How I Got Here: Raiders NRLW star Sophie Holyman
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Admit it, we’ve all been there—stalking social media and LinkedIn profiles, trying desperately to figure out how the hell someone got their dream job.
It seems impossible, and yet there they are, living out your career fantasy (minus the itchy business suit). It might seem hard to believe, but once upon a time, they were also fantasising about their future career, and with some hard work, they made it.
Welcome to How I Got Here, HerCanberra’s series that reveals everything you want to know about the secrets of career success. This week we sat down with NRLW and State of Origin star Sophie Holyman.
A powerhouse in the Raiders’ forward pack and a Queensland State of Origin Representative, Sophie shares her inspirational journey as an elite female athlete, juggling work and training, in a male-dominated sport.
Existential crisis time: Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Sophie, I am 27 years old, born in Brisbane, and raised on my family farm in Tasmania. I am an NRLW player for the Raiders, I work in the disability space and I just started working on my partners farm in rural Victoria! I am also one of four siblings, I have two sisters and an older brother.
Let’s go back to when you were a kid, have you always dreamed of working in this industry?
I have always loved sport, never did I ever think I would be playing NRLW though. Growing up in Tasmania, AFL was the sport to play, and it wasn’t until I moved to Queensland in 2013 that I found a passion playing Rugby 7s. It is an absolute dream come true being able to say that my job is playing the sport I love.
When I’m not on the footy field, I work in the disability space. I was given an opportunity to work with a man who is a quadriplegic on the Gold Coast. I was at a point in life where I was commuting to Brisbane to play for the QLD 7s and XVs and really wanted to give my all to my football career, so full-time work really wasn’t an option. This job has changed my life. I have never been more passionate about a work opportunity in my life; it is the most challenging, yet rewarding, job in the whole world and I have met some absolutely amazing people who inspire me every day.
A big move in the off-season has led me down to the Great Ocean Road, where I continue to work for Carers Collective remotely and also assist my partner on his farm, where we breed Angus cattle. I love being back on a farm, driving tractors, and being around animals every day. I am extremely grateful for every part of my busy life!
Tell us about when you were first starting out – what lit a fire in your belly to get here and how did you do it?
I got offered a contract in Canberra. At the time I finished with the Broncos and was craving a change from the busy Gold Coast. I found an absolute passion for Rugby League and was so excited to play in professional women’s competition. I think it was something I wanted to do for so long in Rugby Union, but the pathways weren’t there. I took a big leap and went for it, and switched codes without any experience.
Recall a time when you wanted to chuck it all in – what did you tell yourself when it got too hard?
The pressure of playing on national television and having social media can be a blessing and a curse. One bad game, one dropped ball, one missed opportunity, and you can be scrutinised and it’s a really hard thing to learn to push all the negative comments aside and focus on your job.
It is something I had to learn quite quickly to tune out from socials. You can do all the training and work yourself into the ground, put all the effort in, while also working a fulltime job during the week, do one thing wrong and get hounded for it. It was hard, but the more experience you get in this space, the better, and it is extremely rewarding to see all the people in my corner and the loyal and supportive Canberra Raiders fans!
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What was your biggest break?
I believe my biggest break was the back end of last NRLW season, after a challenging Origin Series. I was playing 70-minute games and to be honest, I never thought I could do that. I had before then lost all of my confidence and spark with the game, so I took a big step back and really took it easy on myself, my game, and it allowed me to find that spark again and really enjoy playing footy! I played some of my best footy at the end of last year and it was pretty cool to see what I was capable of. I have to thank our Raiders NRLW Coach Darren Borthwick for that – he never stopped believing in me!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is “It doesn’t come easy”- and that’s for sure. It has taken a lot of hard work, tears, moving states, mental toughness, and so many challenges to get to where I am today. Life isn’t easy, but those who continue to show up when it isn’t reap the rewards.
What is it about your industry that you love and what makes you want to pull your hair out?
I love being able to play footy with all of my best mates and meet a whole lot of new people! I love travelling and I love the challenges the game brings. Sometimes you can have games where you feel like nothing is going your way and those are the times that really frustrate us as athletes. It’s definitely about how you bounce back though, and I feel my team does that extremely well.
Tell us how you ‘stay in the know’, what media do you consume?
I stay in the know on Insta– I follow the pages I want to know about, however, I don’t get consumed by it. I have no time during the footy season and when I’m on the farm!
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Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years time, I would have loved to have started my own family. We will see how the knees hold up in terms of playing rugby, but I’ll be 32 by then haha! If I can still be making a difference in the league space, then I would love to, otherwise continue to grow our farming business with my partner down here in VIC!
Why should people follow in your footsteps?
Take EVERY opportunity that presents itself in front of you, even if it makes you uncomfortable. You don’t grow as a person unless you take those steps. That’s what I did and I haven’t looked back. Professional sport for females is a dream come true and if you want to do it, you can! It absolutely is not easy, but it is possible.
What advice would you give your past self?
For my past self, the advice I would give would be not to be too hard on yourself. Growing up in a split family was hard, I put a lot of pressure on myself to be someone and create a legacy. In some ways it helped in motivation when there were tough days or situations, but to take a step back, stay present and enjoy the small moments!
