In the spotlight: Taryn Knight

Taryn Knight once faced a challenge that many female athletes are familiar with.

A keen rugby league fan from as young as she can remember, all Knight wanted to do was play the game herself.

Her loving mum was hesitant out of concern – was it the right game for her little girl?

But Knight’s persistent attitude – and her dad’s take on the matter – eventually saw her don a jersey for the first time. Even if it took a little longer than she liked.

“I wanted to play ever since I was little but my mum wouldn’t let me,” Knight said.

“My brothers played. I finally got my first game when I was 12 and I’ve kept playing ever since.

“Dad always said I was tougher than my brothers so I would be able to handle it.

“Mum was always like, ‘no she’s my daughter and I don’t want her playing footy’. But then she ended up giving in.

“She said, ‘you’re not going to stop asking, so I’m just going to let you play'.”

Knight’s journey through rugby league started with the Maryborough Wallaroos. Last year the Wallaroos combined with Hervey Bay to become Fraser Coast and that’s the club the 17-year-old remains with in 2023.

Also last year, she put her name forward for the Wide Bay Bulls’ Harvey Norman Under 19s team, playing her first season at the representative level.

This year she’s back again as the team’s captain.

While it’s a small squad, there’s nothing more Knight loves than running out for the Bulls.

“I love being part of a team mostly. I just love footy in general,” Knight said.

“We don’t really have a lot of players in our area but everyone turns up, everyone tries for a spot in the team to run on.

“For me, it’s about representing my area. I love Maryborough and I love representing it and my family. I love having the last name Knight out there and representing them.”

The versatile Knight, who can play five-eighth, second row or centre, has an older brother who last year played for Wide Bay’s Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup team, and a younger brother in this year’s Cyril Connell Challenge side.

She graduated high school last year, works as a personal banker, and has previously represented her state in hockey.

But her sporting focus now remains mostly on rugby league and representing Queensland is something she would love to do in this game as well.

With just three rounds left in this year’s Harvey Norman Under 19s competition – starting with this Saturday’s Round 5 clash against Western Clydesdales – Knight will continue to push her case for higher honours of some sort but mostly she’ll keep playing the game purely for the love of it.