Matildas superstars Mary Fowler and Kyra Cooney-Cross may have made Newcastle winger Sheridan Gallagher the barnstorming athlete she is today.

But, if it wasn’t for the passion – and lollies – of her late father, she wouldn’t be playing sport at all, let alone an NRLW elimination final.

“I wasn’t very good [at sport] at a young age,” the cross-code star told AAP.

“So, to keep me out there on the field and turning up week in week out, he used to have to stand next to me on the sideline and give me red frogs.

“Obviously getting older, I did turn into loving sport.

“And, he didn’t have to give me red frogs anymore.

“He was always encouraging… and he was just happy that I was out there playing sport and having fun.”

Newcastle Jets forward Sheridan Gallagher. Photo: Newcastle Jets

Galla

See Full Page