Last Wednesday started out the same as any other for Goulburn-based Maddy Tooth.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
![Sidestep: Maddy Tooth played well in the course of the First Nations Gems' grand final run at the National Championships. Photo: Canberra Region Rugby League. Sidestep: Maddy Tooth played well in the course of the First Nations Gems' grand final run at the National Championships. Photo: Canberra Region Rugby League.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/ijfQKXbsEKgSKGW5xB5NiF/dfc666f3-581f-45ea-a298-0ef8cfe20e62.jpg/r855_126_2709_1547_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The 18-year-old was fresh off a crucial win with the Goulburn Bulldogs over the Queanbeyan Blues, and busily preparing for the team's upcoming match at Canberra Stadium against the UC Stars.
But that afternoon, Maddy received the news that she was a late call-up to the First Nations Gems side which was preparing to begin its Women's National Championships campaign the next day.
By Wednesday night, Maddy and her mum, Mel, had landed in Redcliffe, Queensland, and joined the Gems squad ahead of their opening match against the Northern Territory on Thursday.
"She felt a little overwhelmed by it all, it happened really quickly," Mel said.
"The team was already in camp in Redcliffe, and she was called Wednesday afternoon, and we were on a flight that night."
Maddy missed out on selection against the Northern Territory, but played every subsequent match for the Gems throughout the campaign, which ran from Thursday, May 20, to Sunday, May 23.
In four out of her five matches, Maddy either started on the bench or as a reserve player, with the exception of the round three game against South Australia in which she played at lock and scored a try.
"She held her own really well. For an 18-year-old-girl against open women, I thought she did herself proud," Mel said.
The Gems won four out of five round matches, and progressed through to the final against Western Australia.
WA was the only team to beat the First Nations side in the preliminary stages, and got off to a good start in the final to lead 4-0 early.
The Gems were starved of possession for most of the match, but the scores remained deadlocked as WA failed to convert some crucial chances.
![The team: The First Nations Gems played a nearly unblemished campaign over the weekend. Photo: Supplied. The team: The First Nations Gems played a nearly unblemished campaign over the weekend. Photo: Supplied.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/ijfQKXbsEKgSKGW5xB5NiF/1032a6ed-7363-404e-a4f8-d818aff5400b.jpg/r0_0_1920_1079_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
As the match entered the dying minutes, WA began to make some crucial mistakes which allowed First Nations forward Tawana Sullivan-Togo over the line to level the scores.
Five-eighth Akira Kelly's conversion attempt hit the crossbar, and the game then went into a golden point decider after full time.
WA co-captain and forward, Anneka Stephens, quickly crossed for the winning try to break the hearts of the Gems players.
Following the invaluable experience of playing in a National Championship grand final, Mel said the sky is the limit for her daughter.
"Maddy's only 18, she's young, and playing in the local competition at the moment," she said.
"At the Raiders presentation night, there was talk of them expanding come next season not into the NRLW but the next level down.
"The Raiders are developing the women's system, so hopefully she stays interested and keep training hard and we can see her in the NRLW."
The selection, Mel hopes, will benefit more young local women who hope to play representative football.
"Her selection was not only good for her, but other girls who play in our district," she said.
"Hopefully this shines a light for other talented girls to be seen and recognised."
She also thanked Dean Souter, the Raiders Junior Representative High Performance Manager and Club Career Coach, and John Hawke, the Raiders Tarsha Gale Cup squad coach, who were both instrumental in Maddy's development and eventual selection for the Gems.
While you're with us...
Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.