Kennedy, the daughter of Bathurst Panthers and former Balmain star William ‘Bubba’ Kennedy, will play in a NSW versus Queensland game in Surfers Paradise in two weeks where she will be pushing her case for selection in the 20-person squad to take on the Australian Jillaroos as a curtain-raiser to the Rugby League All Stars game at Suncorp Stadium on February 9 next year.

Incredibly, Kennedy is just 16 years old, and while she is hoping to be part of the All Stars, she knows that even just the experience of playing in the Northern vs Southern game will be a major boost to her development.

“It’s really exciting to be picked. I’m really looking forward to the experience and my goal is to be part of the Women’s Indigenous All Stars. That would be great,” Kennedy said.

The rising star earned her selection in the representative game after being a part of the Mindaribba Sisters side that won the women’s division of the 2012 Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout on the October long weekend.

It was the first time that Mindaribba had fielded a team in the knockout but it didn’t show, as the squad were standouts to make the final.

Unfortunately for Kennedy, she picked up a hamstring injury early in the competition but played through it, and was in outstanding form in the final as her side beat the Redfern All Blacks 26-16.

It ended a winning run of more than five years for the highly successful Redfern side and also resulted in Kennedy and 10 of her team-mates being in the first NSW Koori women’s team.

The hamstring injury was a recurr-ence of one that struck while Kennedy was competing at the Sports Travel Australia Track and Field tour of Canada.

It happened early in the three-week tour and meant she wasn’t able to compete in the 100 metres sprint during a carnival held in Vancouver.

However, it wasn’t all bad news. She was entered into the discus competition instead and, despite having done no training, she came eighth overall in a field of more than 30, with a throw of 19.87 metres.

“It was a great experience. I met a lot of people and made a heap of friends out of it. It was extremely disappointing not to be able to compete in the 100 metres but it was good to be able to still take part and I really surprised myself,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy would like to thank the National Australia Bank, including Will Armstrong, who have been proud supp-orters of her, and Jesse Middleton from the Chiropractic Health and Wellness Centre, who has worked hard to ensure she recovers quickly from her injury.

There has been more success in the family, with William Kennedy Junior being selected to be part of an under 15s indigenous camp that will take place in a few weeks.

The camp will aim to enhance his skills and he will have the opportunity to meet several NRL stars.