Redfern All Blacks star Nakia Davis-Welsh’s spectacular year will continue in November after her selection in the Jillaroos squad for the Women’s Rugby League World Cup.
Kempsey born, and cousin to Greg Inglis, Nakia has already claimed the NSW Women’s Premiership with the Redfern All Blacks, was third highest try-scorer in the competition and won Origin with the NSW Blues in 2017.
Now the 21-year old speedster is looking to add the World Cup to her collection and cap off a remarkable year for the Redfern All Black star.
“Everyone is just excited to get into camp, we’re all a little nervous for the final cut but I know people like myself am just happy to make it in the squad, so I’m going to be there and be able to promote it and be a part of the team,” Davis-Welsh said.
Daughter to former Balmain Tigers five-eighth Paul Davis, Nakia is no stranger to Rugby League.
“Since I was young I get in with the boys, my oldest brother wouldn’t let me so I used to get in a bit of trouble,” said Nakia.
From that early exposure to footy, Davis-Welsh became the youngest player to debut for the Indigenous All Stars at 16 and won a Koori Knockout later that year.
Even now the Jillaroos’ newest squad member can’t get enough of footy.
“I work fulltime in administration and native title services, but other than that it’s pretty much football all year long, at the start of the year it’s all stars and then we go into comp and then from comp it’s aboriginal knockout with NSW in between that during July and now it’s Jillaroos.”
Renowned for her dummy-half running and communication with her inside women, Davis-Welsh lays a platform for her forwards by bringing the ball out of her own end very well.
Nakia has her eyes set firmly on being in the starting squad for the Women’s World Cup Grand Final on Saturday 2 December.
“Hopefully, I can win a World Cup and be in that final team.”
With the final line-up set to be announced in the coming week, selectors will have a tough time ahead making sure they pick the strongest squad available.
However, with speed like this we give Nakia a pretty good chance in achieving her dream.
