NRLW signings, news: Rugby rising star Grace Kemp signs with Canberra Raiders

One of Australian sport’s rising stars has committed to the NRLW in a huge coup in the push to sign rugby’s top female talents.

Grace Kemp joins Canberra Raiders.

Canberra are set to unleash what could be one of the next stars of women’s rugby league by signing Wallaroos forward Grace Kemp for the next two NRLW seasons.

The 21-year-old ACT Brumbies representative is expected to make an impact on the competition and is in the mould of cross-code star Millie Boyle for her power and skill on the field.

“(Boyle) has been one of the ones I’ve been watching,” Kemp said on Wednesday.

“She moved out of the game of rugby before I could play alongside her, but it would be really cool to play with her on the field, and I guess I can learn a lot from her as well.

“She’s awesome.”

Grace Kemp tries to bust through a tackle for the Brumbies.

Grace Kemp in her new colours.

At 187cms and 96 kgs, Kemp is an imposing figure too and is expected to play in the middle for the Raiders.

It’s the first leap into rugby league for Kemp, who was raised in nearby Harden, and was scouted specifically by Raiders’ NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick.

Kemp is also keeping her options open to be able to play both codes, with the Super W pre-season to start again in early 2024, which doesn’t clash with the NRLW season.

By making the switch to the Raiders now, though, she has effectively given up international rugby, with the Wallaroos to play against Fiji on Saturday.

“That was really hard to make that decision, but the club has made that a lot easier and RA supported me as well,” she said.

“I watched Origin last year and it was so exciting to watch, especially because it was in Canberra. That really drew my attention to the sport and I got interested in it just watching it and seeing how physical they were and the crowd was massive.

“Being able to see that, and I’ve played with a few girls who have swapped codes, like Kennedy (Cherrington) and Zahara (Temara) in the Aussie As a few years ago. So to see them turn into the athletes they are today is pretty cool.

“It’s a really cool platform and they’re all professional. It’s such a different standard.”

She’d like to be there one day for the Blues too.

“I would love to,” she said.

“That’s the pinnacle of the game, but I’m so excited to just learn the game and learn from those around me and see if I get there.”

Grace Kemp is brought down in a game against Queensland Reds.

Kemp made her debut for the Wallaroos at the 2022 Rugby World Cup after three seasons with the Brumbies, and just finished her fourth Super W season last month.

She never imagined she’d make the leap to league, but when doors started opening this year she entertained the idea until she found something that felt right with the Raiders.

And that meant giving her the option to play both codes for as long as the seasons don’t clash.

“There’s a lot of support for both codes for each other,” she said.

“It’s a conversation that the rugby girls are having, and especially we’re all in camp and we all train so hard and to be able to transfer that intensity and that knowledge across to the NRLW, I think a few of them would be keen on doing that.

“But both codes are growing. There’s going to be decisions like the one I had to make, choosing one or the other, and I think a few girls will look at those options.

“But until it is fully professional on both sides… it allows girls to play sport at that level all year round.”

Originally published as NRLW signings, news: Rugby rising star Grace Kemp signs with Canberra Raiders