Country honour for Alicia

"They toughened me up, didn't do me any favours," Alicia said ahead of going into camp with the NSW Country side in Sydney this week ahead of the 2024 Harvey Norman NRL Women's Championship.

A regular face with Canowindra Tigers League Tag teams since the age of 15 and with Woodbridge tackle teams for the past four years, 26 year-old Alicia was selected for the NSW Country side following her standout performances with the Western Rams.

The Rams wrapped up their NSW Country Championship campaign in the final of that competition played at Woy Woy on the weekend.

Alicia has been packing down in the front row for Rams but historically had played in the halves before switching to the forwards this year.

She took a break from football in 2023.

"It kind of just happened", Alicia said of her Country selection.

"I took a year off because I was just a bit burnt out and I've had a really awesome year, it just been fun, hasn't felt like work at all.

"With footy around this area you pretty much play the whole year, there is no off-season if you play rugby as well.

"I played lock for Woodbridge and then Kev (Grimshaw) put me in the front row for the Rams," Alicia said.

"I really like it, to be honest. It's a different role, five-eighth involved a lot of organising play whereas in the middle I get to do a little bit of that but its predominantly defence and basically hitting the ball up."

While not modelling herself on anyone in the game playing in the halves is something Alicia believes has allowed her to take extra skills into her new role in the forwards.

"I've definitely taken some skills and things I've learnt in the halves and adapted that to my game in the forwards," she said.

"And my coach in the Rams hasn't pigeon holed me, he's just said to play my own game and if I see an opportunity to take it, which has been really good," Alicia said.

The 2024 Women's National Championship begin on the Gold Coast from March 20.

While admitting to ambitions of playing in the Women's NRL competition when she was younger Alicia says she is unsure about taking that path now.

"I'm pretty settled in Canowindra, I've just started a new job, but who knows. If the opportunity arrives it would be hard to pass up. I'm not sure to be honest," she said.

The championship is regarded as an elite pathways tournament that allows players from across Australia to showcase their skills with WNRL scouts present.