Nambour player A‘Eisha Jeffs was crowned Rugby League Sunshine Coast’s open women Best and Fairest winner

While she’s busy studying a career in nursing, a Sunshine Coast teenager is also eyeing up a future in rugby league after being crowned the region’s best player. Here’s how she became a gun footy player.

A teenage nursing student says she’s eager to take her passion for rugby league to the very top after being crowned the region’s best player.

Nambour Crushers dummy half A‘Eisha Jeffs was awarded Rugby League Sunshine Coast’s Best and Fairest winner for the open women on Friday.

Read on for the full list of winners below.

Despite her side finishing last on the ladder, Jeffs more than proved a standout of the competition to take out the top gong.

“It was very exciting and I felt proud (to get it) because of all the work I have been putting in,” she said.

“I thought that this year wasn’t my best but I tried to leave it all out on the field and was happy (the best and fairest vote) points came from other coaches so they could see the effort I was putting in.

“You always hear from your teammates when you play well but to have it from the other team’s perspective (was great).”

Nambour player A'Eisha Jeffs was crowned Rugby League Sunshine Coast's open women's Best and Fairest winner

She was also crowned the Crushers women’s best and fairest player for 2021 during the club’s awards night.

Jeffs also played for the Sunshine Coast Falcons U19s in Queensland Rugby League’s inaugural statewide competition for the age group this year.

She said she enjoyed the defensive aspects of the game and had put in plenty of extra work outside normal training to make sure she was at her best come kick off each week.

“It helped me improve and I can see a big difference on the field,” she said.

Nambour player A'Eisha Jeffs in action during the season.

The 19-year-old, who was studying nursing at the University of the Sunshine Coast, said she got into the sport through her family.

“My dad always coached boy’s teams and at the Falcons level,” she said.

“My brother started playing and my sister played for a bit and is now playing with me.

“It runs in the family.”

Her dad, Mike Jeffs, coaches the Crushers women, with her brother also regularly visiting training to help out.

“They’re always there to support me,” she said.

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The teenager first started playing rugby league on the Gold Coast at 14, as the Sunshine Coast didn’t have a competition at the time.

She joined Nambour in 2016 and has been with the club ever since, taking on the co-captaincy role of late.

Jeffs said she was eager to take her skills to the next level too, fixing her sights on the top tier of women’s rugby league.

“My big goal is to make it to the NRLW,” she said.

“I have put in to be part of the Falcons academy for the (Queensland) BHP Premiership.

“They’re putting together an academy and trying to be part of the BHP competition for 2023.”

She was eager to continue pushing herself in a bid to achieve the NRLW dream.

“I probably need to work on my fitness a bit and keep progressing my skills and always be learning and developing,” she said.

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League award winners

Volunteer of the Year: Rachel Roy (Beerwah) and Mary-Anne Hallum (Stanley River).

Rookie of the Year: Blake Woodford (Nambour)

Coach of the Year: Brett Hill (Beerwah)

Falcons rep player of the Year: Travis Long (open men) and Chantelle Nagel and Caitlin Sing (open women).

Best and Fairest: A’Eisha Jeffs (open women) and Seaton Reid (Div 1 men)

Most points: Makayla Henry 96 (open women) and Lachlan Price 146 (Div 1 men)

Most tries: Makayla Henry 24 (open women) and Sam Fa’apito 19 (Div 1 men)

Most points overall: Kye Sherry 196 (U18)

Most tries overall: Mason Peut 31 (U18)

Hall of Fame: Gerald Thompson (Kawana), Ray Madsen (Nambour) and Dennis “ Slim ” Moroney (Beerwah)