Eilish Winbank was left shattered by the announcement that her side was not going to participate in the Katrina Fanning Shield, so she took matters into her own hands.
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Winbank refused to lay down and instead contacted General Manager of Canberra Region and Community Rugby League Mark Vergano and got together a group friends to form the 'Bushpies' on the eleventh hour.
If it wasn't for Bushpies half Eilish Winbank then there would be no team and probably no competition in 2020 after the Tuggeranong Bushrangers and Yass Magpies withdrew from the competition.
Winkbank revealed the relief she had that she could get a team together this year and is thankful for how it played out.
"I was approached by Mark Vergano to put together a team as he knew I had a few connections and that we were shattered by the news," she said.
"We were disappointed, but I called up some of the girls from the Bushrangers and Magpies and we decided to make the Bushpies."
Winbank has been playing Rugby League for a couple of years now and has seen the development of the Katrina Fanning Shield first hand.
Ahead of Women in League round where the Bushpies will play the Queanbeyan Blues in a preview of next week's grand final, Winbank was hopeful the Katrina Fanning Shield would create a platform which could lead to a Canberra Raiders side in the NRLW.
"I started playing a couple of years ago now, the competition was not that great back then but now the skills and love have developed for the game and it keeps getting better each year," Winbank said.
"Hopefully in the next few years the Raiders will be a part of the NRLW. If I had the opportunity to play for the Raiders, I would be very keen."
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Winbank said it was her dad's love for the game that inspired her to play Rugby League and revealed she was initially not allowed to play the sport.
"I grew up watching the game, my Dad played when he was younger and is a mad Rabbitohs fan, so it was forced upon me," Winbank said.
"I never played any contact sport at school, I forced myself to play and have not regretted it since."
Meanwhile, Gungahlin and the Raiders under-20s will clash on Saturday in a men's grand final preview.
Katrina Fanning Shield round 9
West Belconnen v Tuggeranong Buffaloes, Gungahlin Enclosed, 10.30am
Queanbeyan Blues v Bushpies, Seiffert Oval, 12pm
Canberra Raiders Cup round 9
Queanbeyan Blues v Woden Valley Rams, Seiffert Oval, 3pm
Gungahlin Bulls v Canberra Raiders under-20s, Gungahlin Enclosed, 3pm
