Isabelle Kelly still has to look twice when she gets introduced as a Golden Boot winner.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
"It's weird that people will call me that if I go to a school assembly or something like that," the 22-year-old CRL Newcastle centre said before a training session at Dudley this week.
"Here's Isabelle Kelly, Golden Boot winner. Half the kids don't know what they [the teachers, coaches] are talking about, but I just say thanks."
Kelly, an NRL development officer, now arrives at the 2019 season having been named the best women's rugby league player in the world.
The Central Coast product couldn't attend the official ceremony in London in November, but she now sits alongside men's champions such as Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Mal Meninga and Wally Lewis on the Golden Boot honour roll.
Kelly, a Country, NSW and Australian representative, called it an unexpected honour to claim the inaugural female award in 2018.
"I was actually away in Bali and I got this message off a guy saying congratulations on the nomination," she said.
"I came home and I was invited by the NRL and I was like what's the Golden Boot? It was the first one [for women] so I'd never heard of it.
"It's something that I never expected.
"I think there are so many great players - Ali Brigginshaw, Brittany Bailey, Honey Hireme - any of those girls who were in contention for it deserved it.
"But I think it has kind of helped me in a way to realise that I can do it.
"Not only that, but where I come from on the Central Coast isn't a massive area like Sydney so it's hard to get seen for sports. I think it just goes to show people can do what they want where they're from."
Kelly, who played with the Sydney Roosters in last year's maiden NRLW competition, now has the chance to potentially carve out a career in her beloved sport.
"Three years ago I was sitting at home watching a Test match and I remember thinking I want to be part of that one day," she said.
"It has all been a whirlwind, ever since the World Cup [end of 2017]."
Kelly will train with the Blues state squad in Sydney on Sunday, less than 24 hours after kicking off the NSW Women's Premiership season.
CRL Newcastle, being coached by Rick Stone, meet the Wests Tigers in round one at Dudley Oval on Saturday (6pm).
Beforehand, the Newcastle Knights host Jersey Flegg (12pm), Harold Matthews (1:30pm) and SG Ball (3pm) fixtures at the same venue.
CRL NEWCASTLE: 1 Claire Reed 2 Stacey Markham 3 Skye McKenzie 4 Isabelle Kelly 5 Alicia Martin 6 Olivia Higgins 7 Melanie Howard 8 Rebecca Young 9 Kylie Hilder 10 Emma Young 11 Holli Wheeler 12 Hannah Southwell 13 Sophie Buller 14 Tazmyne Luschwitz 15 Alyssa Tai 16 Priscilla Tremain 23 Margaret Watson 20 Georgia Smyth
