So, uh, how did you, uh, how did you find that experience? And then again, just, uh, elaborate a little bit more on like not, not ever playing on the bench before and getting used to that role for Australia.

Yeah.

Look, it's really exciting, Scope.

Like as you said, I've played my whole career as an outside back, but I think the way that the women's game's growing, um, just even with like the body shapes and the expectation of being a back rower, um, they're a lot more athletic in this game, which- Um, then kind of opens up my skill set as well, and, um, we've, you know, some of the best back rowers in the game at the moment are, like, previously outside backs.

So you look at, like, Ivania Puli, who's, um, playing for Samoa, even, um, her other back rower, little Mini, she was a center as well.

So I think that's kind of how the game's transitioning is, um, is that way.

But for me it's, um, it's been really awesome, particularly through that Origin campaign, just learning a different role and, um, being exposed to what my back rowers go through, which was really cool in, in terms of growing me as a player.

What about the, uh, the, the remaining seven teams? Like, without getting too far ahead and, and not, you know, not worrying about Samoa, when you're looking at the rest of the draw, I know Australia and New Zealand are both the favorite in the men's and the women's, but are, are there any other nations that you've had a, a little peep at already, T, and you're thinking, "All right," you know, with the, with the right run, um, you know, getting together and the cohesion they could, uh, cause you some troubles throughout the campaign?

So, uh, how did you, uh, how did you find that experience? And then again, just, uh, elaborate a little bit more on like not, not ever playing on the bench before and getting used to that role for Australia.

Yeah, look, it's really exciting, Scope.

Like as you said, I've played my whole career as an outside back, but I think the way that the women's game's growing, um, just even with like the body shapes and the expectation of being a back rower, um, they're a lot more athletic in this game, which, um, then kind of opens up my skill set as well.

And, um, we've...

You know, some of the best back rowers in the game at the moment are like previously outside backs.

So you look at like Ivania Puli, who's, um, playing for Samoa, even, um, her other back rower, little Mini, she was a center as well.

So I think that's kind of how the game's transitioning is, um, is that way.

What about the, uh, the, the remaining seven teams? Like, without getting too far ahead and, and not, you know, not worrying about Samoa, when you're looking at the rest of the draw, I know Australia and New Zealand are both the favorite in the men's and the women's, but are, are there any other nations that you've had a, a little peep at already too, and you're thinking, "All right, you know, with the, with the right run, um, you know, getting together and the cohesion they could, uh, cause you some troubles throughout the campaign"?

So, uh, how did you, uh, how did you find that experience? And then again, just, uh, elaborating a little bit more on, like, not, not ever playing on the bench before and getting used to that role for Australia.

Yeah.

Look, it's really exciting, Scope.

Like, as you said, I've played my whole career as an outside back.

But I think the way that the women's game's growing, um, just even with, like, the body shapes and the expectation of being a back rower, um, they're a lot more athletic in this game, which, um, then kind of opens up my skillset as well.

And, um, we've ...

You know, some of the best back rowers in the game at the moment are, like, previously outside backs.

What about the, uh, the, the remaining seven teams? Like, without getting too far ahead and, and not, you know, not worrying about Samoa, when you're looking at the rest of the draw, I know Australia and New Zealand are both the favorite in the men's and the women's, but are, are there any other nations that you've had a, a little peep at already, T, and you're thinking, "All right, you know, with the, with the right run, um, you know, getting together and the cohesion they could, uh, cause you some troubles throughout the campaign?"

So, uh, how did you, uh, how did you find that experience? And then again, just, uh, elaborating a little bit more on, like, not, not ever playing on the bench before and getting used to that role for Australia.

Yeah, look, it's really exciting, Scope.

Like, as you said, I've played my whole career as an outside back.

But I think the way that the women's game's growing, um, just even with, like, the body shapes and the expectation of being a back rower, um, they're a lot more athletic in this game, which, um, then kind of opens up my skill set as well.

And, um, we've...

You know, some of the best back rowers in the game at the moment are, like, previously outside backs.

So you look at, like, Ivania Puli, who's, um, playing for Samoa, even, um, her other back rower, Lu mini, she was a center as well.

What about the, uh, the, the remaining seven teams? Like, without getting too far ahead and, and not, you know, not worrying about Samoa, when you're looking at the rest of the draw, I know Australia and New Zealand are both the favorite in the men's and the women's, but are, are there any other nations that you've had a, a little peep at already, T, and you're thinking, all right, you know, with the, with the right run, um, you know, getting together and the cohesion, they could, uh, cause you some troubles throughout the campaign?

And when you pull on that Australian jersey, what does that mean to you?

Um, what it means for me to pull on the green and gold is, uh, I think of my younger self, um, always having dreamed of playing in the green and gold, and, um, representing her, representing 10-year-old Tiana, who never watched an NRLW growing up 'cause it didn't exist.

Um, and to represent my country, to represent my family, um, it means the world to me, and, and never take it for granted.

So yeah, if, if, if I'm given the opportunity to do that again at a World Cup, my first-ever World Cup-

Does that need to be a goal in the next CBA to try and change the way the salary cap's built a little bit so that the talent can be spread out a bit better?

Look, I think that's something that's going to sort itself out organically with the next, um, CBA, and, you know, if, if it's anything like what the talks are sounding like, that the game goes full-time or there's an element of, um, you know, part of the playing group that goes full-time, um, it's gonna alleviate all of the, I guess, underlying issues that we currently have with the growth of the game.

But, um, looking at where it's at, I think it's, we're in the best position that we've ever been in as female players and where the game is at-

And when you pull on that Australian jersey, what does that mean to you?

Um, what it means for me to pull on the green and gold is, uh, I think of my younger self, um, always having dreamed of playing in the green and gold, and, um, representing her, representing 10-year-old Tiana, who never watched an NRLW growing up 'cause it didn't exist.

Um, and to represent my country, to represent my family, um, it means the world to me, and, and never take it for granted.

So yeah, if, if I'm given the opportunity to do that again at a World Cup, my first ever World Cup-

Does that need to be a goal in the next CBA to try and change the way the salary cap's built a little bit so that the talent can be spread out a bit better?

Look, I think that's something that's going to sort itself out organically with the next, um, CBA.

And, you know, if, if it's anything like what the talks are sounding like, that the game goes full-time or there's an element of, um, you know, part of the playing group that goes full-time, um, it's gonna alleviate all of the, I guess, underlying issues that we currently have with the growth of the game.

But, um, looking at where it's at, I think it's, we're in the best position that we've ever been in as female players and where the game is at-

What do you kind of hope that the current generation of players where we set up all those players coming through into the framework, standings, reputation, all that kind of thing?

Yeah, look, I think for us, what we try and aspire to achieve just through our actions and what we do is to show them that there's a genuine pathway and to show them that there is a dream that they can achieve.

And that is reflected through participation at grassroots, footy on the weekends.

But also there are so many different avenues that you can be involved in rugby league.

And we want to showcase that to people.

We want to show them that, you know, it's the best sport in the country and to be part of it, something special and that you can be part of it in any capacity and, and try to inspire that next generation.

But also I think where the game is now, it's, You're moving into such a unique space of being able to market yourself as an athlete in this country and to be able to capitalize on so much more opportunity outside of just playing the squad.

Looking back on your time in the NRLW so far, and even earlier as a female athlete growing up, is there a moment that comes to mind where you felt the tide begin to turn? You felt public opinion begin to shift and begin to think, wow, this could be a genuine thing?