Baylee Davies was preparing for a Brisbane homecoming of a different kind when Mal Meninga walked into the Indigenous Women’s Academy in Canberra on Sunday to help deliver some news.
Davies is one of five players from the ground-breaking research camp that have earned call-ups alongside some of the NRLW’s biggest stars for Sunday’s Prime Minister’s XIII clash at Suncorp Stadium.
An aspiring NRLW player herself, Davies will now be rubbing shoulders with some of the best female players in the game after impressing Jillaroos coaches and support staff in the nation’s capital.
It caps a remarkable turnaround in life for Davies, who has endured a difficult period before putting foundations in place to set herself up on and off the field in 2022.
“At the start of the year I was pretty much out of work, I didn’t have a stable job and couldn’t pay rent,” Davies told NRL.com.
“I was struggling and then ended up getting a full-time electrician apprenticeship with the best boss you could ask for.
“It makes a massive difference having a good boss and he’s allowed me to take the six weeks off for the IWA camp and I still get to go home and have my job waiting.
“I also rent a room at my mate’s house now. From where I was at the start of the year I did not expect to be finishing it where I am right now.”
Australian PM's XIII v PNG PM's XIII
The Brisbane-based winger has played alongside a few NRLW players in the squad at the BMD Premiership level in Queensland but never on such a stage like the PM’s XIII fixture.
“I don’t know how to feel… I’m nervous and scared, it hasn’t sunk in much yet. I was talking to other girls and our phones are getting absolutely flooded with messages,” Davies said.
“We weren’t allowed to tell anyone until the team got published online, not even my family. They’re only a couple of hours up the road so they’ll all come to watch which is exciting.”
The Indigenous Women’s Academy concludes on Thursday after a five-week program under the guidance of First Nations Gems coach Jess Skinner.
For Davies, it’s been the experience of a lifetime.
“I’ve learned so much around footy, education and my personal self… anything you can think of, I’ve learned from it," she said.
“It’s been a long few weeks and I’m super excited to get home but it can wait another week now with this game on.”
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