From 14-hour paramedic shifts to Origin debut: Inside the incredible rise of NSW’s new No.1

Parramatta Eels fullback Abbi Church has had to cut back on her 12-14 hour shifts as a paramedic in order to prepare for her first game of the season — which just so happens to be game one of the Women’s State of Origin series.

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The 2024 Dally M fullback of the year will be making her Origin debut at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.

While some fellow stars played a one-off match for the Jillaroos in Las Vegas back in early March, for many players this is the first hitout of the season due to the NRLW season starting on July 3 and state competitions having been realigned.

“I think it’ll just be surreal. I’m trying not to think about it too much so I don’t get too nervous.” Church told the Fox League podcast.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be putting on my Blues jersey, and I think it’s crazy to see how far I’ve come from when I first started in NRLW to being in this position now.”

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Working as a paramedic for the past six years, Church has put her career on hold for Thursday’s game, flying into Brisbane last week off the back of a shift in Sydney’s southwest.

“My last shift was on Tuesday and then we came in, we had the season launch on Wednesday, and came into camp Wednesday night. So yeah, back-to-back,” she said.

And with Church constantly seeking to find the balance between being an elite athlete and her work life, the 12-14 hour shifts are sometimes difficult to mesh with her NRLW career.

“I’ve had to juggle the full-time work and training commitments. I just did my best and tried to fit it in as best as I did,” she said.

“I was worried, obviously, that I was gonna have to choose between ambulance and ball, and I’m lucky I’ve never had to.”

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From getting dropped from the Eels in 2022, to being named vice-captain alongside centre Mahalia Murphy and winning the Dally M fullback gong last season, and now to an Origin debut, Church reiterates the need for thick skin and resilience to achieve one’s goals.

Church said she finds many positives with the meshing of her two passions, and connects the skills she’s gained as a paramedic to those she uses on the field.

“I think there’s a lot of transferable skills and definitely being able to stay calm in those high pressure situations is one of them,” she said.

“I think it helps so you kind of can desensitise yourself a little bit from a lot of your emotions. We do actively try not to do that, because it’s important to feel those things. But I definitely do when we do lose the game, I sit in that for as long as I need to, and then yeah, the resilience side of work does help with that.”

Like so many girls growing up, Church found a lack of exposure and access to the game inhibited her path towards NRLW success.

“For so many women in the game it’s not exactly a linear journey, a journey to the NRLW of course, there are so many that have had to quit footy at 12 years old and things like that,” she said.

“Yeah, I think my actual like league game, tackle football game … wasn’t until I was about 21 so overall, through growing up, I played netball. That was my sport. And I think looking back at that, is probably because that was what was visible, and that was what I had access to at the time.

“It wasn’t that I was not into rugby league at all. It was just that that was not something that I saw many girls or women playing. And I think the second that, I think league tag was sort of accessible in my area, I jumped on that straight away and then took probably two or three years for them to introduce the tackle team into our area. And, yeah, I’ve never looked back.”

Church will be up against Queensland fullback Tamika Upton on Thursday – one of the sternest tests on offer.

“Yeah, it’s obviously it’s no secret how talented Tamika is. It’s going to be tough,” Church said.

“I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time with her in Jillaroos camp at the end of last year, and getting to know her on a bit of a personal level. So obviously that doesn’t matter when you’re out on a football field.

“But yeah, I think I took a lot out of training with her and learning some things off her that I’ll put into this game. I’m up for the task, but yeah, it’s gonna be tough.”