Grace Kemp became an instant superstar when she took to the field for the NRLW Raiders. Photo: Canberra Raiders.
With Canberra now boasting six professional sports leagues, female athletes in the ACT have more career options than ever. Canberra United, the UC Capitals, the Canberra Raiders NRLW, the Meteors, GWS AFL W and the Brumbies Super W all provide an opportunity for the city’s female athletes.
It has led to plenty of competition among the six sports for talented individuals, many of whom have switched codes or taken up a sport as opportunities arise.
A case in point is Grace Kemp, who was outstanding for the Canberra Raiders in the NRLW this season. She became a crowd favourite in only her second year in the 13-a-side code.
Grace switched to rugby league when the Raiders entered a side in the NRLW in 2023 after four seasons for the Brumbies in the Super W.
Grace Kemp when she was with the Brumbies Super W team. Photo: File.
She played for the Wallaroos in the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup and her departure to the Raiders was a significant blow, as demonstrated by her stellar performances in the NRLW over the past two seasons. She won selection in the Indigenous All-Stars and the NSW teams.
It must be painful for rugby to see a player they had in their grasp perform so well in another code.
And there is no prospect of her leaving anytime soon with the Raiders extending her contract until 2027.
The Brumbies have been boosted by the recruitment of Andy Friend as coach for 2025. As a local, he is well versed on the standout players in the ACT competition, which is where he will probably recruit most of his players.
He is also no doubt aware of the challenges in sourcing talented players to a code that has battled for profit when compared to the NRLW and the AFLW.
Andy Friend at the Brumbies 2024 season launch. Photo: Tim Gavel.
The competition for players across the board was uncovered in the July test between the Wallaroos and the Black Ferns. The Kiwis trounced Australia 62-0, exposing a lack of depth in the code in this country.
It’s an issue the Wallabies have also faced with defections to rugby league by star players from a schoolboy level upwards.
Another issue for the Brumbies Super W side comes from within the code itself, with the Western Force becoming a more than attractive option for players.
A case in point is Michaela Leonard, who was a champion swimmer and basketballer in Canberra before testing the waters in AFL, rugby union and rugby league all in one year, 2018.
Michaela Leonard takes the lineout ball. Buildcorp Wallaroos v Japan, first test match in July 2019. Photo: Karen Watson for Buildcorp.
Before the trials and her eventual signing with the Brumbies Super W side, Michaela had never watched a single game of rugby.
The following year, she made the Australian team. In 2023 she was appointed captain.
Michaela should have been a Brumby for life, but the Western Force signed her in 2023, and she has been a standout performer for the Perth-based team.
While the Brumbies Super W team operates on the smell of an oily rag, the Force are heading to Japan to play a series of games in October-November.
The Raiders, mind you, have their issues with additional competition for their players from within the NRLW following the introduction of two new teams in 2025 – the Warriors and the Bulldogs.
The introduction of these two teams has led to the departures of fullback Apii Nicholls and halfback Ash Quinlan. Both players are standouts in the NRLW.
Apii is heading to Auckland and Ash to Canterbury.
The beneficiaries, of course, are the players. Not just those pulling on a jersey today, but juniors who can see a viable career as tomorrow’s superstars.
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