Sport
24 September, 2024
Reagan adds premiership to stellar season
The sporting career of Allora local Reagan McMillan culminated on Saturday afternoon as a member of the Highfields Eagles open women’s rugby league team that secured the 2024 Toowoomba Rugby League Grand Final 20 – 14 over the Gatton Hawks at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
The Minor Premiership winning Hawks started favourites on form, and with three successive premierships before last Saturday’s kick-off.
The Highfields Open Women’s team hoisted the silverware at full time for the club’s initial senior grade premiership, men or women, since joining the TRL.
The Wayne Collie coached Eagles staged a dramatic second half fight-back given they trailed Gatton 4 – 10 at the half time break.
Gatton seemed in motion aiming up for a fourth consecutive premiership success until Highfields staged a sensational three try fight-back in the latter stages of the contest to win, after training 4 – 14 four minutes into the second half.
Lock Eliza Morcom’s non-stop effort was rewarded with the Player of the Grand Final medal.
It was a tough march for Highfields to a deserved premiership, they were beaten by Gatton 30 – 26 in the first semi-final round, before overwhelming Valleys 28 – 6 in the preliminary final the following week to qualify for the grand final.
Highfields 20 (Tyla Cantwell, Morgan Prentice, Katelyn Collie, Courtney Jackson tries Abbey Markey 2 goals) defeated Gatton 14 (Sarah Hoger 2, Bridie Gray tries Sarah Hoger goal).
Most certainly a country girl at heart, to say 18-years-old Reagan McMillan hails from a rugby league family is somewhat of an understatement.
Her father Russell is a doyen of local club Wattles, who represented Queensland at Under 19 and at senior level with the Queensland Rangers, and is involved currently with the Wattles Junior Club.
Reagan is a tremendous role model to younger brother Jackson, who was recently named Wattles Junior Rugby League Club’s Under 12 ‘2024 Season Best & Fairest Player’.
Mum Alana can boast the highest of qualifications as a supporter of both Reagan and Jackson, their achievements and goals.
A former Allora State School student and Sports Captain, Reagan attended Toowoomba’s Downlands College for her senior years, and is currently engaged in a casual role with the NRL.
While it’s been a busy 2024, Reagan has revelled in her more than rewarding season with Highfields, early season appearances with the Western Clydesdales Under 19 team and donning the ‘green and gold’ of the Wattles Warriors Under 18 Girls Tackle line-up as a dual registered player.
Just a week ago Reagan was named Toowoomba Rugby League joint ‘Top Try scorer’ in the Open Women’s premiership at the TRL Gala Presentation Function.
The centre three-quarter, who is just as at home in the back row, runs 100 metres in 13 seconds which, aside from obvious skills and ability, led to her fifteen touchdowns for Highfields this season.
‘Top Try scorer’ honours are not new to the McMillan family, Dad Russell, was the A Grade TRL Top Try Scorer back in 2001.
Reagan has played rugby league since age 12, and has excelled in the Downlands College rugby union line-up.
She has tasted premiership success previously with the Warwick & District JRL Under 13 team, and Toowoomba’s Brothers Under 15s.
While she loves playing for both Highfields and Wattles, and can’t speak more highly of the Highfields club, she would dearly love to run on in a Wattles open women’s team in the TRL premiership.
Dual registered Reagan contributed significantly to a boost in performance by the Wattles Under 18 Girls Tackle side when she was available, her Highfields team mate Eliza Morcum, a gifted back-rower, also donning the ‘green and gold’ for an odd appearance.
Lock forward Chelsea Middleton is another fine young open women’s player from the Central Downs, who this season was a shining light for Brothers.
A high point for Reagan and all her Highfields team mates was the knowledge imparted by
Western Clydesdales and International stars Shenae Ciesiolka and Ali Brigginshaw.
“They offered so much knowledge and advice, and Ally’s message to our team prior to Saturday’s big match was inspiring,” Reagan said.
It is certainly a time for memories for Reagan, and comparing premiership trophies with Dad, a member of Wattles Under 19 Grand Final winner in 1998.
- Glyn Rees
