Glen Innes rugby league player Amelia Tunamena will line up against the best women in the sport after earning a contract to play in the NSW's top tier competition.
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Tunamena will take up a contract with the Glebe Dirty Reds to play in their inaugural year in the NSW Rugby League Harvey Norman Women's Premiership.
For three seasons, Tunamena has featured in every starting start the Greater Northern Tigers have fielded in the Country Championships and now her efforts there have been rewarded with Glebe assistant coach Milton Dymock spotting the forward in the tournament's coverage.
In what Tunamena describes as a "whirlwind week," Dymock reached out to Greater Northern area manager Scott Bone via Facebook on Sunday to get in touch with her.
That got the ball rolling and Tunamena signed on as a recruit for the remainder of the season on Wednesday.
She'll train in Glen Innes during the week, with the club sending through programs, and travel to Sydney on weekends for captain's runs and game days.
"Pretty cool, pretty honoured, very proud," she told the Glen Innes Examiner.
"It is always in the back of your mind, maybe to go one step further, but you're never openly chasing it.
"To have this opportunity is a bit surreal.
"I don't think I have stopped smiling for a couple of days."
While it was a surprise to catch the attention of coaches in Sydney, it is not an opportunity Tunamena is going to let go to waste.
"[I will] try and hold my own against the girls down there," she said.
"They get to play every week, there's some good quality footy and good quality girls down there.
"It is going to be a good experience to step up and be in that pool.
"Taking it as it comes and making the most of the opportunity that I do have.
"I probably won't get an opportunity like this again.
"I am just very, very grateful for everything that has happened."
Tunamena will also be doing her best to improve her own game and bring what she learns back to her hometown.
She also wanted to emphasise the importance of all the various coaches she has played under.
"Give a shout out to all my coaches I have had through the years," she said.
"A mention to anyone who has had anything to do with me playing footy since I was 15.
"Every single one of them have had a big part of where I am today.
"I just want to make everyone proud."
Round one of the Women's Premiership has already been conducted with the Dirty Reds belted 66-nil by St Mary's.
But they still have 11 games to improve with the competition not ending until July.
The club has already indicated to Tunamena she will be part of the side for the remainder of the season, beginning this Saturday against Cabramatta.