World Cup winning captain Kezie Apps hungry for more silverware with Illawarra Steelers

From being crowned a Dally M medallist to captaining the Jillaroos to World Cup glory, Kezie Apps has achieved a lot in her career, but is hungry for more gold with the Illawarra Steelers.

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At the age of 32, NRLW superstar Kezie Apps has accomplished more than most in her rugby league career.

However, the former Dally M medallist is insistent she still has gas in the tank and is hungry for more silverware with the Illawarra Steelers.

Apps made her debut for the Illawarra Steelers in her side’s crucial 22-10 round six victory over the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and is gearing up to make her home debut this weekend against the Mounties.

“I was very excited, it felt like my first day at school,” Apps said about her debut.

“It was bloody hard, my lungs felt it for sure.

Kezie Apps (middle) alongside teammates Emma Tonegato (right) and club captain Keeley Davis (left). Photo: Contributed

“No matter how much running or pre-season fitness you do, playing the game is just so much harder.

“To finally have my chance to play though was fantastic.”

Apps had a delayed pre-season having just come back from captaining the Jillaroos to World Cup glory in England.

She is joined in the Steelers ranks by a number of past and present Jillaroos, Dragons and NSW Blues that have made the process of fitting into the team a lot easier for her.

Kezie Apps will be hoping to represent New South Wales again in 2023. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

One such player was fullback Emma Tonegato who was debuting for the Steelers alongside Apps against the Bulldogs.

“Emma is just so amazing out the back,” Apps said.

“I know she’s always going to yell at me where to go, in a good way, you need that talk from the back.

“I played a lot off Keeley [Davis] when I was in the middle, she’s someone I’m familiar with, same with Rata [Rachel Pearson] and Fui [Taliah Fuimaono].

“How those spine players control the game is amazing, I love playing with them.”

Kezie Apps celebrating Women’s World Cup glory alongside Samantha Bremner and Ali Brigginshaw. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Having taken out the grand final of the NSW Women’s Premiership with the Wests Tigers in 2022, Apps now has an appetite for gold and is striving to go back to back, this time in Steelers colours.

“I’d love to win a premiership with these Steelers girls,” Apps said.

“Moving forward, playing in the NRLW and then for NSW are my goals for the rest of the year.

“I’ll be looking after my body and making sure I train hard and play good footy to put myself in a good position.”

The Steelers face the second placed Mounties at home on Saturday as they chase a finals spot, with Apps in the starting line up for the first time in the Steelers scarlet and white.