Brisbane Broncos rugby league flyer Julia Robinson recalls her start in the code

Brisbane Broncos rugby league flyer Julia Robinson finished the inaugural NRLW season the talk of the league. But the naturally gifted Jilaroo is still a work in progress and looks to develop her skills playing club football with Wests ahead of the NRLW.

Brisbane Broncos rugby league flyer Julia Robinson finished the inaugural NRLW season the talk of the league.

Blessed with speed, strength, footwork and star power to boot, Robinson will be one of the faces of the league when the women’s national competition resumes later in the season.

Everyone knows about her now, but her club coach at Wests Panthers, Craig Green, saw the Defence Force private long before the first television news camera snared vision of her.

“Each year we (Wests Panthers) do opposed sessions against the army to get them ready for a competition they play in,’’ Green said.

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“We were doing this opposed session and this winger was brilliant.

“I wrote her name down and she played in the state carnival down the coast.’’

Robinson remembers the training session and knows Green spoke to her coach about her, although at the time she had no direct conversation with him.

But that was to change.

Julia Robinson at Lavarack Barracks. Picture: Alix Sweeney

When the Brisbane Broncos picked her up, she needed to be affiliated with a local club and Green swept in.

“We made contact and she also signed with us,’’ he said.

“She was very raw and still is. But she is just an athlete willing to learn,” he said.

And being a Ferny Grove State High School girl, Robinson was delighted to link with her local club which shares facilities at Wests Arana and Wests Mitchelton clubs, both just down the road from where she grew up.

Army sport stand up

“When I joined the Broncos I had not played too much footie and they wanted me to join a club to get a few games under my belt before the Broncos’ season started,’’ Robinson said.

She was initially a little concerned how she would be received, given she was walking in mid-season and being guaranteed a starting position.

“I was worried about how they would think of me but they were so supportive,’’ Robinson said.

Julia Robinson gets low ahead of contact against the Dragons. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

“I felt like I belonged straight away They encouraged me. It is a big family and I love being with them,’’ she said.

Although she is a Jillaroo, Robinson acknowledges she is still raw and a work in progress

“I am still learning the game myself,’’ she said.

“I think being part of the team for the whole year will be better. We have the whole year to work together.

“It all happened so fast for me.

“I have to keep training hard and doing the best I can do for myself, to keep progressing.’’