Moreton impressed last Sunday when she was selected to fill a last-minute vacancy for the NRL women’s 9-a-side exhibition match between the Dragons and the Sharks. Illawarra Division Rugby League’s Chris Bannerman said she played well in the match at Shark Park.

“Bree did quite well in the exhibition match and looks like she is going to do well again in the Illawarra side on the weekend,” Bannerman said. “She was picked after a vacancy came up and has lots of talent.”

Moreton is excited to announce she’s been selected permanently to the Dragon’s women’s team and their next match was opening against the Rabbitohs on April 30 at WIN Stadium.

She was “over the moon” to be playing competitive rugby league again, as there previously had not been anything for girls once they turned 12, with the Koori Knock-Out one of the only opportunities for her.

“I hope to perform in front of my home  crowd,” she said. “I encourage women and everyone to get down and watch. It’s going to be a great day of football.”

This Sunday’s match comes after Illawarra Rugby League opened the door for the Batemans Bay Tigers to join its women’s league competition. Moreton said It had been a battle to get the women’s game accepted, with the Tigers women forced to play in Group 7 and travel north to play.

Sunday’s match, along with the Berkeley Vale Panthers and North Newcastle clash and the Country Rugby League women’s nines competition will act as trial matches for the selection of the first ever CRL women’s squad – to take on City in May.

“The women’s game has taken significant steps forward this season with the introduction of the NSWRL Tarsha Gale Cup and CRL women’s nines and selecting the first Country women’s team to play City is another opportunity to move forward,” CRL women’s participation officer Kylie Hilder said.

“The CRL women’s nines have allowed us to create a pathway for females outside the established Sydney metro and Illawarra women’s competitions to sample the tackle version of the game and the success of these inaugural competitions has proven there is a strong appetite for the game.”

For younger female players interested in rugby league, Illawarra Division Rugby League is also this season launching a women's Under 18s league 11’s competition and the Bay Tigers have a team. The competition will start in May and will run for 12 rounds.