Growing up in the Highlands, all she wanted to do was play the game she loved.
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Passion for the game of rugby league filled Chelsea Lenarduzzi's veins and the one time Moss Vale resident is now a rugby league star.
Lenarduzzi has previously represented the Jillaroos and Queensland in the Interstate Challenge in 2017. Most recently she performed in the Women's State of Origin in front of 10,000 people at North Sydney Oval.
From the pitches of flowing greenery in the Southern Highlands to playing in the State of Origin in front of huge numbers has been quite surreal for Lenarduzzi.
"It's really cool," she said.
"Obviously growing up in NSW it's funny to represent Queensland. But I am a very passionate Queenslander now and wouldn't change it even if I could."
The final score of the State of Origin was a less then desired outcome for Lenarduzzi. Her Queensland side fell to NSW 4-14.
"We handed the ball to them too much," Lenarduzzi said.
"We made silly errors, and we also gave away a couple of penalties. We helped hand them the game.
"Their backs and their strike power were great. In the first half we kept them out the game by dominating the middle of the field, but when we turned it over they were able to get their backs involved and they got points from it."
It may not have been the perfect team performance, but Lenarduzzi can take away a great personal game.
"I'm pretty happy with the way I performed," Lenarduzzi said.
"I think it was a performance long time coming. I've been working pretty hard to get fitter and now that I've got a bit more experience playing for the Broncos and playing in an Origin beforehand, I think I was ready to perform better.
"I was very happy with my game. The team had a great week in camp and everyone was very supportive. People who I look up to were very supportive of me. But obviously it doesn't feel as good without the win."
The passion for the game was instilled into Lenarduzzi from a young age. But she had to overcome many obstacles and remain ambitious with her league dreams.
"I've always wanted to play since I was little but it was the old cliche of you weren't allowed to play if a female or there was nowhere to play," Lenarduzzi said.
"I moved up to the Gold Coast for uni and I was focusing on athletics for a year, so the year I moved up there was the first time I hadn't played a team sport since I was four.
"I missed the team sport environment and I always wanted to play league. Burleigh Bears had a team and it was a now or never moment.
"I didn't know anyone, I just signed up online and went. It was pretty nerve-wracking.
"It was daunting because they already had some pretty good players on the team that were playing at a high level. But I always wanted to play and I was felt it was going to be the most natural sport for me.
"When I played in the backyard with my brother it just felt so natural and I wanted to play the game really bad. So when the opportunity came knocking, I took it.
"I also played a few Hindmarsh Cups while in the Highlands.
"I went to St Pauls so I played in four of them. I lived for the day of that tournament.
"It was like my Christmas day. When I was playing it would feel like I was playing in the NRL. It was so much fun."
The rest of 2019 is looking very positive for Lenarduzzi. She will continue with her familiar roles but she has also just made a major step in her playing career.
"I've still got my Burleigh Bears season," Lenarduzzi said.
"But I've just signed with the Brisbane Broncos. I played with them last year and we won the grand final.
"I was given this opportunity and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm very excited and that will be my main focus for the rest of 2019."
