Keeley Davis was young, “ambitious and clueless” when the NRLW began in 2018.
Eight seasons later, she has “a bit more clue”, but she’s just as ambitious as she prepares to play her 50th match on Sunday. Davis will share that feat with teammate Isabelle Kelly and Broncos captain Ali Brigginshaw in round seven.
Roosters teammates Isabelle Kelly (left) and Keeley Davis (right) will both play their 50th NRLW game on Sunday.Credit: Janie Barrett
“I had no concept that this [the NRLW] was ever going to be where it is now, and I feel really privileged I got to be a part of the first part of the game, and that’s why I’m so grateful of where we are now,” Davis said.
The NRLW has come a long way from a three-round competition in 2018, with the women’s game now at 12 teams and plans for expansion on the cards.
The thought of playing 50 NRLW games was a pipedream when Davis signed for the Dragons in their inaugural season. Now, 25, she can see how far the competition has come.
“I remember I was at Tarsha Gale (under 19s) training and there were whispers about it [NRLW starting] and I had no idea about rugby league, hardly watched it at all, didn’t really follow it back then,” Davis said.
“[I was] Very chaotic I feel [back then]. I was very dedicated, I just wanted to be an athlete, didn’t know how much I loved rugby league back then. It’s kind of more that it was an avenue to being a paid athlete more than anything, but the older I get, the more I absolutely love rugby league, and I think I found that out pretty early, that I did really love it.
“[I was] very dedicated to being the best player I could be, but also very ambitious and clueless … I’ve probably got a bit more clue [now], but still very ambitious. ”
The milestone is made even more special by the fact that she gets to celebrate alongside her captain and teammate Kelly, who has been at the Roosters her entire NRLW career.
“It’s a massive honour. I actually didn’t realise it was going to be happening this soon, to be honest,” Kelly said.
“But I think, for me, it’s even more special that I’ve been able to do it here at this club. They’ve been able to give me so much and help me become the player that I’ve really wanted to be.”
It was never about the milestone for Kelly, but it’s a nice reward for the Roosters skipper, who said she felt a responsibility to make sure the competition succeeded.
“Yes I definitely did [feel responsible] I just wanted to make sure that we could put the game in a really good area,” Kelly said.
Brigginshaw has equally been influential for both Davis and the women’s game as a whole.
Ali Brigginshaw has been a staple of the Australian, Queensland and Broncos side since the NRLW began in 2018.Credit: Getty Images
“They’re [Kelly and Brigginshaw] probably two of the most influential people I’ve had in my career,” Davis said.
“Ali, I haven’t played with her heaps at club, but through rep I definitely have, and the way she is with the younger generation, I think that’s probably the biggest thing. Her mind is so much more than just footy, and that’s something I’ve definitely learned off Ali, she’s just been such a great mentor for me.”
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With the NRLW now an 11-round competition – excluding finals – having players reach 100 games is now in the picture.
“I think so, definitely [achievable]. It’s at that point now where girls can definitely play 100 games,” Kelly said.
“We’ve got a lot of girls here that are really young also that have nearly 50-game milestones. I think that’s really exciting, and I think that’s something in many years, everyone’s going to look at and really respect as well. I think we deserve the respect the girls are getting now with being able to hit those milestones.”
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