Tess Staines continues to make waves in rugby league and is a step closer to adding another notch to her growing belt of successes, having been signed by the Parramatta Eels.
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The talented sportswomen said the announcement came as a bit of a shock.
"It's very exciting," she said.
"I know I have always wanted it, but I never actually thought it would happen.
"I know people up there, and when I said I was keen, and they all thought that I was still playing Union, and they didn't really know what was happening with me down here.
"They were keen as soon as I was."
Plans have been pushed back a little due to the current situation in Sydney, with pre-season for Staines starting in January before finally being able to take the field in around April.
"Then it will be the normal Harvey Norman women's comp through the year, and then the NRLW will start in around July or August," she said.
Staines has been showing off her skills across multiple codes this season, having played for the ACT Brumbies in the Super W competition.
"It was a bit of an eye-opener," she said.
"I've obviously played at that level before but not in that sport.
"The quality of the players and quality of the game was very high level. It was a great experience and great to get something else under my belt."
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There was one moment while playing for the Brumbies where the multi-code talent got her rules confused and was sent to the sin bin for deliberately knocking the ball dead, thinking she would just get a goal-line dropout.
With having talent across both codes, Staines feels it is hard to see her ever not being a "Leaguie girl at heart".
"I don't think that is ever going to go anywhere," she said.
"I'm still going to be a part of the union that isn't going anywhere, but this (signing with the Eels) is happening for the time being, so I'll chase it while it is here."
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