New QMC Podcast Episode: Lailani Montgomery on Culture & Pathways

16 Apr

In this episode of QMC Podcast, Leilani Montgomery shares a powerful and honest reflection on the journey behind her rise through rugby league — and the deeper foundations that continue to shape her.

From growing up on the Central Coast surrounded by community sport, to stepping away from comfort at just 18, Lailani opens up on what it really takes to chase a career in elite sport. This is not a story about overnight success — it’s about discipline, resilience, and the choices made when no one is watching.

At the heart of this conversation is culture.

Lailani speaks with pride about what it meant to represent as a young Aboriginal woman, describing her All Stars experience as one of the few moments in her career where the result didn’t matter — being there, standing in that space, was enough.

The episode dives deep into the role of grassroots sport and community carnivals like the Queensland Murri Carnival and the Knockout — not just as competitions, but as powerful spaces where confidence is built, identity is strengthened, and young athletes play in their truest form. These are environments where talent thrives, often in ways the mainstream system doesn’t always recognise.

Lailani and host Bo de la Cruz also explore what separates athletes who make it from those who don’t — not talent, but effort, discipline, and the willingness to take every opportunity with both hands. It’s about leaving nothing in the tank.

There’s honesty around the mental side of the game too. Lailani opens up about pressure, overthinking, and the reality many female athletes face — caring deeply about performance, perception, and representing more than just themselves. Through this, she shares how working with a sports psychologist has helped her shift perspective and reconnect with the joy of the game.

And in one of the most relatable moments of the episode, a viral on-field mistake becomes a lesson in growth — learning to laugh at yourself, let go of perfection, and remember why you started.

Beyond the game, this episode highlights the importance of connection.

Through her work in community spaces and with young people, Leilani reflects on how giving back isn’t something she consciously thinks about — it’s simply who she is. A reflection of how she was raised, and the strong cultural foundations passed down through her family.

The episode closes with a powerful tribute to the women who shaped her — her mum, her sister, and her Aunty — who taught her to stand strong in her identity and carry herself with pride.

This is more than a conversation about football.

It’s about culture, community, identity, and the people who build you long before the world sees you.

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