![Raiders NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick has filled his inaugural squad with the signing of Emma Barnes. Picture by Elesa Kurtz Raiders NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick has filled his inaugural squad with the signing of Emma Barnes. Picture by Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/reqbnGrLXyZFax2TwSi3Na/f91d72a5-8573-42c1-9476-ff688c758fcb.jpg/r0_175_3755_2286_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Emma Barnes started Sunday expecting to spend winter playing for her Brisbane club Beenleigh Pride.
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But by the end of the day she was getting her head around flying to Canberra Friday morning to begin her NRLW career.
An impressive nationals launched Barnes onto the Canberra Raiders' radar, with the Queenslander claiming the 24th-and-final spot on their inaugural roster.
Barnes impressed Raiders coach Darrin Borthwick with her work out of dummy half for the Queensland Rubys, catching his eye on the Gold Coast last week.
It led to her not only making the team of the tournament for the nationals, but also getting offered an NRLW contract.
She'll now make the move to Canberra with pre-season starting on Monday.
The 19-year-old won the premiership with Wynnum Manly Seagulls this year before her nationals campaign.
"I was planning on playing for my local club, Beenleigh Pride, for the rest of the year until I got the phone call," Barnes told The Canberra Times.
"It doesn't even feel real. Just today I was driving as it was announced and my phone just flooded with messages from people all over the place. Crazy."
Borthwick left the final spot on his roster open hoping to unearth something at the nationals.
That ended up being Barnes through her efforts during the tournament.
But Barnes revealed she didn't think she played her best - meaning her signing could come as a double boost for the Green Machine with the hooker looking to take her game to another level.
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Rugby league wasn't her first sport - that was cheerleading and she even went to the USA to compete.
It wasn't until she went to training with one of her older sisters about six years ago that she took it up.
"Honestly, I thought I didn't have the best tournament, but clearly not as he thought I did well," Barnes said.
"When the time's right I hope to get the chance [to make my NRLW debut], but even if I don't I'm still so grateful to get the opportunity to go through the season with the Raiders."
NRL ROUND 13
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v South Sydney Rabbitohs at Homebush, 7.35pm.
Rabbitohs team: 1. Blake Taaffe, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Isaiah Tass, 4. Campbell Graham, 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker, 7. Lachlan Ilias, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Hame Sele, 11. Michael Chee Kam, 12. Jacob Host, 13. Liam Knight. Interchange: 14. Jed Cartwright, 15. Tallis Duncan, 16. Shaq Mitchell, 17. Daniel Suluka-Fifita. Reserves: 18. Richard Kennar, 19. Tyrone Munro, 20. Peter Mamouzelos, 21. Keaon Koloamatangi, 22. Dean Hawkins.
Raiders team: 1. Sebastian Kris, 2. Albert Hopoate, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Matthew Timoko, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Josh Papali'i, 9. Zac Woolford, 10. Pasami Saulo, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Corey Horsburgh, 13. Joseph Tapine. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Nick Cotric, 17. Ata Mariota. Reserves: 18. Hohepa Puru, 19. Danny Levi, 20. Matt Frawley, 21. Harley Smith-Shields, 22. Peter Hola.
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