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![\"Hope](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/81878420_millardh-millardj-1plp1033_2026725153838.jpg\"\/)
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\n Hope and Jayme Millard played against each other in Round 4.
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Jayme Millard\u2019s path to the NRLW was inspired by a healthy rivalry with sister Hope and her family\u2019s deep connection to rugby league.<\/p>\n
However, it is a journey that began in\u00a0the United States\u00a0after the Dragons winger\u00a0fell out of love with soccer and\u00a0decided to call time\u00a0on her\u00a0college scholarship.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Millard grew up playing high-performance soccer and represented Australia in Young Matildas teams alongside the likes of Mary Fowler, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Canberra Raiders fullback Sheridan Gallagher.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After moving to West Virginia to play for Concord University, she enjoyed a successful season tallying 10 goals and five assists for the Mountain Lions, while earning an All-MEC Honourable Mention.<\/p>\n
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Jayme Millard Try<\/p>\n
Yet she lost her love for the game and stepped away from sport altogether after prematurely making the move home to Bulli.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually grew up playing soccer. That was my main sport. I went overseas to the US for two years,\u201d said Millard, who will line-up for the Dragons in Sunday’s clash with Wests Tigers at Kogarah.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kind of just fell out of love with soccer and, you know, wanted to come home, and I had a year off all sports.”<\/p>\n
At the same time, Millard\u2019s younger sister Hope was beginning to make her mark in rugby league, representing NSW Under 19s in 2024 before joining the inaugural Canterbury Bulldogs NRLW squad last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watching Hope\u00a0enjoy success inspired\u00a0Jayme\u00a0to\u00a0try her hand at rugby league\u00a0and she\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0looked back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing my sister progressing in rugby league\u2026 I thought, well, you know what, I can play too. I can do this,\u201d Millard said.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s always been a part of my family because my dad used to play\u2026\u00a0so after a year off, I was like, I’m going to give it a crack.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Jayme Millard, Welcome to NRLW<\/p>\n
The Millard family\u2019s involvement in top level rugby league\u00a0extends beyond\u00a0Jayme and Hope, with their father\u00a0Shane\u00a0having played\u00a0272 matches in Australia and England\u00a0from 1996\u00a0to 2007, including a season with St George Illawarra.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jayme\u2019s move to rugby league was one that meant just as much to\u00a0Shane\u00a0as it did to\u00a0her.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was happy I made the move to rugby league. He is definitely my idol in life and someone [whose opinion I value very much] \u2026 he loves that both us girls are playing footy,\u201d Millard said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re more like his little sons really, but in girl bodies.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a stint with Cronulla\u2019s NSWRL Women\u2019s Premiership team, Millard made her NRLW debut for the Dragons last season and she has now established herself on the left wing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jayme\u00a0had the unique opportunity to\u00a0play against\u00a0Hope in\u00a0the\u00a0recent Round 4\u00a0match\u00a0between the Dragons and the Bulldogs,\u00a0with the\u00a0clash bringing plenty of pride and sibling banter to the Millard household.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs won but Jayme scored a try.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was all talk at home.\u00a0She got the bragging rights this time, but it was very\u00a0cool,\u00a0surreal.\u00a0I think my parents\u00a0are\u00a0very proud\u00a0to see both us girls out there,\u201d said Millard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\n Hope and Jayme Millard played against each other in Round 4.
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Since making the switch to rugby league, Millard\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0looked back, embracing\u00a0the challenges\u00a0of playing in the NRLW and enjoying her time in the Red V.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite losing her passion for soccer Millard has been able to draw on her experience of playing at an elite level as she focuses on improving and earning her place in the side each week.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think soccer really shaped me as a person, being in and around a professional environment,\u201d said Millard.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cComing over to footy, it’s a similar concept – team sport, team\u00a0first mentality and coming in, there’s standards, you have to uphold them – and that’s definitely correlated from soccer to footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the connection with the girls and the drive. I want to keep getting picked week in week out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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