The girls, Viena Tinao, Lily Murdoch and Aroha Spillane, will travel to Brisbane next month to contest the Youth National Championships, where they will hope to catch the eye of Rugby Australia’s high performance pathway coaches. Stella Casey was also selected in the NSW wider training squad.

The selection came on the back of the Illawarra girls under 17’s impressive performance at the recent Sevens State Championships in Forster, with the side finishing the tournament in third place.

Tinao said the selection was a big honour and she’s looking forward to doing the Illawarra proud at the National Championships.

“It’s a huge honour I’ve been selected, I feel very grateful,” Tinao said. “I’m excited to play in the National Championships in Brisbane and make the next step.

“The State Championships were great, I’m very blessed to be able to play with the Illawarra girls and it’s good to have Lily, Aroha and Stella in the NSW squad.”

An Illawarra Sports High student, Tinao has excelled in both rugby league and union. The hard-running forward has represented the Steelers Under 16s girls side and played XVs rugby union for NSW Country. 

Ultimately, though, it’s the sevens that she’s most passionate about and she hopes to one day replicate idol and Wollongong sevens star Emma Tonegato and represent her country at the Olympics.

“I like both union and league, but sevens is my favourite. It’s very quick and very tough. 

“I would like to play for Australia one day and play at the Olympics.”

Tinao’s mother, Viena, said it has been a whirlwind 12 months for her daughter and she’s looking forward to seeing her continue to pursue her goals.

“She hasn’t stopped,” Mrs Tinao said. “She’s jumped from the league to the XVs to the sevens.”