IF she wasn't arguably the biggest star in the women's game, Dragons forward Kezie Apps would make a pretty good recruitment manager.
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Her pitch was certainly enough to get best mate Talesha Quinn to spurn interest from the Broncos and Roosters to link with her NSW and Jillaroos back-row partner in Wollongong ahead of the inaugural NRL Women's Premiership in September.
Along with Apps and Sam Bremner, Quinn was one of the marquee names on the final squad list released by the Dragons on Wednesday, completing what is a homecoming of sorts for the former Berkeley Eagle.
As an incumbent Test and Origin back-rower, there no shortage of interest in the 28-year-old, but she said the bond shared with her regular Test and Origin camp roomy Apps was what really sold the deal.
“I got contacted by the Broncos and Roosters but I just felt the Dragons wanted me more,” Quinn said.
“They made me feel more welcome and they were calling all the time and seeing how I was and I felt they put in a lot more effort than the other clubs did. Obviously Kezie being here, she's one of my best friends and there's no better feeling than playing footy with your best mates.
“When I joined the army back in 2013, I had to stop playing footy. Kezie came in in 2014 and started playing second row so she sort of stepped into my shoes.
“She was playing in the same position, she ran like me, I thought ‘she even looks like me’. I was just watching her in awe because I wanted to be there doing what she was doing.
“When I got selected in the NSW squad in 2016 and she was my roommate. I saw her bag on the bed with her name on it and was so excited to meet her. I just knew we'd have a really close bond and I'm so glad to be playing with her this year.”
Having first kicked a footy at Berkeley Sports Ground as a 21-year-old, the Parkes-born star said the chance to represent the area that gave her her start in the game was another big lure south after several years in Townsville with the Australian Defence Force.
“I played for Berkeley in my first ever game of rugby league in the Illawarra [league]," she said.
“I moved to Wollongong when I was 21 and lived next door to Berkeley Sports Ground. I just saw some girls playing footy and I wanted to play. I rocked up to training not knowing anyone and just fell in love with all the Berkeley girls and the game.
“I didn't even know there was a NSW side when I started playing for Berkeley, I just wanted to play some footy. From there I got selected for NSW, the Jillaroos but even playing in the World Cup last year this [competition] wasn't a thing.
“This wasn't meant to happen until 2020 at the earliest so we didn't really think about it or think it was possible. The journey's been pretty crazy but to be back where it all started is pretty cool.”
It will put arguably the most lethal one-two punch in the game at coach Daniel Lacey's disposal, while Apps said back-row "bromance” will also provide plenty of entertainment off the park.
“Meeting her for the first time in NSW camp, we just bonded and clicked and we've been pretty close ever since,” Apps said.
“We niggle each other and bag each other out a fair bit and a lot of the girls find that pretty funny. It’s really exciting that she has come across to the Dragons.”