Norths centre Lauren Dam has reached her first grand final since her rugby league career began five years ago with a championship with the Riverina Bulls.
Dam was finding her feet in league when she was selected for the 2019 New South Wales’ country championships, helping the Bulls to a win over the North Coast Bulldogs in the decider.
The stage is larger tomorrow when Dam and the Norths Devils step out for the BMD Premiership grand final at Kayo Stadium, taking on Mackay Cutters for the statewide women’s championship.
Dam’s love of rugby league has grown since that first foray with the Bulls which came about during her training to become an army medic.
Dam, 27, is now based at Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera, continuing a career that has included two deployments to the Solomon Islands. Her Devils coach Meg Ward also tasted rugby league for the first time while a member of the defence forces.
Dam, who is signed with Brisbane Broncos in NRLW, first played footy with her hometown Sawtell Panthers but did not experience 13-a-side games until her stint with Riverina.
“Those games really got me interested in playing more rugby league and it’s been a lot of fun since then,” Dam said.
“I had played league tag but I wanted something a bit faster so I played Nines and eventually took up with the Riverina Bulls which got me started.”
Dams is Devils women’s player No.7, stepping out in the club’s inaugural BMD Premiership match in 2023.
She remained at the Devils this year during an off-season of change that landed Ward with the coaching role among some new faces.
Dam has been a consistent member of a backline that has posed a constant threat for the opposition in defence and attack.
The grand final brings together the top two teams from the regular season and Dam expects a tight match.
“It’s going to be close and we only played them two weeks ago so we know a bit about each other,” Dam said.
“They’re a very good team and they have a lot of experience.
“I know that we’re very determined to play well and we’ve had a good week. It will be a challenge but it’s exciting to be in the grand final.”
