Rising touch football star prepares for big week

Toowoomba's Emily prepares to face best Queensland and Australia has to offer.

RISING STAR: Emily Ward has a busy week ahead of her with Australia under-18 touch trials and Queensland State Championships on her schedule. Picture: Nev Madsen

TOUCH: Emily Ward is ready to face some of the best touch football players Australia has to offer.

And she will do it the same way she plays any regular game - with a smile on her face and a desire to lead her teammates by example.

Today the 16-year-old St Ursula's College student (pictured) heads to Palm Beach for the Under-18 Australian Touch trials - next Wednesday she will fly to Rockhampton with her Darling Downs squad for the State Championships.

At Palm Beach she will trial against more experienced and older players but she is unconcerned.

"Being only 16 at an under-18 competition I don't have that much expectation,” Ward said.

"I really just want to go down there, give it everything I've got and then hopefully I get the result I'm looking for.”

Ward was one of 32 players selected to attend the trials with a 16-player squad then selected to represent Australia in Malaysia later this year.

Regardless of her performance at the trials Ward will immediately turn her focus to Darling-Downs duties where her goals are more measured.

"We've got a really good record of making top three,” she said. "I've never been part of a Darling Downs team that has played in a final so I'd love to do that.

"I think we've got a good shot. We've got great team work and a lot of coaches that have worked really hard to develop our age group.”

Ward could prove to be a key player for Darling Downs.

Luckily for the young rising star who loves the demands of playing middle she has experience on her side. Earlier this year she featured at the National Touch League Elite 8 in Coffs Harbour and more recently she was selected in the Titans NRL touch premiership team.

Originally published as Rising touch football star prepares for big week