NRL Talent ID day to unlock female stars

Australian Jillaroos utility Maddie Studdon expects there to be plenty of skill on show at the female Talent ID day at Runaway Bay on May 31.

The day is part of the code's focus to unlock the next generation of players ahead of the Women's NRL Premiership in September.

Aspiring players over 17 can register their interest here for the one-day event, with the NRL welcoming athletes from rival codes to test themselves in a rugby league skills-based program in the camp to be held in the Gold Coast suburb.

Studdon has only ever known rugby league and touch football growing up from a young age in Sydney and said the day presented the perfect opportunity for women around Australia to perform in front of recruiters from NRL clubs.

"Anyone I think with an interest in the game should be jumping at the opportunity," Studdon told NRL.com.

"I only have to look at some of the girls who played in other women's sports and they all have other sporting backgrounds. There were heaps of girls from union and volleyball giving AFLW a go.

"But not only athletes from other sports, I'm expecting a whole range of players to jump at the chance. The last camp we had to pick the top 40 we had girls coming from Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern parts of Australia.

"To see those girls travelling it shows how far we are reaching as a code."

The NRL has not held back on its demands for registered players, with a series of aerobic and physical testing, pre-medical examinations and tackle courses required throughout the process.

Studdon said it was important the code had strict guidelines in place to ensure the quality of the player pool was strong.

"A high level of fitness is required, they really concentrate on that," she said.

"It's pretty serious. No matter what camp it is, we always focus on that. Whoever comes on board is always going to be treated the same and I can't see this being too different."

The Talent ID day will take place before the National Championships in Southport starting on June 1 with registrations limited so be quick.

The National Championships will feature all members of the women's elite 40-woman squad competing across six teams over three days with NRL clubs watching on with interest to lock-in their foundation players.

"It's going to be unreal, I can't wait," Studdon said.

"A lot of the girls are spread across all the teams and I'm expecting a lot from the Combined Affiliated States side and Defence Force team.

"The quality is going up each year and with every tournament the girls play in so it's only going to get better."