Bass fully focused on Tigers after NRLW lifeline

Emily Bass played at the NRL Vegas 9s to keep herself fit as she prepared for a season in Queensland’s BMD Premiership before being thrown a lifeline by Wests Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley.

Bass, who starred for Queensland in Origin III after receiving a late call-up in extraordinary circumstances, was resigned to starting the season in the lower tier competition as she did not have an NRLW contract.

The former Broncos and Titans back played in Vegas and was training with Brisbane Tigers in the hope that an NRLW position may become available later in the season, but that opportunity arose sooner than expected.

Moving to Sydney to join Wests Tigers, Bass has quit her job in Brisbane and plans to focus fully on her rugby league career.

“I had no NRLW contract, I actually signed with Brisbane Tigers, so I’d been running around with them for about a month or so,” Bass said.

“I wanted to be back in NRLW but for me the focus was just on playing a good BMD season and then hopefully getting a call later in the year if there was an injury in a team.

“I just trusted in myself, made sure that I was fit, and I have ended up at the Tigers, which is awesome.

It is the first time that I am focusing on footy fulltime, and I am at the age where I want to put all of my eggs in one basket and see what happens.

“Hopefully I play good footy, and I get an opportunity to keep playing for the next couple of years.”

After being called into the Maroons extended squad for the Women’s State of Origin series, Bass has now reunited with NRL Hall of Famer Greg Inglis – an assistant coach with the Queensland and Wests Tigers teams.

Overlooked for Origin I and II, Bass was called into the 20-player squad for the series finale after Maroons superstar Tamika Upton suffered a hamstring injury in Game II and then elevated into the starting team after Rory Owen was hospitalised on match eve.

“I hadn’t played since the Vegas 9s,” Bass said. “I wasn’t part of the 20 players for the first two Origins but at the start of the year, when the extended squad came together, they said 'it is Origin footy, anything can happen', so I just had that in the back of my head.

“With NRLW, as well, and not having a contract, it was just that mindset of being available if anything happened. I pushed for selection, and I was lucky enough to play on the wing in the third Origin.”

Bass made her first appearance for Wests Tigers in Sunday’s trial against St George Illawarra at Leichhardt Oval and is expected to be named by Kimmorley in the Round 1 side to face the Broncos in Brisbane on July 5.

“Noddy gave me a call when I was in the extended Queensland camps and said he was interested, but it wasn't until a few weeks later that he gave me the proper word that he wanted to give me a contract,” Bass said.

“It’s been really good, and to get to work with Greg Inglis … he just gives you confidence.

“He is a legend of the game, and he really cares about women’s footy, so it is going to be a really enjoyable time for me at the Wests Tigers. I am really excited.”