She helped Dubbo CYMS' league tag side complete an unbeaten, premiership-winning season, she's represented Group 11 and the Western Rams, helped kick-start the Goannas dominant early showings, and now she's secured an opportunity to play at an even higher level.

The Dubbo teenager has earned a spot in the Sydney Roosters' Tarsha Gale Cup train-on squad and will now work with the team in the hope of earning a spot in the squad which contests the 2020 season.

"Yeah, it's been a big year," Todhunter stated.

"I went down for the first trial and they just said, 'y'know, we'll get back to you', I'm just really shocked and just stunned."

Todhunter welcomed the chance to display her skills at a national level, and was enthused by the opportunity to show off the talent the Central West can produce.

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"I'm very grateful and happy to get the opportunity, especially being one of the girls coming from down in the country and not being someone who's from the city," she said.

While the CYMS and Goannas star was too young to watch Tarsha Gale play in her day, Todhunter said she was proud to be part of the sport's continuing growth that the former Jillaroos and NSW State captain played a role in spurring.

"I definitely do feel good seeing the growth in the sport," Todhunter said.

It's a growth that Todhunter has played a part in encouraging at the local level, with several of her coaches commending her for helping lead the younger teammates she's trained with.

"If people on the team aren't sure of what they're doing, I try and give them that guidance and show them how to do it right and what I'd do, so I definitely feel comfortable in that role on the field," Todhunter said.

"I try and encourage all the younger girls, make sure they have their head in the right place and I make sure they're not afraid or scared before a game.

"I know that they can do it, but sometimes people doubt themselves and that bit of encouragement gets them through and gets them believing they can do it."

The Tarsha Gale Cup is the standout women's nines competition in Australia and is a stepping stone to the NRLW competition.

Todhunter will have to trial again with the squad on Saturday, November 16 in order to secure a spot in the playing roster in 2020 but the prospect of playing alongside strangers and more experienced players isn't entirely a daunting one for the multiple time representative player.

"I've played in heaps of different teams so I have a variety girls I've played with and I've always had to figure out where I fit in and where I work best for the team," she said.

"Once we've played a couple of trial games together I think it'll be fine. It should go smoothly and I'll feel a lot more confident there."

Her father, Shawn Todhunter, is also the Goannas under 18s coach and he's seen his daughter's potential from a young age.

"I'm pretty proud," he said.

"The whole family are very proud. She's come such a long way, I've known it since she was just a little kid, she was pretty gifted.

"She's done the hard yards, her tackling technique is just out of sight. That's something that sets her apart, she's just got that football brain, you can't really teach a lot of what she's got.

"If you give her time to think, she might start overthinking things, but when she's in the moment, it's some of the best stuff I've ever seen. I just can't describe it."

While Shawn is humble about the shared lineage of football talent in the family, joking that he might have to get a DNA test to make sure Taneka is really his, the teenage star credits her father's playing days with inspiring her love of footy and current success.

"I do want to thank my dad, obviously, he's played a huge role in getting me involved in footy," she said.

"I remember when I was little, going to watch him play and that's where it all started."