Salford superstar Mollie Young has reflected on her successful season with Leigh Leopards and getting promoted to the Super League.
Leigh Leopards have stormed the league this season, winning all 16 games in the Championship North League and winning the Championship grand final, which secured a play-off spot in the BetFred Super League – and subsequently gained promotion to the Super League.
Salford’s Mollie Young has been a key part of the successful campaign – she recalls how she felt in the minutes before the play-off.
“I was nervous but quietly confident,” admits 22-year-old Mollie. “I knew we had what it took to get the job done but I definitely had some nerves. But I think nerves are a good thing.”
“I wanted to make sure I did my job right and played well for the team.”
Mollie contributed two amazing tries for the Leopards, scoring the third and final try of the match. The Salford University alumni was delighted with the victory especially with how much she helped her team.
She said: “Genuinely one of my favourite days to date. Each of my tries were team tries which made it even sweeter.”
The full-time whistle went and Leigh Leopards knew that they had finally reached new heights and were part of the Super League. “Not a feeling like it,” recalls Mollie. “Genuinely the best feeling in the world.”
Mollie has cemented herself in the squad by being part of the first team for two years now and has been heavily involved with many of the games throughout the season.
Mollie has been playing rugby for over a decade – not just playing rugby league but union too. The centre’s journey began when she was 11 years old; as she admits, she didn’t know that girls could even play rugby.
Mollie first played for Leigh Miners when she was 15 and moved up the ranks to the first team squad, Leigh Leopards.
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Sadly Mollie’s rugby journey has not always been smooth sailing. A year and a half ago Mollie broke her tibia playing rugby union in a complete freak accident.
Mollie explained that there is a lot more battles to injury compared to the normal expected ones. Young needed to learn to walk again, run, do everyday normal tasks – as well as play rugby – again.
“There was a huge mental battle. It was definitely one of the toughest times of not only my rugby career but my whole life.”
“I truly thought I was done.”
Luckily, Mollie had an incredible team around her and great coaches which meant, “the times I couldn’t motivate myself, they did.”
“I learnt a lot about myself as a person and player in that time and I think it’s helped shape me”.
Mollie battled through her journey and injury and came through to the other side.
Aside from smashing playing for Leigh, Young has also been selected on multiple occasions for the Ireland international rugby league squad.
“This is another super proud moment for me!”
“Coming from Northern Irish heritage through my dad, I was super proud to represent the country and do my dad proud.”
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