New South Wales' Abbi Church made a notable debut in her first State of Origin game this year, scoring a try for the Blues in the first half and delivering an impressive game overall.
The talented Eels fullback makes it look easy, but there's more than meets the eye as she juggles a hectic schedule being a paramedic on top of being an elite athlete.
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Church began her rugby league journey with the Camden Rams and made her NRLW debut with the Eels in 2022.
Since establishing herself as a key player for the Eels, she went on to be named Dally M Fullback of the Year in 2024, before earning a call up for State of Origin this season, scoring on debut in NSW's 32–12 victory over Queensland.
Off the football field, however, Church is making an impact in the community, working as a paramedic for the past six years.
Holding a Bachelor of Health Science and a Master's in Critical Care Paramedicine, she started working straight after uni, and later joined Eels at the age of 24, about three years into her medical career, often working 12-14 hour shifts.
“I do twelve hours…minimum…Often you get sort of an overtime as well,” Church said on the PARRAdise Podcast.
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How Church juggles both her careers
The team and management support Church on her path, making the schedules ahead of time so that the fullback is able to take time off work to prepare for important games.
“The first season was really difficult. I had to do a lot of…shift swaps," she added.
“No pattern, no routine.”
To focus on her preparation for 2025 State of Origin, she temporarily reduced her demanding 12-to-14-hour shifts as a paramedic. "I’ve had to juggle the full-time work and training commitments. I just did my best and tried to fit it in as best as I did."
“I remember coming to trainings, she was wrecked,” Eels and Blues teammate Kennedy Cherrington said of Church's busy schedule.
Church's performance in the series opener was noteworthy. She scored a try, recorded 139 run metres, and recorded five tackle breaks, the highest on the team.
Reflecting on the experience, she described it as "absolutely unreal," highlighting the intensity of the game. "Everything they say about Origin is true. It’s the pinnacle of our game."