TRUDI Peterson feared she would be in awe of the Wallaroos players alongside her in the NSW Country side at the start of the Chikaroski Cup.
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Now the 21-year-old breakaway could be set to join them at a national team training camp after helping steer NSW Country to the Chikarovski Cup in Bathurst on Sunday.
Country out-hustled and out-classed Sydney Gold 39-7 in their final game to complete a clean sweep after wins over ACT (31-5) and Sydney Blue (24-15).
Peterson was named Country's best forward and is one of a number of Hunter players on the "radar" of Wallaroos coach Dwayne Nestor ahead of the 2021 World Cup.
"Trudi was outstanding," NSW Country coach Paddy Bowen said. "She is a really strong in the air and got us a couple of key lineout steals at crucial times. She is definitely on their radar. Kate Holland is another. She was really strong. Sophie Clancy was great running from fullback. Ash Walker is already in the PONI (player of national interest) squad. The Wallaroos have a training camp in two weeks and it wouldn't be a stretch for a number of them to be involved."
NSW Country boasted current Wallaroos Grace Hamilton, Bellla McKenzie and Piper Duck and a couple of former representative, including Novocastrian Katrina Barker.
Hunter supplied 12 players to the Country squad, including eight from the Wildfires. Maya Stewart travelled but didn't play because of a knee issue
Walker returned from a knee injury on Sunday and was dominant despite being switched from centre to breakaway.
"You wouldn't have picked that she wasn't a flanker," Bowen said. "She gave us a nice connection between the forwards and the backs."
Candice Clay, Sian Filipo and Peta Salter also played key roles.
"They all played well," Bowen said. "Candice Clay has great skills and can play across the front three. Kate Holland is a big, strong girl and, for her first year of 15s rugby, was unreal.
"Sian Filipo learnt some new skills on the wing and about positioning. They sent a lot of traffic down her edge."
It is the first time Country has claimed the Chikarovski Cup since its inception in 2017.
"The talent has always been there but it had to go to Sydney to get showcased,' Bowen said.
"Now all the zones are starting to beef it up a bit and girls can now stay in the country and play competitive footy
"The difference between Sydney and us was off the field. We were a much tighter, happier group. The girls had a ball and the rugby was the by-product.
"We had a game plan that worked and we stuck to it. We did a lot of research on the Sydney teams in the Jack Scott Cup. We identified the weaknesses and took advantage of them."
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
