Rugby League: Whirlwind year for Belmont's Caitlan Johnston capped off by being named 18th player for Jillaroos

The Belmont 18-year-old achieved that and much more in what has been a whirlwind 12 months in the world of rugby league.

Johnston was captain of the Knights' Tarsha Gale Cup side, played the inaugural women's under-18 Origin for NSW, stepped up into the senior ranks to win the state title with CRL Newcastle, made her NRLW debut for the Sydney Roosters and only last week represented the Prime Minister's XIII in Fiji.

But just when she thought her season had ended, Johnston was called into camp this week with the Jillaroos and has been named 18^th player for Friday's Test between Australia and New Zealand in Wollongong.

"I didn't expect any of this to happen and then, in the blink of an eye, it's all happened in one year," Johnston told the Newcastle Herald.

"It's just been incredible ... it still doesn't feel real."

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Johnston was told about her promotion to the Australian women's squad by national coach Brad Donald when recently away with the PM's XIII.

"Brad was there [in front of everyone] and said this girl doesn't know it yet, but she's been named 18th player [for the Jillaroos next week]," she said.

"I went really blank. I didn't translate it properly. Everyone else was laughing and smiling."

The forward's rapid rise this year was partly guided by former Canterbury and Melbourne player Jamie Feeney, who has the official title of NRL elite pathways manager.

"Jamie said to me, you've always got to have goals. If you don't set them you won't achieve them," Johnston said.

"I took that in mind and I thought I should actually set myself some goals. The original one was All Stars and when I made that [in February] I was stoked."

She kicked off her footy career aged 11, playing with the boys at Windale.

Since then Johnston, the fourth of six siblings who finished high school earlier this year and works in child care, has bounced between Oztag, CRL Women's Nines, Nations of Origin, Ladies League Tag for Lakes and the annual Indigenous Knockout with Mindaribba.

She now joins CRL Newcastle teammates Isabelle Kelly (centre), Hannah Southwell (lock) and Holli Wheeler (bench) in the Jillaroos while front-rower Mollie Boyle has switched codes since spearheading the Australian rugby union squad to victory over Japan at No.2 Sportsground in July.

Johnston was also alongside fellow Hunter products Bobbi Law and Brydie Parker in the PM's XIII.

"It felt unreal to wear the green and gold," she said.

Kick-off is 5:40pm.

JILLAROOS: Corban McGregor, Tiana Penitani, Jessica Segis, Isabelle Kelly, Shakiah Tungai, Kirra Dibb, Ali Brigginshaw, Simaima Taufa-Kauti, Keely Davis, Millie Boyle, Kezie Apps, Annette Brander, Hannah Southwell, Botille Vette-Welsh, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Holli Wheeler, Tallisha Harden, Caitlan Johnston, Julia Robinson.

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