How things change.

Women’s rugby has ballooned in the region in 2018, the finals of the inaugural, new-look 11-team 10-a-side premiership are on our doorstep and for Ferguson, well, those fears she held this time last year are now long gone.

The aptly named Westfund Amanda Ferguson Cup looks set to stay and, if anything, will continue to go from strength-to-strength.

“Three years ago, it was really scary and really daunting thinking ‘is women’s rugby still going to be around in two or three years’,” she said.

“It wasn’t looking good there for a while, we only had three or four teams in the comp.”

But the rise of rugby sevens, and particularly the success of the Australian women’s team, has helped spike interest in the sport.

“And everyone’s sort of pushing women’s rugby … the clubs within Central West Rugby are behind it and the board, too, they believe it’s something we should be promoting, that this is for women as much as it is for men,” Ferguson added.

The proof is in the pudding, too.

With 11 teams – the most Ferguson has seen contesting a women’s CWRU premiership in her 21 years as part of the region – and some serious quality, the rugby on show is pretty damn good.

“And, this is the best thing for me, the girls are loving playing each week,” she said.

“There hasn’t been many forfeits … and at the end of the day you don’t know who’s going to win … it’s whoever turns up and plays good football.

“It’s good, challenging rugby and it’s only going to improve. It’ll improve our rep side and the opportunities those players have with Central West, NSW Country, Super W and potentially the Wallaroos, too.”

They’re opportunities Ferguson knows all about.

The Emus stalwart came across rugby union when she was at school in 1996 and got her first taste of the big league, Central West competition the following year, playing with Waratahs.

Back in the late ‘90s, Ferguson said there were as many as seven teams, including the likes of Parkes, Wellington and Dubbo.

She’s been a Central West representative on countless occasions, while also coaching the region’s women’s side too – the most recent success being Central West’s sevens country championship crown in 2017.

Ferguson has represented NSW Country and also earned a gig as a part of the Wallaroos train-on squad.

She’s now part of the coaching team in charge of the Australia women’s team, one about to head into camp ahead of a massive series against New Zealand.

Opportunity has always been there, but the road to the top was often a goat track – that path is now an expressway.

And whether it be a desire to play in sevens or in 15-a-side rugby, Ferguson believes the Central West has both avenues covered by basing its 2018 structure smack bang in the middle.

“I think we’ve got a happy medium, with the 10s. Sevens isn’t for everyone, but 10s helps the clubs that can’t get a heap of players. It’s win-win at the moment,” she said.

Having played both forms of the game, Ferguson would know.

But 2018 wasn’t supposed to be another year on the paddock for the Emus forward.

Watch from the stands, enjoy the growth of the game and bask in the glory of having your very own cup … that was the plan, surely?

“I wasn’t going to play, no,” she sheepishly smiled.

“I haven’t played for a few years due to injury, but we had a very young, green side and we only had three girls who had played before.

“My role was to play a few games and help direct the side.

“I’ve really enjoyed it … it’s probably the most I’ve enjoyed my footy for many, many years.”

Unfortunately, Ferguson will miss the bulk of the finals thanks to her role with the Wallaroos.

Her last game for Emus, in 2018 anyway, will be this weekend when the green girls tackle old foes Cowra in an elimination semi-final at Molong.

Cowra has been a mainstay in the women’s competition for what feels like an eon, while CSU has been electric in its return.

The influx of southern sides, too – Coota, Harden, Temora and the mighty West Wyalong – has excited Ferguson and, while she’s cautious the competition doesn’t try and walk before it can crawl, the room for future growth in undeniable. 

Regardless, Ferguson still has to pinch herself the prize she is playing for this winter boasts her name.

“It’s crazy,” she shakes her head. 

“It’s a huge honour, you don’t get involved in rugby for these sort of things, you do it because you love it.

“Rugby is my second family.”