Busy Bree continues remarkable league journey
Bree Eales has two children, a long-term partner, a fulltime job and a blossoming rugby league career.
That last part seems out of place but such is the nature of Bree’s remarkable journey from busy mum to NRLW player.
The 2023 Norths BMD Premiership rookie of the year is back at it tomorrow when the Devils meet CQ Capras at Bishop Park in an important clash.
Bree will play her second match of the BMD season after overcoming unlucky injuries stretching back to her NRLW debut with the Broncos last year.
But nothing much fazes the likeable Bree, which is not surprising given she’s 33 years old with a long relationship with partner Reece Ketu that has produced children Boston, 12, and Billie, 9.
How does Bree, starting work at 6am each morning as the clinical manager for a surgeon while juggling family commitments, find her way into the NRLW in her 30s?
Bree was always sporty – she reached the national junior athletics championships as a sprinter for several years.
She transformed that speed into a promising touch football career before she and Reece welcomed young Boston followed by Billie, meaning Bree didn’t play competitive sport for a few years.
Her skills led her back to touch footy and into the Queensland women’s team from 2017.
In 2022, some of her touch football teammates decided to play league for Valleys for coach and former Origin back Scott Prince.
Bree had never played league before.
“Princey rang me the day before the first game and told me I’d be playing lock. I told him that was fine but I didn’t know what a lock did,” Bree said.
“But I picked it up. It was a lot of fun.”
Bree was such a promising rookie that the Devils offered her a contract for their first BMD Premiership team last season.
And then the Broncos offered Bree an NRLW developed contract which quickly led to her becoming a starting prop before a broken wrist ended her first season after four matches.
“It’s been pretty busy but I’m very lucky to have such a supportive partner and family who really help me,” Bree said.
“It’s just about routine. I finish work, pick the kids up from school, we go home and get dinner started and then I go to training.
“My sister and my Dad live around the corner so that’s also a really big help.”
Bree’s father Ed was once the electrician for Australian business icon Kerry Packer before the family of three young girls moved from New South Wales to Brisbane.
Bree is yet to be signed for this year’s NRLW but her return to the BMD Premiership for last weekend’s narrow loss to Wynnum Manly after a minor knee issue will have teams on notice.
“The BMD comp seems to be really even this year which makes it exciting,” she said.
“The Capras are another team who will be tough to beat. They have good experience and they won well last weekend. Every game in this comp is tough.”