Bossy, competitive and controlling: The qualities that make Kernick simply the best

Olivia Kernick doesn’t feel the spotlight – but she’s certainly been in it.

The Roosters lock has ticked off in two years what most players hope to accomplish in a career, and she’s only 24.

Her past two rugby league seasons have included a Dally M Medal, NRLW premiership, Jillaroos snubbing and recall, an Origin victory (she was named player of the series), and now another NRLW grand final with the Roosters against the Broncos on Sunday.

Despite it all, the self-confessed “bossy” and “competitive” forward doesn’t feel like she’s been centre stage.

“I feel like there’s not really been a spotlight,” Kernick said. “Personally, I don’t feel that way.

“I think with anything the last few years, I’ve really had to step up as a leader, and I’ve really had to grow into that role, but the Roosters have really looked after me – and Strangey [coach John Strange] especially – where I’m able to develop that leadership role and I get a lot of confidence from him and from my teammates. I think it’s more a leadership role than a spotlight.”

You might think, given her calm and quiet off-field demeanour, that taking charge doesn’t come naturally, but when she’s in game mode – mouthguard in and footy boots on – Kernick is a different person.

“I’m a very bossy person on the field and at training, so I think I naturally did have that quality,” Kernick said.

“Some people may call me a control freak, but I really love it, and Strangey has obviously put a lot of confidence in me to be able to perform my best. I get to step up and control the game, and I think it’s more the confidence he gives me, but not only me, all of our players to be able to make those decisions.”

When it comes to league, Kernick came to the game late.

As a kid, she was a promising squad swimmer and would go to school each morning smelling of chlorine after rising early for training.

She was involved in nippers, athletics, Oztag, netball and touch football before she played league tag and rugby league with the Wyong Roos and Berkeley Vale Panthers on the Central Coast.

“I think the constant change in sports really has developed me into the player that I am today,” Kernick said.

“I played a lot of rep netball and rep touch football, so I do think a lot of my fundamentals came from those – spatial awareness and hand-eye co-ordination with catching.

“It would have been great to play league growing up, but I don’t think I would have done it because I remember being scared of tackling when I first started, but I really am grateful that I got to try multiple different sports growing up.

“I’m a very competitive person, I always have been. I probably got it from my mum, but playing different sports constantly as a kid created that drive in me, and I feel like the best footy players, both men and women, are the most competitive ones.”

Kernick has come a long way from the kid who was scared of tackling. Now, she’s one of the NRLW’s best players.

That’s why it was a shock when she was overlooked for a spot in Brad Donald’s Jillaroos team for the 2024 Pacific Championships.

Kernick had scored a double to lead the Roosters to grand final glory, but a week later she got the phone call saying she’d been dropped.

“It was definitely a low,” she said. “But I’m very lucky that I’m surrounded by the best teammates, the best clubs. They really looked after me, and if anything, it just gives me a little bit of extra fuel to the fire and to get back into the Jillaroos squad.”

Three months later, the Jillaroos had a new head coach, Jess Skinner, and Kernick was on the plane to Las Vegas to play for Australia at Allegiant Stadium.

“I was fortunate enough to be in Vegas, but really looking forward to hopefully playing Pacific Championships and getting back in around the girls,” Kernick said.

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