Olympic sensation Maddison Levi has revealed her eagerness to “revisit” the prospect of joining the NRLW, even as she sets her sights on competing in this year’s Rugby World Cup.
The 22-year-old shone brightly in Paris last year, clinching the top individual accolade in rugby sevens and marking a remarkable ascent in the Australian rugby landscape.
Maddison and her younger sister Teagan have both shown keen interest in playing in the nation’s premier rugby league competition but faced rejection from Rugby Australia.
In a conversation with Wide World of Sports, the speedster elaborated on the reasons behind the officials’ decision against her potential move, yet she has not closed the door on a future transition.
“It’s definitely something I want to revisit down the track,” Levi shared.
Maddison and Teagan Levi could potentially join the NRLW. Getty
“The beauty of women’s sport is the ability to participate in multiple codes of footy.
With this year being a World Cup year, I initially overlooked the option to play 15s and embrace that opportunity. Rugby Australia presented that to me, and it was too good to decline – but I hope that in the future, we can make our mark in the NRLW.
“I’ve always stated that once I retire from sevens, I plan to step away from footy entirely – but the reality is we don’t earn as much as the men, so I must maximise my earnings while I’m still active in the sport.
“The only way for us to improve is through consistent play, even if that means participating in a different code while still honing our skills and learning new aspects.”
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Levi has proven herself to be a versatile athlete, having played in the AFLW prior to focusing on rugby sevens a few years back.
However, witnessing several former sevens players transition to the 13-woman game, Levi is confident she can create a similar impact.
“Take Stacey Wakka, for instance; she moved over to play for the Broncos and ranked in the top 10 for the Dally M within just a few matches,” she noted.
“It instills confidence knowing that the skills we’ve cultivated as sevens players can successfully convert to the NRLW and yield comparable results.”
Former sevens star Emma Tonegato has made waves in the NRLW. Getty
“Many of the Aussie sevens players who have made the jump, like Emma Tonegato and Yasmin Clydesdale, have followed a similar path.
It’s thrilling to witness them making such a significant impact in the NRLW, and I hope one day we can do the same and contribute to the growth of the game.”
Levi will play for the Queensland Reds this season in the women’s Super Rugby, with aspirations of representing the Wallaroos on the global stage in August.
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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