'By the end I was over it': Gray's NRLW challenge
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Brisbane Broncos recruit Tazmin Gray said the difficulty of being a fly-in, fly-out player in the NRLW almost resulted in her quitting the Roosters last season.
Gray, who lives on the Gold Coast with husband Anthony and their two children, will join the Broncos in a move that means she'll be more settled around her family.
The Jillaroos representative made the trip to Sydney every Wednesday for the Roosters last year ahead of the weekend's games before flying home in-between.
Gray joined the likes of former Roosters teammates Karina Brown and Vanessa Foliaki in the fly-in, fly-out process, which is now understood to be heavily monitored by NRLW clubs.
Gray stressed the Roosters did their best to accommodate her but for an interstate player, the overall experience was not an easy one.
"I found the whole thing last year to be really taxing, by the end I was over it," Gray told NRL.com.
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"For the last two weeks I stayed with my sister and if it was any longer than the six weeks I was down there I probably would've thrown in the towel.
"I was going to go back to the Roosters this year but then did a last-minute change and realised I had to stay in Queensland and couldn't move.
"It was just too hard to move with the kids. If I had of moved again it would've looked selfish so it's best to stay and be around home."
Gray will link with several of her Queensland teammates at the Broncos, who she already plays alongside in the South-East Queensland competition.
"Playing against the Broncos last year there was a culture that was unbreakable and every club envied that," Gray said.
"To be a part of that team now is a blessing in disguise, just to be able to go home from training and not be so far away.
"I think it's also a perk to already know players in the team and not feel like I have to continue to grow and learn new players with it being such a shorter competition."
Gray returned to the field last year after giving birth to her second child Kyan. She broke back into the Queensland team before making her Jillaroos debut in October.
"I think the last 12 months have gone fast and at the end of last year I had a moment to reflect with my husband when we went away," Gray said.
"To be able to put on the jerseys I was able to was a massive honour and I was grateful to be able to give back to my family who have sacrificed things for me."
