THERE'S putting in the hard yards to earn representative honours and then there's what Matilda Power has had to go through.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bathurst Panthers graduate, now playing for the undefeated South West Sydney-based Mounties Rugby League Club in the NSWRL Women's Premiership, has gone through injury hell before earning a place in this Saturday's City vs Country clash.
The Mounties' five-eighth has only been back for three weeks following her recovery from the latest incident in a run of injuries, but Power had made a big enough impression on her return to be one of eight Mounties players named in the weekend's clash at Parramatta's Bankwest Stadium.
At the end of 2016 Power tore her ACL and then suffered the same injury on the same leg just eight months later, losing a year and a half away from the football field.
The former Bathurst player then signed with Mounties at the end of 2018.
Power enjoyed a full season with the club in 2019 but her time was limited to just a single round in 2020 - this time due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Then, only eight months ago, Power had to have her meniscus repaired.
Such a journey has made Power's first City v Country selection even more exciting.
"I certainly wasn't expecting this selection, to be honest. It was the last thing on my mind," she said.
"I've had two knee reconstructions and have only had the one full season over four years of injuries. I'd been selected for this game based on my first week back, which was only three weeks ago."
The recurring injury troubles never stripped away Power's ambition to get into the game again.
"I was always really keen to come back so I never let any of it stop me," she said.
"I trained really hard and I was around a good group of girls and a good gym. They supported me heaps with my rehab.
"Even through last year we still had training programs put up during COVID, so most of us were training together where we could and I was doing whatever work I could online."
Power will be joined by Mounties teammates Keeley Davis and Jade Etherden in the Country team.
They'll go up against fellow Mounties members Stephanie Ball, Jocephy Daniels, Filomina Hanisi, Taina Naividi and Simaima Taufa who all gained a start with City.
No other club has gained such strong representation in the match, which should come as no surprise given Mounties have maintained a perfect seven-from-seven record to start the season.
Power said it will be an interesting experience to be on the other side of the field from some of her teammates.
"It will be cool and very different. It's interesting to go against them after training together for so long," Power said.
"It's scary though because I definitely don't want them running at me but I'm looking forward to it," she laughed.
There's not just Country pride on the line for Power in this game but the match will also serve as part of the selection process for the NSW Women's Origin team.
Six Western Rams players were also selected across the weekend's open men's, under 18s and 16s games.
Kick-off will be Saturday at 2.30pm.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.westernadvocate.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News