KANDY Kennedy might be quietly spoken when it comes to discussing her rugby league career, but the pride is her voice is easy to hear when mentioning the Indigenous All Stars.
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Last week the Bathurst rugby league talent was named in the 30-player Indigenous All Stars squad from which a final team to face New Zealand Maori next year will be selected.
Kennedy has previously represented the Indigenous All Stars twice, in 2014 as a winger and in 2017 as a second rower.
Though she was stretchered with an ACL injury in the second of those matches, Kennedy worked hard on her recovery and gained a place in the 2018 Sydney Roosters squad for the inaugural WNRL season.
She got time off the bench in the grand final against the Broncos and while the Roosters lost that match, playing with and against some of the world’s best female talents has inspired Kennedy to work even harder to achieve in her chosen sport.
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“Just being there and experiencing it all has made me want to train even harder so I can be at that next level where the rest of the girls are,” Kennedy said.
“I’d never ever left my family so being down in Sydney was a bit tough, I missed them too much.”
While making the final cut for the match against New Zealand Maori will not be easy, Kennedy’s desire to wear an Indigenous jumper will drive her on.
She would love the chance to play alongside the likes of Bec Young, who recently captained the Australian Prime Minister's XIII team and has been part of the Indigenous All Stars figure since its introduction in 2011.
Fellow Roosters Chloe Caldwell, Lavina O’Meley, Quincy Dodd, Sharon McGrady and Taleena Simon were named in the squad of 30 as well.
“To play and represent my people and my family is special and it also gives me a bit of a boost in confidence that I need,” Kennedy said.
“I’ve played with Bec Young and Chloe Caldwell as well who are in the squad. I’ve played football since I was 16-17 years and I’ve always looked up to the Indigenous players who have played for the Jillaroos.
“It will be a really good experience working with those girls I look up to and learning from them as well.”
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Just as Kennedy looks up to the more experienced players in the squad, she also aims to serve as in inspiration.
“I think when I do get selected for Indigenous All Stars I feel like I am at home being around Indigenous players. The younger girls that are coming up, I feel like I’m stepping up to be a role model. I want to set that platform for them, to help that younger generation step up,” she said.
“It will be a good camp because there are a lot of young, talented players there. It pushes you as well because you’ve got to work 10 times harder now with the quality of girls coming into that squad.
“I really want to make my family proud. Dan, Jess and Charlie from Believe BootCamp too, they’ve really, really helped me the last couple of years. I appreciate that so much, they are a big part of my life and I consider them part of my family.”
The women’s Indigenous All Stars versus New Zealand Maori match will be played on February 15 at AAMI Park.