Jayme Millard’s path to the NRLW was inspired by a healthy rivalry with sister Hope and her family’s deep connection to rugby league.
However, it is a journey that began in the United States after the Dragons winger fell out of love with soccer and decided to call time on her college scholarship.
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.
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.
Jayme Millard Try
Yet she lost her love for the game and stepped away from sport altogether after prematurely making the move home to Bulli.
“I actually grew up playing soccer. That was my main sport. I went overseas to the US for two years,” said Millard, who will line-up for the Dragons in Sunday's clash with Wests Tigers at Kogarah.
“I kind of just fell out of love with soccer and, you know, wanted to come home, and I had a year off all sports."
At the same time, Millard’s 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.
Watching Hope enjoy success inspired Jayme to try her hand at rugby league and she hasn’t looked back.
“Seeing my sister progressing in rugby league… I thought, well, you know what, I can play too. I can do this,” Millard said.
“That's always been a part of my family because my dad used to play… so after a year off, I was like, I'm going to give it a crack.”
Jayme Millard, Welcome to NRLW
The Millard family’s involvement in top level rugby league extends beyond Jayme and Hope, with their father Shane having played 272 matches in Australia and England from 1996 to 2007, including a season with St George Illawarra.
Jayme’s move to rugby league was one that meant just as much to Shane as it did to her.
“He was happy I made the move to rugby league. He is definitely my idol in life and someone [whose opinion I value very much] … he loves that both us girls are playing footy,” Millard said.
“I think we’re more like his little sons really, but in girl bodies.”
After a stint with Cronulla’s NSWRL Women’s Premiership team, Millard made her NRLW debut for the Dragons last season and she has now established herself on the left wing.
Jayme had the unique opportunity to play against Hope in the recent Round 4 match between the Dragons and the Bulldogs, with the clash bringing plenty of pride and sibling banter to the Millard household.
The Bulldogs won but Jayme scored a try.
“It was all talk at home. She got the bragging rights this time, but it was very cool, surreal. I think my parents are very proud to see both us girls out there,” said Millard.
“It was something I'll remember for the rest of my life.”
Since making the switch to rugby league, Millard hasn’t looked back, embracing the challenges of playing in the NRLW and enjoying her time in the Red V.
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.
“I think soccer really shaped me as a person, being in and around a professional environment,” said Millard.
“Coming over to footy, it's a similar concept - team sport, team first mentality and coming in, there's standards, you have to uphold them - and that's definitely correlated from soccer to footy.
“I love the connection with the girls and the drive. I want to keep getting picked week in week out.”
