Shannon Mato reveals she ignored a positive pregnancy test while battling depression and denial, then says her son Charnze “healed” her.
NRLW powerhouse Shannon Mato has shared a deeply personal confession about the mental spiral she faced after discovering she was pregnant, admitting she chose to play on despite knowing something life-changing was happening.
Mato. a Brisbane Broncos prop and one of the most respected front-rowers in the NRLW. said her state of mind when she learned she was expecting her baby son. Charnze. was darker than her public performances suggested.. She described being “really depressed” and in denial. going so far as to say she wasn’t sure she wanted the baby when she first faced the reality of a positive test.
Her admission is raw in a way that immediately reshapes how fans and teammates understand athlete life behind the scenes.. Mato is known for thriving in one of sport’s toughest roles. but she also made clear that resilience on the field does not automatically translate into stability off it.. She said she ignored guidance and “did things I shouldn’t have been doing. ” framing that period as a mix of depression. anxiety. and fear—rather than a failure of character.
The timeline she describes places a pressure point early last year. when she chose to play two matches shortly after learning she was pregnant.. She revealed she had told herself she would complete those final games because she was not sure she could face motherhood.. For readers. that moment matters because it shows how mental health struggles can distort decision-making. even for elite performers who appear composed from the outside.
Mato also recalled how the situation escalated around her club at a sensitive time.. She said she wasn’t able to tell the Brisbane-based team herself before it became public through rumours.. Instead of support arriving when it should have. she said the backlash of speculation “turned her life upside down. ” while her partner was also dealing with his own mental battles.
Her story carries a human impact that goes beyond sport.. When depression and denial take over. the body and schedule can keep moving—training. selection. travel—while the mind tries to survive.. That disconnect is often where athletes suffer in silence. and Mato’s honesty suggests she was functioning on autopilot while struggling to understand what she needed.
A key turning point came with what she described as the moment her emotions fully hit. after a trip connected to the NRL’s season-opening period in Las Vegas. where she was involved with representative duties.. Mato said “it hit me” there. and from that point she spoke about continuing to carry the weight of fear and uncertainty—while still being expected to perform at the highest level.
Since Charnze was born on October 6, Mato says the outcome was a life-changing shift.. She called her son “the big answer I needed. ” framing motherhood not as a simple reward for enduring hardship. but as a catalyst for healing she didn’t know she could access.. Mato described feeling “unhealed” during the earlier period. then credited her child with helping her rebuild in ways she thought were out of reach.
Her language also underlines responsibility and reflection.. She acknowledged letting herself down. including choices that didn’t align with her values. and said she holds blame where it belongs rather than seeking excuses.. That approach is significant in the way she now talks about growth: not romanticizing the struggle. but explaining it as part of a journey toward stability.
Looking ahead, Mato’s current momentum is what makes this story resonate even more within NRLW conversations.. She has hinted at her readiness and the strength of her turnaround. and there has been talk of potential selection for Queensland in the upcoming State of Origin series.. If she does get the call. it will add another layer to her narrative: an athlete rebuilding her identity and confidence. not by ignoring her past. but by integrating it.
For Misryoum readers, the larger lesson is clear.. Elite sport can amplify both pressure and possibility, yet mental health remains personal and complex.. Mato’s confession may not change the demands of the game. but it can change the conversation around support. early intervention. and how quietly athletes can be carrying battles that never show up in match statistics.