Ahead of making her debut for the NSW Blues, Teagan Berry has opened up on how she considered walking away from the sport at the end of last season.

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Less than six months ago, Berry was on the verge of hanging up the boots due to being burned out and no longer enjoying rugby league.

“Towards the end of last season I didn’t enjoy footy that much and I was thinking about walking away from the game,” Berry said.

“I wasn’t enjoying it and I didn’t find it fun coming to training. It took a lot from my family and my partner to really change that for me.

“My partner got me out of a dark place at the start of the year. He’s been my motivation through this. My family’s my motivation to keep going, to make them proud is all I play football for.”

Thankfully, the St George Illawarra Dragons fullback decided to remain in the sport and has subsequently been rewarded with an Origin debut after being close to making the representative team for a number of years.

Bursting onto the scene as a standout in the female pathways, Berry represented the Under-18s and Under-19s NSW Blues during her teenage years and is remembered fondly for becoming a viral sensation in 2021 when she scored an 80-metre try on the Sunshine Coast.

NO NEWS.COM NO NEWS WIRE NO AUSTRALIAN DAILY TELEGRAPH – 23/4/26 MUST CHECK WITH PIC DESK BEFORE USING Westpac NSW Blues player Teagan Berry at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park, ahead of the opening game of the 2026 Ampol Women’s State of Origin series. Picture: Jonathan NgSource: News Corp Australia

However, after previously being named as the 18th and 19th reserve player, she finally gets the opportunity to make her long-awaited senior Origin debut – coming off the interchange bench in the No.17 jersey.

“I’m still pinching myself. It’s been a long time coming. I’ve been 20th man, 19th man and I’ve played 18s, 19s Origin, but this jersey means more to me than anything,” she said.

“It was hard, I wasn’t sure when I was going to get my chance and I’m 24 this year, so I was like, I’m not sure if I’ll ever play Origin, but now that I’m getting my opportunity it’s a dream come true for me.

“Leading into this I feel like I worked very hard. I’ve been disappointed the last couple of years and I feel like I’ve used that as motivation. I get my chance now, and I’m going to take it with two hands.”

NSW Blues debutant Teagan Berry poses for a photograph during the announcemnt of the Women’s squad for Game One of the Women’s State of Origin Series, at the Sydney Opera House, in Sydney, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVINGSource: AAP

Nicknamed ‘Flash’, Berry is keen to run out onto the field on Thursday evening and has been working a lot on her craft as a fullback which has involved her eating more and doing more weights in the lead-up.

“I’ve been in the six-week block leading into this and I feel like I worked so hard, I’ve been disappointed the last couple of years and I’ve used that as motivation and I get my chance now and I’ve just got to take it with two hands,” Berry continued.

“I know I’m meant to be here, and it took me to really focus on my training and ask questions from the coach and have that good relationship with him. I’ve just worked hard.

“I worked on my craft a lot at fullback. Last year I may not have done as well probably in the skill area and this season I’ve worked on both my skill and my running game and I’ve come a long way

Why Berry ‘had to be picked’ in NSW team | 01:41

“When I was coming through, I was probably the skinniest girl in the team and the girls here are honestly so solid and they’ve worked so hard on their bodies to get it right and I feel like I have probably chunked out a little bit to get there as well.

“I had to eat a lot more and lift a little bit more, coming from a sprinting background, I didn’t do too much of that growing up and coming through the pathways there.

“Obviously, I love food so that’s not an issue.”