A feeling of jubilation swept across Takilele Katoa when she found out that she had been selected in the women's NSW State of Origin team
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Katoa said that she couldn't believe the news she'd been selected to take on the Queenslanders next Friday.
"When Andy (Patmore), the NSW coach, gave me a call on Tuesday, I wasn't ready for the news that he was going to give me," she said.
"I was sitting in the car with the biggest smile on my face, and he could tell that I was excited. I'm pretty excited; this is huge for me its the next level up playing for your state. I'm honoured to get the chance to do that.
"I'm still in shock."
It has been an excellent season for Katoa who was part of the Riverina Bulls side which took out the inaugural Women's Country Rugby League Championships back in April before being selected as part of the County NSW side who finished second at the National Championships in early June.
The talented Griffith player said that she was surprised that she gained selection after not playing at her best during the national nhampionships.
"Honestly I thought I could have played better," she said.
"That was another reason why I was shocked to get the call up for NSW just because I thought I didn't think I played as well as I could have in the final match.
"I just have to work on the little things, and hopefully it all works out for next week's game."
Yanco-Wamoon livewire Tess Staines will play in the curtain-raiser to the game at North Sydney Oval after being selected in the under 18s team.
It was a selection which took a while to sink in for the year 12 student from St Francis College.
"I couldn't comprehend it to begin with," she said.
"Dad pulled me out of school when the squad was announced and told me. I couldn't get it through my head."
It continues what has been an outstanding season so far for the youngster who was a key component of the successful Riverina Bulls side which took out the first ever Country Rugby League Championship.
From there Tess was then selected as a member of the NSW women's country team who finished second at the National Championships early this month.
Tess said it was a great experience to be playing alongside Jillaroos Isabelle Kelly, Kezie Apps, Bec Young, Ruan Sims, Hannah Southwell, Keeley Davis and Vanessa Foliaki.
"It was just great to be around those girls," she said.
"The teams all stayed together, so I was having breakfast and walking around with some of the girls who I had watched on TV. It was a pretty surreal experience."
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