for a few years and chase a few cows and be chased by a couple too. I guess it was a bit of legwork. there in a few moments, but it’s a really rewarding experience.

“Teamwork is essential. If you don’t work together, you won’t get the full crowd of cattle in the yard, and that’s what you’re there for. If you are missing cattle, it affects next year’s calves and cows and the loss of income that comes with beef cattle in the industry.

“It’s essential to have really good teamwork, whether you’re on a bike, a horse or a helicopter in the air. When you think about it, it’s pretty complete and works really well.”

Picking up a rugby ball again on her return home during the wet season reignited her fire for the game, and a mutual friend of her father’s in the UK helped set up a conversation with York’s director of rugby, Lindsay Anfield, about upon joining the BWSL champions.

It’s very full and complete, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the best experience, even though we have so many flies and dust, it’s long days and (working) from dark to dark – but it’s totally worth it and it’s so rewarding.

Within weeks she agreed to join Valkyrie as cover for Sinead Peach, with the England international missing the rest of the year due to pregnancy, and arrived in the UK just under three weeks ago.

Five days after arriving on these shores, the 27-year-old was straight into match action on the bench as York won 28-8 away to Barrow Raiders, following up a 20-16 win at home to St Helens in the league. campaign opening.

“What better way to start?” Wilton said. “It’s always good to be on a winning team, but there’s just a lot of familiarity with the girls already and Lindsay as a coach.

“I’ve only been here for a few weeks but you can already see it and it shows. Watching the game at St Helens before flying here was interesting.

“It was a bit of a nail-biter towards the end and it gets your heart racing, but it’s exciting to watch a team like that and then be able to go head-to-head with them and hear what’s behind them. The way the girls talk, learn and help each other is impressive.”

Wilton could be involved on Saturday when Valkyrie face Saints again, this time at Doncaster’s Eco-Power Stadium in the semi-finals of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup, where they will be looking to dethrone the holders and reach Wembley for the first time.

As well as wanting to help York claim more silverware, the hooker has her own ambitions to re-establish herself at the top of the game. A return to Australia to play in the NRLW would be an opportunity she would take up at some point, but her two-year work visa means Wilton would be happy to stay with the current team well into 2025.

“Everyone wants to get the premiership at the end of the season and it would be great to be able to come here, work with a great bunch of girls, a great club and get a second year in a row for them.” Wilton said.

“Everything else will come; obviously I want to get to the best point of my career and go as high as I can in that, but if I can play a good game with a good team around me, then anything else can come. you and I’ll see what happens.”

Sky Sports’ live coverage of the Betfred Women’s Super League kicks off on Friday 24 May when St Helens take on Leeds Rhinos at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Watch every Betfred Super League match on Sky Sports in 2024 and stream NOW.

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