Emma Tonegato won a gold medal for Australia in rugby sevens at the Rio Olympics in 2016, but it could have been a rugby league premiership if the pathway existed back then.
"What really lured me to sevens was the opportunity for Olympic gold and to be a full-time athlete, which at the time, there was nothing in rugby league," the Dragons fullback said.
"I played rugby league back in the day; the more the NRLW gets in the media, on TV and the game grows, I think it really would be a tough decision for me now."
Her transition from seven-a-side to 13 has been seamless, since making the code switch the fullback has been a phenomenon for St George Illawarra.
Tonegato's try-saving tackle on the Roosters' Jess Sergis in round five will go down as one of the best defensive efforts of the season and feature on highlights reels for years to come.
"It doesn't seem that special to me, kind of an everyday occurrence in sevens," she said.
"I was just happy to do my part for the team."
And that's the standard the 27-year-old has brought to the Dragons with a tackling efficiency of 93 per cent and running and average of 159 metres a game, per NRL.com.
"It's been awesome to play NRLW this year, I have loved being a part of it," she said.
"Obviously it's a short season – five games – so I'd love for that to be extended."
Not only extended, but for the women's game to be better resourced.
"You can see every girl that's come from sevens has really excelled at NRL," she said.
"Having the opportunity to train professionally and get paid will entice more girls, which will again increase participation and performance."
The reality is in 2022, the season is just five rounds, plus two semi-finals and a grand final.
But Dragons captain Kezie Apps agrees that the benefit of being able to play and train year-round are clear in players like Tonegato.
"You can tell… how much of an amazing athlete she is and a competitor and I am so glad she's on our team," Apps said.
"Those girls who come from a full-time system, they're on such a different level to us in rugby league. We are not at that level yet, we're still part time."
Apps said she would be happy to play 25 rounds and finals series, just like the men's league.
"Wouldn't that be amazing? At the moment we are playing finals footy every week because we can't afford to lose.
"That's definitely coming in the future, but I'll be long retired, sitting on my lounge watching on TV."
Dragons threaten Broncos' reign
St George Illawarra put on the biggest score and winning margin in NRLW history with a 40-4 win over the Newcastle Knights in round four.
The Dragons moved to the top of the ladder, bumping off the three-time reigning premiers for the first time in competition history.
The Dragons and Broncos finished the regular season on equal points, but the back-to-back-to-back premiers claimed the top spot on for-and-against.
The Dragons take on the Gold Coast Titans in Sunday's semi-final at Leichhardt Oval, having beaten them in round one.
The Broncos take on the Sydney Roosters in the other semi.
