Kemp eyes All Stars debut in next stop on cultural journey

Sitting in a clubhouse preparing for a rugby union trial match in Wagga Wagga, Grace Kemp watched on as the Māori All Stars overcame their Indigenous rivals in the dying seconds of a thrilling match in Rotorua last year.

A proud Wiradjuri woman from Harden in the south west of New South Wales, the 22-year-old knew in that moment she belonged in an Indigenous All Stars jersey.

And after crossing codes to join the inaugural Raiders NRLW side, the towering forward hasn’t looked back, with a rookie season that consisted of nine NRLW games, a Forward of the Year accolade and a call from coach Jess Skinner inviting her to an Indigenous All Stars camp.

After attending the three-day selection camp in Casuarina in December, Kemp is not only one step closer to her representative rugby league debut but another step further along her cultural journey.

“Sitting there watching the All Stars game last year, I just thought it was absolutely amazing,” Kemp told pan66.com.

“Just imagining being able to play a sport that you love and represent your culture while playing against another special culture, it was just awesome to see.

“Then Jess called me to let me know that I’d been invited to a camp to get to know the girls, I couldn’t believe it considering it was something that I said back then that I wanted to be part of.”

Kemp’s cultural journey started when she was selected in the Under 16s Lloyd McDermott Squad, a rugby union development tour which involved exploring her First Nations culture.

But the powering prop found there was limited opportunities to continue to represent her Indigenous heritage as she progressed through to the senior competitions.

“Coming through playing rugby, that squad was kind of the only pathway you had to connect with culture,” she said.

“We went to Brisbane and connected with elders and land down there and played in the National Sevens Competition against different states, so it was a great opportunity to represent culture and footy.

“But there was nothing to help me keep learning and stay in touch with my culture as I got older.

“Having senior Indigenous girls and boys to look up to in All Stars is huge and I think that's where rugby union is lacking a lot.”

Hoping to join the All Stars squad again in Townsville, Kemp said she is excited about not only the opportunity to make her Indigenous debut but also learn more about the history of Aboriginal culture.

Growing up in a strong farming community with just over 2,000 people, Kemp said she has a deep appreciation for the opportunities she has to learn more about her culture and represent her people, which her father Paul didn’t have.

"I know Dad wishes that he was able to dive into culture like I have, he kind of missed out on that through his life," she said.

"I don't think he's ever really been able to tap into his Indigenous heritage because I think country towns are a bit behind and he didn’t have the Indigenous Education Officers in schools that we have now.

"But I guess I'm sharing it with him now, so I'm really excited about the prospect to learn alongside my Indigenous sisters in rugby league to be able to continue to the journey that I'm on."