From school to big stage: Dodd only has footy on her mind

While most Year 12 students were planning their end-of-year celebrations and preparing to say goodbye to schooling life, Quincy Dodd was too busy with a football in her hands.

After a breakout rugby league year, including NSW City selection and being named Cronulla's best junior – in the female or male field – Dodd is soaking up all the experiences that were handed to her in 2018 as she prepares to progress from a back-up to a priority for coaches.

"My brother got the smart genes, he's book-smart but I'm street-smart and would rather be playing footy," Dodd told NRL.com.

"I want to do teaching when I'm older but for now I'm taking it easy with footy. I've got a development officer job with the NRL to go around and do clinics with the kids and teach them the game so that will keep me busy."

And who could blame her?

We had the 3am boot camp and had no idea what we were walking into. It was a long week but epic though, I loved every minute of it.

Quincy Dodd

Dodd spent the 2018 season as one of the brightest young prospects coming through the women's system.

She was NSW's 18th player in the inaugural Holden State of Origin clash in June, and was included in Brad Donald's Jillaroos camp on the Gold Coast in late January.

"It was something I've never been in before," Dodd said of the recent Jillaroos camp experience.

"The commitment and how the Jillaroos treat themselves, they're all organised and put in 100 per cent. If they're not putting in, like if they're late, they get penalised.

"We had the 3am boot camp and had no idea what we were walking into. It was a long week but epic though, I loved every minute of it.

"Last year's overall experiences, even though I didn't get to play, it's made me push myself harder. I'm still young and don't want to get too far ahead of myself."

Donald has identified Dodd as a player who, with the World Cup just under three years away, could be cherry-ripe for picking by the time she turns 21.

In the short term, pregnancies to Sam Bremner and Nakia Davis-Welsh in 2019 also open the door for the Sharks junior to go one step further and take the field in further representative teams this season.

"It's definitely one of my goals to play for my state and country," she said.

"The girls were all saying at Jillaroos camp that 'one day you'll get there'. But I've got to set my mind to it and hopefully one day I can."

Dodd will start at five-eighth for the Indigenous women's side in Friday afternoon's clash with the Maori in the Harvey Norman All Stars at AAMI Park.

It will be the biggest game to date in her young career and first in a preferred halves spot after being utilised in the backline at the National Championships last season.

"When I played Tarsha Gale Cup last year halfback was my main position but I can be a bit of a utility at the back," Dodd said.

"I'm at the stage now where I've got to learn with how to play with other people, not just the same players week-in week-out."

Dodd will team up in the halves alongside Roosters teammate Sharon McGrady for the clash.