It's fair to say footy is in Paige Leonard's blood, although not the code she has been playing this season.
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The Tamworth Magpie's family are league diehards and part of the fabric of Werris Creek. Her father Jason and brothers Zack and Riley have all played for the Magpies, while her grandfather Trevor was captain of the 1979 premiership-winning side.
Paige too has proudly worn the black and white.
But this year her footy pursuits have taken her in a different direction with the 21-year-old joining partner Harry Mills at Tamworth and embarking on her first season of rugby union.
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Having grown up watching her brothers play "all over the countryside", it seemed a natural progression to lace up the boots when the opportunity opened up.
Playing initially with Creek in the ladies league tag competition, when Group 4 introduced the women's nines she got involved in that.
"Terrified" that first game, she said it "was a great experience", adding that her love of the game has grown with every year.
That said, before COVID virtually made the decision for her with the Group 4 season cancelled, Leonard said she was already considering trying her hand at union this season.
"I'd just moved to Tamworth and Harry was playing for the Pies again so I thought maybe I'd actually play instead of sitting on the sidelines," she said.
She has enjoyed it and indicated she is keen to continue with the Magpies again next season.
Their season came to an end on Saturday with two losses to Barbarians seeing them finish fifth.
Similar in a lot of the basics, Leonard said the biggest adjustment switching from league has probably been the unlimited tackles.
"Obviously league you have a set of six. In rugby you can just go as many times as you want and it definitely gets very tiring," she said.
Initially hesitant about her playing tackle (league), Leonard said her dad has "definitely taken it in his stride".
"He was actually the one that taught me some of the tackle techniques," she said.
"He'd get me out in the backyard and go righto Paige push as hard as you can."
Rugby though, well that is a bit of a different story.
"He's still trying to convert Harry to a league player," she joked.
