Rachael is now a fully qualified mechanical engineer having undertaken her studies while playing NRLW for the Parramatta Eels.
“I am proof that if you are passionate about the trade, committed, dedicated and set realistic goals, you can have it all and most importantly you are paid to live this dream along the way,” Pearson said.
Facing what was effectively a must-win game at GIO Stadium given Newcastle’s significant points differential advantage over them, Parramatta got the job done despite a sloppy second-half showing in which they allowed their opponents back into the game after leading 12-0 at half-time.
They’ll now rely on the Knights not beating the Cowboys in Round 9, while they’ll need to beat, or potentially just draw with, the ladder leading Roosters as well.
It was a pair of booming 40/30 kicks from halfback Rachael Pearson that were ultimately the difference between the two teams, with each kick leading directly to a try on the next set and completely changing momentum of the contest.
Skipper Mahalia Murphy took full advantage of the first one to drag several defenders over the line and score, before Rory Owen crossed seconds after Pearson’s next one with five to play.
While the Raiders defended their line admirably over the 20 minutes which followed Murphy’s opener, eventually the pressure of having just 40 percent of the ball, compounded by giving away four unanswered penalties, told and Tyla Amiatu crashed over.
