DUBBO'S Litisha Boney will be rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in rugby league next month after being selected in the Indigenous Women's All Stars team for the NRL All Stars weekend at the Gold Coast.
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Boney's Indigenous All Stars will play the Australian Women's All Star team, the Jillaroos, as the curtain-raiser for the NRL All Stars match where the likes of Greg Inglis, Johnathon Thurston and Paul Gallen will all be in action.
The 20-year-old, who has already racked up a number of rugby league and rugby union honours, only made two of the three trials but her talents were obvious and now she's looking to be part of the first Indigenous side to defeat the Jillaroos.
"It feels good, to be the only from out west to make the side is great," she said.
Boney, who usually plays lock but will line up in the second row for the All Stars, comes into the match in outstanding form after some starring performances in recent Knockout tournaments.
The all-round athlete, who also spent a year playing netball in recent times, knows a number of her All Star teammates from representative carnivals where she represented Redfern.
"I made this side after playing at the Queensland Knockout and at the NSW Knockout in Newcastle. I played for Redfern and we took it out and I also got player of the tournament and player of the final," she said.
Boney's selection in the All Star team was obvious after so many accolades and while she admits she may get a bit of stage fright running out in front of a packed Cbus Super Stadium, she said her experience of playing in front of television cameras and big crowds at the Knockouts should stand her in good stead.
With no women's rugby league or league tag played in Dubbo, Boney has played rugby union for the Rhinos Sheilas and produced some stunning performances.
In 2014 Boney, who said she loves to play league and union, was a standout for the Rhinos' Blowes Cup premiership winning team and went on to pick up the competition's player of the year as well as the Rhinos best and fairest.
In the past she has also played for the Indigenous women's rugby sevens side for the National Championships, the schoolgirls rugby sevens side and the NSW Country 15-a-side rugby team.
With a huge month in front of the Dubbo talent, Boney said there's some parts of the All Star week which she's looking forward to most.
"We get to do stuff with Inglis and Thurston so that will be a real pleasure meeting them all plus just going out in the Indigenous gear and trying my heart out," she said.
"I'm proud, I'll play for my family."
Boney, who added she dreams of representing the Jillaroos in the future, will be in action with the All Stars on Friday, February 13.
