Sibling rivalry driving Bostock towards NRLW debut

Indie Bostock spent much of her childhood looking to get one over her big brother, Dolphins weapon Jack Bostock. 

Growing up in the Illawarra, the pair engaged in plenty of intense backyard sporting battles. 

Given the success Jack has enjoyed since making his NRL debut in 2023, it was no surprise Indie turned plenty of heads as New South Wales beat Queensland in the State of Origin Under 19 clash at the Sunshine Coast on Thursday night.

The Bostock backyard growing up was a breeding ground for enviable talent and Indie said she always had the edge over her brother. Now she's looking to chase him down when it comes to NRL and NRLW.

It's a tough task given her brother, who played for the NSW Under 19 side in 2022, has scored 25 tries in 39 NRL appearances for the Dolphins, including his four against the Cowboys in Round 15, but Bostock showed plenty of flair as NSW beat Queensland 26-10 to retain the shield.

“It was a little bit of everything basketball, Oztag, footy … I've dominated most of it, but I still have my shot to dominate in NRL … so hopefully I get him this year,” she said.

“That felt so good. To go back-to-back, I can’t describe the feels right now. I’m just psyched.

“It was tough out there, nerves the whole way through. The adrenaline is just through the roof and it's just so good. You just feel so much pride, especially playing with the sisters - it's a family out there and it's such a good feeling.”

The 18-year-old is a Shellharbour Stingrays junior who has progressed through the Illawarra Steelers junior pathway. A two-time Australian Schoolgirls representative, the centre made her second appearance for the NSW Under 19 team.

Almost the entire Bostock family made the trip north to watch Indie play on Thursday night, while her father ventured west to watch Jack play for the Dolphins in Saturday's clash with the Knights in Perth.

While the sibling rivalry between the two is strong, Indie said her brother has also been a great mentor as she builds towards an NRLW debut.

“To have your family's last name on your back… you carry them the whole way through the game … it’s just a feeling that you can’t explain … it's so good,” she said.

“I don't know whose genes we got - mum’s or dad’s - but they've got something going and we both got it.

“It's so good to have to a sibling, a brother, in the same position. I have so much respect for him, and he gives me so much credit for my game. I love it. I love having him as a brother.”

Bostock had a season to remember in 2024. She was named player of the match for the Illawarra Steelers after their grand final win in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup, represented Country and NSW in the Under 19s, and helped the Steelers win their first title in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership.

Now, the goal is to make the step up to the Dragons senior side and earn a debut during the upcoming NRLW season. 

“Hopefully I can make my NRLW debut in a couple of weeks for the Dragons,” Bostock said.

“I'll be pushing for that, we'll see how it goes. Baby steps.”