Like most Townsville kids, Alisha Foord was a Cowboys fan growing up - but at the time, never imagined herself playing for her local club.
Back then, the pathways for girls were less established, with Foord taking her sporting skills to the basketball court and also to the touch fields.
As part of the NRL Telstra Premiership Footy Country Series, which is celebrating and supporting rugby league communities in regional Australia during the 2024 season, we're finding out more about women's rugby league pathways.
The series kicked off in April and comprises 10 themed NRL and NRLW games in total, across nine regional locations, including this week's match between the Cowboys and Titans.
“I grew up on a farm just south of Townsville with Mum and Dad and three older brothers, I was the youngest girl amongst the four of us," Foord said.
“I would play footy in the backyard with them and would always be dragged in to make the numbers even.
“Growing up – because I am 27 now – I never really had that pathway of women’s rugby league, so I stuck to touch, which was the closest I could get ... and then I ended up converting to basketball over time.
“My brothers always played rugby league and being from Townsville, my family were massive supporters of the Cowboys.
“When they opened the women’s program and I didn’t hesitate, I jumped straight over.
"I started playing club footy because I could and from there, I got scouted and that’s where that journey (to the Cowboys) began.”
That move to take up rugby league paid dividends when she was scouted to join the Gold Stars, the Cowboys affiliate team in the BMD Premiership at the time. It eventually saw her play with North Queensland in their inaugural season last year.
“I played for Norths Devils here in Townsville ... that’s where I got picked up for the Gold Stars. I have been playing for the Cutters in the BMD now," Foord said.
“I was playing club footy just with friends, but when I got scouted, I had a moment where I was ‘maybe I do have what it takes’ - there still wasn't a Cowboys side in the NRLW, so I didn’t know how long it would take for that to happen, so I really didn’t think much into it.
“I was fortunate be contracted on a train-and-trial last year and this year, I got put into development and our coach (Ricky Henry) put me straight up to top 24 before the season began.
“It’s all happened really quickly, it’s been a really quick pathway transition for me.
“I think it's crazy, just thinking back to when I was a little girl, I would always aspire to be like JT or Matty Bowen, it was always an imaginary reality, you could never really do it.
“Young girls now, they actually have pathway to hop into, whereas I was like, ‘oh, it'd be awesome if I could play footy, but I can't, so I've got to do other things’, whereas girls these days are ‘I'm going to start playing footy because eventually I might want to play for the Cowboys’. Having that pathway now is crazy and the girls are so lucky."
Foord broke her thumb against the Eels last week, but battled on to finish the game. She won't be in action this weekend in the Queensland derby and is likely out for the season; however, she is focused on her progression and will work hard to continue ticking off her rugby league goals as soon as she's back on the field.
“I was only signed as a development player, so to get that top 24 contract this year; that was a tick in the box," Foord said.
“I made by debut in Round 9 last year, so I had only played one NRLW game leading into this season.
"I am only fresh to the middle of the field, so (I want to) work on building my knowledge of the game and working on things around being at hooker or lock and trying to build my body to make sure I am fit enough to do it for the next couple of years.
“I love defence, when I was a half I used to find myself in the middle of the field just to defend and I was too tired to attack, so I probably is a good thing I am in the middle because I like to chase after tackles."
With the Cowboys side assembled from across the North Queensland and beyond, including Brisbane, Sydney, England and Fiji; Foord is one of the few true 'locals’.
“I think I am the only Townsville girl," Foord said. “Although we are all from different places, we actually have a really good connection here.
“We do come from here, there and everywhere; but I think it has actually made it easier because everyone understands what people have gone through to get to where they are today with our team.
“Our coach, he’s come from New Zealand; everyone has bound together as one big family. I am really fortunate to have family in Townsville; a lot of the girls don't, so we rely on each other ... we have created our own family.
“Recently, I have had the girls out to my parents’ farm ... It is a hobby farm we grew up on, we have some cattle, we used to ride our motorbikes, there’s a big dam there we used to jet ski in and toboggan; Dad randomly has gone out and bought a few camels, so the girls love to come down and see the camels.
“It's only 60 acres, but it’s a nice space to just chill out.”
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