Many years on, Port Macquarie’s very own Jillaroo is helping to create a pathway from junior level to the senior ranks.

Smith expected no more than a handful of junior players to attend her “come and try” league tag day on February 7.

She got more than she bargained for as excitement starts to build towards the first junior ladies league tag competition which will start this season.

“It was a good opportunity for me to start to create a pathway from the bottom up,” Smith said.

“The seniors have had a league tag competition for a couple of years so I thought now was the time to give back to the club and the community.”

The former Port City Breakers premiership-winning league tag player said women’s sport in general continued to grow and she was hopeful league tag would continue that run.

“Women’s sport is massive now,” Smith said.

“It’s always great to see if we can get girls from a young age to see there is a movement through to seniors it will only benefit the sport.

“These opportunities that are coming up these days make kids more aware of what’s around and league tag is a good sport to play with friends or meet new people as well.”

Smith said the future of the sport locally looked bright if the first come and try day is an indication.

“The numbers of girls who were there blew me away,” she said.

“I was expecting no more than about five or so and we got way more than that.”