Super League young gun ready for HNU19 season

Mia Drescher is the kind of player who would go to any length to become the best rugby league player she can be – or a length of approximately 16,500 kilometres to be exact.

Mia, who has been named at halfback for this Saturday’s Round 1 Harvey Norman Under 19 clash with Norths Devils, came all the way from the UK to take part in this year’s competition.

The 17-year-old made her Super League debut last year with St. Helen’s and has now temporarily moved to Australia through a female player exchange partnership between her club and the Redcliffe Dolphins.

With a promising future ahead, Mia – who is joined here by fellow player Caitlin Maylor – said the opportunity to play in the Queensland Rugby League pathways competition was too good to resist.

“We were picked by our coaches and Jodie Cunningham (St Helen’s head of women’s pathways) and we got the offer proposed to us and asked if we’d like to do it,” she said.

“This is the first time this has ever happened and it’s a real big step forward for the girls’ game.

“Hopefully other girls might see this happen and want to pursue it as well. I’m excited to bring back what I learn when I go back.”

Mia started playing rugby union at the age of five, inspired by her father Chris who grew up playing the game.

They enjoyed watching rugby league together as well, however there weren’t many playing options for Mia close to where they lived in Southport, near Liverpool.

Eventually she found a way into the game at age 12 and she hasn’t looked back, leading into her inclusion in the St Helen’s Women’s Academy and her debut last year.

“I always wanted to play rugby professionally,” she said.

“With girls, that’s a lot harder as it’s not been professional for that long. I started getting more serous when I started seeing it.

“It’s actually really nice (coming to Australia). I’ve never been here before but my dad’s always wanted to come to watch some of the rugby.

“It’s very sunny. It’s a lot different. We’re missing the UK winter right now so that’s a positive as well.”

Mia, who has been in Australia since November, said she has settled in well in Queensland thanks to the support of the Redcliffe Dolphins and Caitlin.

Caitlin Maylor

While Caitlin unfortunately ruptured her ACL in a trial match and needs surgery, the two have been able to support each other and grown closer over the course of the past three months.

But, outside of the club and Caitlin, Mia said this trip has helped her grow a lot, not just with her footy, but on a personal level as well.

“I’ve moved here on my own,” she said.

“I’ve had to have independence. Everything I’m doing here, I can do at home but I don’t have to. But here, I have to do it for myself.”

Mia will stay in Australia until the end of the Harvey Norman Under 19 season, heading back in mid-April.

Her family will come over at the end of March to visit for three weeks, including her parents and 11-year-old brother.

While a big goal for them is to see an NRL match, Mia’s sights are firmly focused on playing right up until she has to go – she wants to be there come grand final day.

“It would be amazing to get into finals,” she said.

“We’ve gelled pretty well and we’ve done a lot of team bonding. It’s exciting to see how the team does and hopefully we can get into the finals.”