FOR many of the players who made their Western Women's Rugby League debut this season the prospect of being tackled was a little intimidating, but that was certainly not the case for Madison Marmion.
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She loved the chance to be able to play a contact sport and threw herself into the challenge.
In fact the 17-year-old fulfilled her role as hooker of the under 18 Panorama Platypi side so well she was named the joint league best and fairest for her age group.
Marmion, along with joint winners Holly Jones, Lily Baker, Molly Hoswell and Emma Teale, were presented with the trophy on Sunday by NSW representative and Sydney Roosters star Kylie Hilder.
"I was very shocked. Cas [Hanrahan] stitched me up, I'd shown up and she asked me to put a jersey on and I was standing there and felt awkward and didn't know what was going on, but then they called my name and it was 'Oh, that's what this is for'," she said.
"They weren't allowed to tell us we'd won it, I had not a single clue."
While Marmion felt awkward before being presented with her best and fairest award, it was not something she experienced when in action for the Platypi.
Her first season with the side was something she embraced.
"I've wanted to play for years but I wasn't allowed until now," she said.
"I was happy to have a chance to play, I knew it was going to be tough and it was tougher than I thought, but it was good experience.
"I did like the tackling because it kept me doing something and I liked the running when we had a chance to do that too.
"I loved it. I was not at all intimidated, it was the best sport I have played so far."
Amongst her team-mates was her sister and identical twin Montana, who lined up at halfback. The Marmion siblings improved as part of the Platypi's spine across the five round competition.
"I play most sports with my sister, but playing rugby was good because we can read each others' minds," Madison said.
"We were definitely improving by the end of our season. Half of our team hadn't played before - me, my sister and maybe six others, so we were all learning."
As for whether or not she intends to play again next season, it's not hard to guess what Marmion thinks.
"Definitely and I'm hoping to go for opens as well," she said.