In only one season of Super W, the 23-year-old playmaker has risen up the ranks to become one of the vital cogs of the Rebels’ Women’s side.
A quick half back with great passing abilities, Cormick impressed in the inaugural Super W season by claiming the club’s Best Back award.
Cormick’s rise as a prominent role model for all junior girls rugby players to aspire to, can be traced back to her childhood where her passion for the game developed at a young age.
“I guess it just starts with my love for the game, as ever since I was a little kid, I always had a ball in my hand and just always watched rugby on tv,” Cormick said.
“I was born in New Zealand before moving to Australia. We all moved because my dad wanted to study Osteopathy and there wasn’t as many courses in New Zealand offering that, so we made the move to Melbourne and here we are 22 years later.”
“I then played rugby when I was eight, my older brothers were playing at the time and I just wanted to get involved as well, so I jumped on the field and I continued playing until I was 12.”
After playing rugby until she was 12, Cormick was forced to stop playing the sport she was so passionate about when the setup of her local league didn’t facilitate a competition for women.
However, the growth of Women’s rugby in Victoria soon enabled Cormick to get out of her predicament and launch back into competitive competition.
And after joining the Melbourne Unicorns’ Under 17’s Women’s side, it sparked Cormick into achieving a string of representative honours.
“When I was 17, I started playing in the women’s competition for the Unicorns,” she said.
“From there, I started trying to work my way into the Melbourne Rebels teams for Nationals in Sevens and 15’s in 2013, and ever since then, I’ve been playing with the Rebels,” she said.
Her growth while playing for the Rebels over the past five years has drawn the admiration from those who consistently work and have a vested interest in watching and growing the game of women’s rugby in Australia.
Cormick’s performances in the Super W competition not only caught the eye of those in the Rebels’ Super W set up, but also caught the eye of the Wallaroos coaching panel, who included Cormick and fellow Rebel Alice Tonumaivao in the Wallaroos’ extended playing squad.It was a selection which came as a surprise for Cormick, yet thrilled her none the less.
“When I got a call to join the Wallaroos training squad was when I thought to myself that maybe I could go somewhere with this,” Cormick said.
“I wasn’t really expecting to get there in the first place. Just to be a part of the camp was amazing and it was just a really great opportunity for myself to grow and learn off those much more experienced girls who have represented Australia for a number of years.”
In a disappointment for Cormick though, the talented back missed out on selection in the Wallaroos’ final match day squad.
While initially feeling down about missing out on becoming a capped player at international level, Cormick has used her non-selection in the national setup as a key motivating factor ahead of her second season in the Super W competition.
“I was one of the three half backs at the camp, so I knew I had to work pretty hard if I was going to be selected,” she said.
“Obviously, I didn’t make that cut which I was pretty gutted about, but I know I’m still a young half back.”
“I know I’m still developing and I’ve got a lot to work on and show people. I think missing out has given me a lot more drive and a lot more passion to get better and that’s what I really want to try and prove over this Super W season.”
