Having only six days between professional sporting seasons is seen as a “privilege” by Knights gun Sheridan Gallagher.
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That mentality sums up the cross-code star, who has rubbed shoulders with some of Australia’s biggest names, across both football and rugby league.
The 23-year-old embodies the ‘cross-code’ athlete moniker, having spent several years jumping between professional teams with hardly enough time to take a breath.
She began her A-League Women’s career with the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2021 before captaining the Young Matildas in the FIFA under 20s Women’s World Cup in 2022.
“I think my first game for Australia was with Amy Sayer, Mary Fowler, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin,” Gallagher said to foxsports.com.au.
“There’s quite a few of them now out there on the world stage doing themselves proud.”
From there came another season for the Wanderers before trying her hand at rugby league with Mount Pritchard Mounties in the NSWRL Premiership.
Her talent and athleticism was clear, and the Knights quickly handed her a contract before Gallagher’s name was up in lights, scoring on debut in 2023.
Fast forward 11 games and she had won a premiership and scored in the final, with adoring fans flocking to celebrate with the Newcastle squad in raucous scenes.
“Yeah, they carried on for quite a while,” Gallagher explained.
“It was pretty cool and a special moment to be a part of, and you know not everyone us lucky or fortunate enough to win a grand final. So I think those memories carry with you for a long time.
“It has to be up there pretty close to some of the best things that I ever achieved, but for me it’s not really about scoring.
“It was more lifting that trophy for Newcastle, the town behind us and the people that we get to inspire week in, week out. They inspire us to keep going.”
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After those celebrations, Gallagher went straight into a season with the Jets, continuing to bounce between the codes before returning to the Knights ahead of the 2025 NRLW season.
But athletes, like anyone, need rest and the hardy winger is under no illusions her ability to compete in both sports has an expiry date.
“I think I had six days between seasons, so it was pretty wild and probably not something you can sustain for a long time,” she said.
“The wear and tear on the body would become pretty wild and I probably will have a break at the end of this season.
“Seven seasons back to back is probably a bit full on for anyone…. I really enjoy playing rugby league, so I don’t think I have ever thought of it as a chore, it’s always been fun.”
But being elite at two different sports comes with a unique set of challenges — which can make for some hilarious results.
Gallagher earnt herself a yellow card for a hit that Steve Matai would be proud of in the A-League Women’s in January.
Coming across to put pressure on a defender playing the ball out from the back, Gallagher gave her opposite player a body shot that even she admitted was a bit too far.
Later, a slide tackle also earnt her the first red card of her career.
“That’s probably not something you should be doing in soccer,” Gallagher said.
“But I will never change as a player, that’s me and that’s what I brought to the team as an individual. It’s sort of frowned upon in the round ball game but I wouldn’t change it.”
And while making barnstorming tackles isn’t apart of soccer, Gallagher believes many skills are transferable between the sports.
“I think there’s a lot of things that transfer across, but there’s also not. The big part is being fit, being in that team environment. It’s about reading plays,” she said.
“It might not be the same ball, but it’s still the same skills that transfer. I am quite an aggressive player.
“To sort of being able to harness that aggression in a better way has made me come into my own as a player.”
So could any of her Knights teammates follow her across to Jets training?
“No, I’ve played a couple of times in training and they’ve all got two left feet. I don’t think I’d take any of them across,” Gallagher said.
“But to her credit, I think Yasmin Clydesdale, I think if you said to her that she had to have a crack at it, she’d give it a go. I think she’d be all right.
“It’s a learnt skill, and if you want to do it and you love the game enough, you’ll get there.”
While being elite at two different sports is a luxury, it also comes with some difficult decisions. So will Gallagher continue to play both?
“While the opportunity keeps presenting itself, I will definitely keep looking at it. I do love the NRLW and that’s where I’ll find and call home for a long time,” she said.
“(Playing both sports) probably won’t sink in until I retire and have kids one day and be able to look back and think how cool it is and how special it is to me.
“But just at the moment, I’m really enjoying it. Not too many people can say they’re surrounded by 60 professional players a year and have those as your friends.
“I’m pretty lucky to have that and just be in this environment that I want to be in, you get to choose to be in. It’s something pretty special.
“Even when you ask the question, I think it makes me think a different way about how lucky we are.”
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For now, Gallagher’s sole focus is on the Knights’ NRLW campaign, having gone down to the Bulldogs in Round 1 before returning to the winner’s circle a week later.
Newcastle travelled to North Queensland and secured a 26-6 win over the Cowboys in a trip Gallagher labelled as “tough”.
Next up is the Warriors, meaning the Knights will face both of the new NRLW outfits, Canterbury and New Zealand, only three rounds into their season.
“It’s awesome to see more teams coming into the comp, women’s sport on the rise not just in Australia but around the world,” Gallagher said.
“I think it’s only going to from strength to strength and it’s cool to have new teams in the comp that bring new styles, new coaches to play against.”
Historically, the Knights are the second most successful NRLW franchise with two premierships, and Gallagher believes her side can be in the mix this season.
“I think it’s going to be a big year from us, and nothing but a courageous and hard-fought season will get us there towards the end,” she said.
