Experienced Yass Magpies back-rower Sami Afele is pushing for the game's development in Canberra, saying a NSWRL premiership side should be the next step.

The Raiders recently announced their bid to field a NRLW side for 2022 or 2023, and Afele believes a move into the Sydney-based competition would lift the standard of clubs in the Canberra region.

"I think it should be put forward to make a [NSWRL premiership] side first for us to play in the Sydney comp," Afele said.

"Two years ago the Monaro rep team got to play in Sydney in a pre-season trial day and we actually beat the Rabbitohs, so it showed we are competitive.

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"I think for our regular comp it would be awesome for the girls, because you can see that there are some stronger teams,

"I think if there were girls that went to play rep, it would level out the competition and give other girls a chance to step up and have a more levelled competition."

The Monaro representative forward earned player of the match honours in the 2020 grand final, and sits fourth in leading try-scorers.

Afele's next outing comes for Yass in the Katrina Fanning Shield against the Tuggeranong Bushrangers at Walker Park on Saturday.

Coming from the small NSW town of Parkes, Canberra is the closest place Afele can be to her family while playing high-quality football.

With family being a central part of Afele's life, contemplating a move to Brisbane in recent years was a bit too much to handle.

The likes of Yasmin Meakes and Samantha Economos moved interstate to crack the NRLW, suggesting a stepping stone for Canberra players could be the answer to success.

"I was going to move to Brisbane to play for a club up there, and then I decided it was a bit too far from my mum and brothers so I stayed in Canberra," Afele said.

"I think it'd be awesome if they got a Raiders team, we could train here as a squad and then just travel up to Sydney on the weekends."

CRRL ROUND 11

Saturday: Katrina Fanning Shield - Goulburn City Bulldogs v Harden Worhawks at Goulburn, 10.55am; Yass Magpies v Tuggeranong Bushrangers at Walker Park, 12pm; Queanbeyan Blues v Boomanulla Raiders at Seiffert Oval, 9.30am.

Canberra Raiders Cup: Yass Magpies v Belconnen United Sharks at Walker Park, 3pm; Queanbeyan Blues v West Belconnen Warriors at Seiffert Oval, 3pm; Gungahlin Bulls v Tuggeranong Bushrangers at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval, 3pm; Goulburn City Bulldogs v Woden Valley Rams at Goulburn, 3pm.

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