When Brydie Parker takes to the field for the first time in 15 months on Saturday evening, not only will she feel a sense of relief, but a great deal of pride.
Struck down by a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the 20th minute of the 2021 NRLW Grand Final, the 23-year-old winger has worked tirelessly to regain fitness and build on her mental strength, courageously overcoming the setbacks with one goal on her mind.
The opportunity to re-write history and lift the Premiership Trophy again, but on her own terms.
“Looking back on that Grand Final, it was a huge bittersweet moment, that day is a bit of a blur now really,” she reflected.
“We got to lift the trophy and all our hard work throughout the season has paid off, but at the same time I was dealing with the shock of an injury I knew would rule me out for the World Cup and Origin, which is what I was striving towards.
“It didn't really sink in until a couple of days after, I just remember lying there and breaking down, thinking about how different my life would look now I wouldn’t be able to achieve all my goals that I had planned for.”
Parker’s journey to recovery started quickly, completing pre-surgery rehabilitation before her operation just two weeks after the Grand Final. From then, she was back in the gym working towards lacing up the boots again.
Unable to keep herself away from footy, Parker leapt at the opportunity to put her skills to use in the Roosters Strength and Conditioning team in the interim, experiencing the 2022 NRLW season from a staff perspective.
“It was really amazing that both Calli [Jake Callister] and Strangey [John Strange] created a role within the team for me,” she said.
“It gave me some responsibility so I wasn’t just sort of sitting there. I had an obligation to the girls and that really helped my recovery journey mentally, to know that I was helping.
I was able to do what I do outside of footy and put my passion into the girls and help them strive to be the best they could be.
Brydie Parker On her strength and conditioning role
“I loved that opportunity, obviously I would have loved to be in there as a player, but to be given that opportunity to grow in that environment learn off Calli as well, from that staff perspective, and put the staff hat on and see how that whole system works was really cool.
“It's helped me grow in that aspect of my career as well.”
Parker faced another setback when she was ruled out of making her return in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership competition after experiencing a complication with her knee.
“My rehab journey didn’t go as smoothly as what I wanted it to. My body just didn't want to comprehend everything it needed to; it had a mind of its own," she said.
“I think when I was like mentally ready to go but not physically ready, that was a battle in itself.
“I would have loved to have been back for the Harvey Norman season leading into NRLW to get a few games under my belt, but if there’s one thing this journey has taught me it’s that everything happens for a reason.”
The dynamic flyer says that her support network played an invaluable role in helping her navigate the hurdles.
“I'm very lucky that I have an amazing support network around me, there’s lots of great people at the Club who I can lean on, I’ve got great family and great friends too,” Parker said.
Getting knocked down so many times but getting back up because of the people that I surround myself with makes it so much easier.
Brydie Parker On her support network
“I couldn't have done it without my support network around me, pushing me and driving me to just keep on bouncing back.
“I'm never a person to quit, so having the end goal that I wanted to be back for this season was so important to me, having something to strive towards made it easier as well.”
With the 2023 NRLW season on the horizon, Parker is excited to pull on the Red, White and Blue jersey once more, having evolved as a player and a person while riding the highs and lows in the past year and a half.
“You can't take things for granted because everything can change in the spur of the moment,” she reflected.
“Injuries happen, we play a contact sport, it just drives you that little bit to make sure you appreciate everything, to put every foot forward and don't leave any stone unturned.
I think that's my big thing leading into this season, go out there and always give it my best.
Brydie Parker On her mindset post-ACL injury
“My eyes are on securing that Premiership again, but I also want to have a really consistent year of footy, I cannot wait to get back out there and build on all the work I’ve done.
“To see the team announced on Tuesday and see my name there was surreal, I was just like it's finally my time to go.”
