When Queensland Reds flanker Carola Kreis spent part of her upbringing on a cattle ranch in Canada, there were no breaks when the going got tough.
“I grew up as a bit of a country girl. You got on the tractor and the work wasn’t done until the whistle blew at the end of the day,” Kreis recalled.
It’s an apt analogy for the way the non-stop forward throws herself into her rugby. Like any good openside, like a David Croft once was for the Reds in the men’s game, she always plays above her weight.
She goes and goes until the final whistle as she will against the NSW Waratahs in Friday’s match at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
It hasn’t been the best of seasons for the Reds in Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s. That hasn’t stopped Kreis being a consistent standout with productive performances and upbeat energy.
Her tackling, her presence around the ball, key carries and her energy to keep turning up like she did for a late try against the ACT Brumbies have marked her excellent season.
At 32, she feels the dynamic growth of the women’s game happening around her with teammates who are still at school with greater pathways than she ever knew.
“It was a privilege to present (backrow partner) Grace Baker with her Queensland cap after her recent debut. When I first met her five years ago she was still at school on the Gold Coast. It’s cool seeing the talent coming up,” Kreis said.
Since arriving in Australia in 2018, rugby has meant more to her than 80 minutes of tearing around under a wild mane of dark hair that’s only restrained on match days.
“I’ve lived away from home for so long that rugby has become like family for me,” Kreis said.
“It started with sevens and playing socially. I love the team environment and the technical side.”
Emotions do pour out for a flanker who has been playing for the Reds since 2021 and will turn out for Easts on the club scene.
“I bawled my eyes out after the Brumbies game (a 31-14 loss). You have to take those moments and carry on, especially to show the younger girls in the squad that we are a program that bounces back,” Kreis said.
Vintage Reds like Vanessa Bradley, Selena Worsley, Tanya Osborne and Shirley Russell have been supportive and a positive influence around the squad.
“I think their words ‘do whatever it takes’ around getting back into the winner’s circle was important to hear. Cleaning up our set piece is one thing we keep working at,” Kreis added.
The 17-15 win last week over the Melbourne Rebels drew out plenty of gutsy defence and willpower when the Rebels were coming home the stronger.
The pronunciation of her name always causes a little mangling by first-timers. Long ago, she started pre-empting and offering her own introduction.
“It’s Carola like the car…cheap but reliable,” she said with a grin.
It’s Kreis as in Christ without the “t” if you were also wondering.
Reds head coach Grant Anderson sees up close how much Kreis commits to a team.
“Her consistency and lack of errors stand out apart from all her other contributions on the field. She’s unlucky not to have yet played at international level for the Wallaroos or Canada,” Anderson said.
Playing against a Waratahs side stacked with Wallaroos is like facing international opposition. It needs to bring out the best in the Reds.
