When Libby Surha was selected as a reserve in the Australian PM’s XIII Women's rugby league team, she wasn’t expecting to play in what was to become a thumping win over the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s XIII Women.
She found out she was going to play the Thursday before the game.
“I actually thought I was just on the bench,” Libby said.
The 18-year-old played 43 minutes of the game alongside heroes Tallisha Harden and Stephanie Hancock, finishing with three runs for 20 metres and two tackle breaks.
“Walking out onto the field was the best moment of my life,” she said.
“Just the culture around the stadium, it was unreal.”
“Plus the legends of the game, I played with.”
“They just really encouraged me to just step up and not be limited just because they have more experience than me.
“They just treated me like I was like them even though I haven’t played in the NRLW yet or anything like that.”
The Australian Prime Minister’s XIII Women defeated the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s XIII Women 64-6 in the game that took place at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, September 25.
“To win by that much, it was crazy,” said Libby.
“An experience I will never forget.”
Originally a hockey player, footy was always in Libby’s family.
“I’ve always been around footy but when I was 12 years old, just starting high school, there was an article about schoolgirls rugby league, and I tried it and started making teams,” she said.
While the opportunities for women were seldom when Libby first started playing rugby league, she tried out for and made multiple representative teams around central and north Queensland.
Libby played her first senior season this year for Carltons Devils, with the team making it to the grand final.
“Unfortunately, we lost but it was such a good season surrounded by great girls,” Libby said.
Over the last 12 months, Libby has also represented the Mackay Cutters, Queensland Sapphires and the Australian Women’s Indigenous Academy, the latter being where she was selected for the Prime Minister’s XIII.
Libby said this season has been her best, amplified by the fact that it was her first season back from an ACL reconstruction.
“This year was a huge comeback for me,” she said.
“I tell you what, I’m ticking boxes, that’s for sure.”
Libby has been selected for the U19 Canberra Raiders and hopes to move to Canberra at the end of the year, a step she says she hopes will lead her to an NRLW contract, ideally in north Queensland.
“Cowboys is definitely the dream,” she said.
Image: Libby Surha says running onto Suncorp Stadium was the best moment of her life. Photos supplied
