Howeve she was still shocked to have been nominated for the prestigious award which she received as a part of Katherine' NAIDOC Week festivities on September 24.

"I was very happy. I was very honoured to even be nominated," she said.

The 20-year-old has spent her whole life living and playing all sorts of sports in Katherine before moving to Darwin around six months ago to play union and league.

She said she made the move after spending every weekend for several years making the six-hour return trip to play when she aged out of the girl's competitions in Katherine.

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"When I was younger I played in the Katherine junior competition [but] when i got to a certain age I had to stop playing which is when I spoke to mum and dad and they suggested playing in Darwin."

Kay now balances working full time at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Danila Dilba and training or playing at least four times a week.

Kay grew up playing with her brother and her father, and said they inspired her and supported her, driving her to and from Darwin to play rugby league from when she was 16.

She said she encourages other girls and women to overcome gender stereotypes to play rugby and has coached a number of junior teams.

"The best advice I could give is just go for it," Kay said.

"There's no right or wrong positions on the field so whether you're not fit enough or whether you're too shy, at the end of the day the whole team comes together."

Runner Cecilia "Cissy" Johns was named the NAIDOC Senior Sportsperson of the Year.

Johns has been named as a member of the 2021 Indigenous Marathon Project Squad, joining runners from across the country to take part in a marathon in Alice Springs in October.

"It's definitely humbling," Johns said about the award.

"But, I feel way more honoured when people come up to me on the street and talk to me about my running."

Johns said she takes part in the Indigenous Marathon Project as a way to inspire other members of the Indigenous community to strive for greatness.

"Just opening up that conversation, open up that door and exposing a lot of our Indigenous remote communities be able to access these kind of program," she said.

"I love watching people's eyes light up when I expose them to new information."

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