'We never had that security': Why Apps is now set to play until 38
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Just a few years ago, Kezie Apps was unsure how much longer she had left in the game, but the Westpac NSW Blues stalwart is now set to play beyond the retirement age of NRL greats Cameron Smith and Cliff Lyons.
Apps, who turned 34 in February, will be 38 when she starts her final season with Wests Tigers in 2029 after recently signing a four-year contract extension.
Smith was 37 when he led the Melbourne Storm to victory over Penrith in the 2020 grand final, while Lyons also played his last NRL match for Manly Sea Eagles at the age of 37 in 1999.
“I love the game, I love things like playing State of Origin, I love the whole lead up, I love everything about rugby league and the opportunities that it has given me,” Apps said ahead of State of Origin II at Allianz Stadium on May 15.
“Wests Tigers see value in me and wanted me for four years and so I thought I might as well take that and see what we can do in the next four years.”
Heading into the last World Cup in 2022, Apps was considering her future as the lack of security made it difficult for NRLW players to plan their lives away from rugby league.
Despite being co-captain of the Jillaroos and Blues, Apps was refused a bank loan as she was only contracted for the NRLW season and received match payments for representative appearances.
However, the introduction of multi-year contracts has been a game changer for elite female stars, who are now able to take time out of the game to start a family with the comfort of knowing they have a spot when they return.
“We never had that security before,” Apps said. “You could get injured, and clubs wouldn’t sign you. Contracts were like three months or six months, so they were very short contracts.
“It was so hard to get loans and things like that because banks would say you don’t have much regular income, so it is great to have the security for those reasons.
“Just knowing that you are there at the one spot for that period of time and the club knows it as well means you can build teams around that. It is so great that we have the multi-year contracts.”
The added job security and the successful return of stars Sam Bremner and Corban Baxter after their pregnancies has given players confidence to take time out to have children.
NSW props Millie Boyle and Caitlan Johnstone-Green and Queensland’s Shannon Mato and Evania Isa'ako (nee Pelite) are among the NRLW stars set to sit out the upcoming season while they are pregnant.
"It is really inspirational to see the likes of Sammy and Corbyn, who have done it and have come back and still been at the top of their game,” Apps said.
“It is going to happen in our game, and it is going to become more and more frequent, because the girls can see that they have that security and they have got that support.”
“They don’t feel like they have to choose between being a professional rugby league player or having a family. They can do both if that’s what they choose to do, so that’s really nice.”
For Apps, the motivation to keep playing into her late 30s is her fitness, and she was one of NSW’s best players in last Thursday night’s 32-12 defeat of Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.
Match: Blues Women v Maroons
Game 2 -
home Team
Blues Women
away Team
Maroons
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Returning to her preferred secondrow role after playing prop for the Jillaroos in Vegas, Apps carried the ball for 136m from 12 runs, and produced a try assist, a line break assist and three tackle busts.
“I feel the best that I have felt – forever - and long as I am feeling like this, and I am still motivated to do pre-season training, then why not keep going,” Apps said.
“To be honest, I think that I am just getting a bit smarter with how I am training and how I am doing my recovery, and all those little things. I am trying to be as professional as I can be and it has given me longevity, I guess.”
After co-captaining the Australian team with Maroons veteran Ali Brigginshaw in last year’s Pacific Championships and the Vegas Test against England on March 1, Apps has relinquished the captaincy of the Blues under new coach John Strange.
The Sydney Roosters premiership winning mentor instead chose Isabelle Kelly, who had co-captained NSW with Apps last year, while the Maroons appointed Tamika Upton as co-captain with Brigginshaw in another possible indication of the changing of the guard.
However, Apps said she has no issues about handing over the skipper’s role to Kelly after receiving a phone call from Strange before announcing the decision.
“I feel fine about it to be honest,” she said. “Obviously Strangey knows Izzy and knows what she can bring, and I am really excited about the next generation of girls to lead the side.
“I am just grateful to be in the side and obviously I have worked really hard to get to this position. I love this team, I would do anything for the jersey, and as long as I am here it doesn’t bother me.”
