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Since earning her recall to the Indigenous All Stars side this time last year to preparing for take on England in an historic Test in Las Vegas, it has been a massive year for Mahalia Murphy.
The dual international spoke before her selection into last year’s All Stars squad about her main goals for the 2024 season ahead, which included a simple focus on working on her fitness and playing her best football.
After helping secure the 26-4 victory in Townsville, Murphy did just that, earning a recall to the Jillaroos team, some nine years after her last appearance in the green and gold, to feature in the Pacific Championships winning-squad. The second rower, who signed up with the Eels in 2023, was also honoured with her club’s captaincy for the 2024 season, with coach Steve Georgallis valuing her experience.
“I had goals earlier in the year last year that I did want to play a really good season and then, the season happened and I was actually carrying a few niggles throughout the season, but got through it, played the whole season, got through it fine; I didn't expect to get selected for the Australian team, but I got the call up and was told that I was going to go and play for Australia again,” Murphy said.
“I was super excited because it had been nine years since I last played for Australia and I just had only just come back to league the year before that, so I didn't really expect to get the call up straight away.
“I thought I would have had to prove myself a lot more, especially with the younger girls coming through, but once I got that call, I was just like, ‘yeah, I'm on here; I'm taking this opportunity’, and that gave me more motivation to keep going harder in this current off-season to then play well this year.
“In the last 365 days, it's been really good for me. I’m really excited and really ready for this year now.”
Currently in camp for this year's All Stars game being played on Saturday, Murphy will only have a week to swap out one kit bag for another before heading to Las Vegas as a member of the Jillaroos squad playing in their historic Test match against England next month.
Western Sydney born and bred; Eels captain Murphy is also looking forward to playing in the her “favourite stadium” as she runs out for the Women’s Indigenous All Stars team on Saturday.
While representing her family and her Kamilaroi heritage, Murphy was born in Blacktown and currently works in the area as a child protection officer, as well providing free fitness sessions for people in the local area.
“It's my favourite stadium ever, not just because I play for Parra, but just the atmosphere it creates there with the way it's built,” Murphy said of playing on the land of the Dharug people, who team-mate Quincy Dodd will represent.
“I think being able to play there – I'm from Western Sydney as well, I was born here and grew up here, so I've got that connection to Parramatta as well – it's great to be able to play in our club ground as well get us ready for the year coming ahead; it's good to be able to play close to home and where I'm connected to.”
Match: Indigenous v Maori
Round 1 -
home Team
Indigenous
away Team
Maori
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
