Sport
3 May, 2022
May May Stars for QLD
AT only 17 years old, local rugby league player and Gold Stars champion Aerielle “May May” Hobbler will be representing the state as a Gold Star at the Under 19’s Women’s National Championship.
AT only 17 years old, local rugby league player and Gold Stars champion Aerielle “May May” Hobbler will be representing the state as a Gold Star at the Under 19’s Women’s National Championship.
Working at the Sapphires camp as one of nine Gold Stars, she will be training alongside some of the most experienced football players in the state under the watchful eye of Cowboys coach Gavin Lloyd.
She expressed her excitement to be go to Redcliffe for the trials and can see her ultimate goals as a football player coming to light.
“It’s really exciting, it isn’t my goal but it’s really close to my goal, which is to make the Queensland Maroons in the women’s team and also All Stars,” May May said.
“They pick a team out of 25 and we play other teams from New South Wales - it’s a State of Origin for the Under 19s team and if I make that I can make the big State of Origin.”
Training up for the trial, May May has been working alongside her father and sister to condition her fitness to perfection.
With rugby league and football playing a huge roll in her family’s life, she is ready to make them proud, particularly her mother who recently passed away.
“I’ve learned a lot from my mum too, she passed away recently, me getting into the Gold Stars was her proudest moment,” she said
“When I made it, she was really joyous, and I just want to keep going because she wanted me to live my dreams.”
Mareeba State High School Principal, ex-rugby league player and now coach Scott Whybird, has been working with May May to prepare her for the trip down to join the Sapphires and believes she has come a long way and deserves to play as a Gold Star.
He believes that she is the epitome of women’s rugby league as the sport progresses and becomes the inclusive sport it is today.
“She has had many opportunities to play in representative teams for a long period of time. She has been approved to play the women’s competition in Cairns for the Kangaroos, she was selected for the Gold Star by the Queensland Maroon,” he said.
“May May is an incredible player, and she is really focussed on what she does, and one thing people talk about is how she can play in a variety of different positions on the field.
“She has had some incredible hurdles she's had to face but I think that's probably something which has really defined who she is.”
May May will make her way to Redcliffe on 14 May to join other Sapphires from across the state.
Credit: Dominic Chaplin
