Apps was a member of the NSW Country squad that took out the inaugural edition of the competition last year and she will return to the Gold Coast in a little over three weeks to help her side defend their title.

With the pathways for women's rugby league developing even further and player numbers continuing to grow in the past 12 months, Apps is expecting this year's competition to be even tougher than 2018.

"Last year was the first year it was established, so this year it's going to be even more competitive," Apps said. "There are more girls playing the game, so more girls they've got to choose from.

"This year it's going to be even stronger, which is exciting. Last year was a first, it was all new, now being able to play for NSW Country again will be awesome. Hopefully everything goes alright and I'll be able to do well."

Apps' comments come as the St George Bank Footy Grants Program reaches its final days, with junior rugby league clubs in the Illawarra having until Monday May 13 to register for grants to put towards new facilities and equipment.

The NSW and Australian star will be joined in the NSW Country squad by Illawarra teammates Keeley Davis, Rikeya Horne and Shakiah Tungai. Gerringong-product Ruan Sims was also selected in the team.

The selection is further good news for Davis who was one of just 19 players to earn a full NRL contract last month, alongside Apps, pregnant Dragons captain Sam Bremner, Hannah Southwell and Holli Wheeler.

For Apps, the continued recognition of Davis' talent is a reward for the hard work she puts in on the training paddock.

"I'm really proud of Keeley, she's worked really hard over the last few months, she really deserves it. She's a very talented player and I love playing beside her. Her contract shows hard work does pay off.

"I don't know how she can get faster, but she got faster and fitter and stronger over the off-season.

"She's always been a really good ball player, she reads the game really well. Her work ethic is great, she's been working really hard and when she puts her mind to something, she achieves it."

The selection of Davis and Horne represent the further development of the Illawarra's junior rugby league pathways and comes on the back of last weekend's Tarsha Gale Cup grand final victory over Newcastle at Bankwest Stadium.

Both Davis and Horne are graduates of the competition and Apps predicts the Tarsha Gale pipeline will continue to produce top-flight stars for years to come.

"The Tarsha Gale girls keep impressing every year. The talent and speed and athleticism of the girls, I'm just so impressed. Our future is so bright with women's rugby league, it makes me so excited and proud to be a part of."