Women’s rugby league is quickly gaining recognition with a test match to run on free-to-air TV Friday night, while two locals will also line up with the Country Origin team.
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Dale Finucane and Euan Aitken will don jerseys for Country, while Kezie Apps pulls on a Jillaroos jumper.
The Jillaroos will take part in an Anzac Test against the Kiwi Ferns Friday afternoon and Apps is excited by women’s contact becoming more mainstream.
“It’s really exciting, this time around we’re not a curtain-raiser to the men’s game, but instead it’s a double-header,” Apps said.
“Unfortunately, it won’t be on until after the men’s game so like 10pm, but it’s a huge step forward and hopefully people will leave the tele on after the men’s game and check it out.”
The game will air on Channel 9 (WIN) at 10.15pm on Friday, while the match will be live-streamed from 5.20pm on NRL viewing services.
The second rower is chomping at the bit to face the Ferns in a rematch as both teams present a slightly revamped line-up.
“Unfortunately we’ve had a few injuries, so there are a couple out for the game, but luckily the people replacing them have been in before,” Apps said.
“We’ve also got some of the girls coming in from the Indigenous v All Stars round, which is really exciting because they have so much talent and a lot to offer.”
Apps said she hasn’t paid too much attention to what the New Zealanders are bringing this time around, but will instead focus solely on her role and performing on the day.
“I don’t think I have to impress anyone, I just want to go and play football and that comes pretty naturally, i’ll be happy if I can do the one per centers right and do my job,” she said.
She has recently taken on a new role at United Fitness in Bega, so her fitness has never been better and owner Shaun Ruzicka has been instrumental in her nutrition and routines.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Storm back-rower Finucane said he wanted to do Bega proud when he takes on City in Tamworth on the weekend.
“It's an honour to represent the jersey again and the area that I come from in Bega,” Finucane told the CRL.
“I remember as a kid when NRL teams would come to our local area how excited I felt - It would be great to be able to give that feeling back to the area of Tamworth.”
Finucane will run out alongside St George Illawarra centre Euan Aitken, who used to play with the Pambula-Merimbula Bulldogs.
It’s a first-time call up for Aitken into the roster, while Finucane calls the Country team home for a third time.
Aitken has hopes of one day pulling on a Kangaroos jumper and the Country v City is a fantastic stepping stone on that pathway.
Country v City will run on Channel 9 on Sunday from 3.30pm
