Capras selection helps Jackson eye off career in sport

Jordan Jackson has plenty of reasons to celebrate this week.

School's out forever for the 17-year-old, graduating late last week from Blackwater State High School. In the same week, she was also announced in the extended squad for next season's Central Queensland Capras' Harvey Norman Under 19 campaign.

In fact, it has been a bumper 2021 for the Central Highlands junior.

Jackson made her local league first grade debut for the Crushers in the Rockhampton competition at the start of the season and finished the year with the opportunity for specialised guidance from Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons coach Tahnee Norris at the recent BHP development clinic in Emerald.

"[The clinic] was really good. It was great to see all the talent here... especially all the younger kids coming through," Jackson said.

"I was reminded about the correct tackle technique. It was really good to go over it again because it's been a while. 

"It was a bit intimidating at first [being coached by Tahnee], but it was good to get her insight and use her advice because she is a huge part of [the elite] program, so getting to know her and getting to know it was good."

Being given a taste of high level programs as part of previous Queensland Academy of Sport squads and featuring at past State Junior Championships, the Central Queensland representative's dream is to spend her life immersed in sport.

"My ultimate end goal is to play for Queensland and Australia, but I'll see what happens and where rugby league takes me," Jackson said.

"Ultimately, my dream is to play professionally, but if not, I still want to be working in sport somewhere - hopefully in rugby league. 

"I've applied to study sport and exercise science at university so I'll see how I go, but my dream is to work in sport full-time regardless."

With the prospect of needing to relocate to chase that dream of a career in sport, Jackson has her eyes set on playing in next year's Harvey Norman Under 19 competition, no matter where she might find herself in the state.

"Hopefully I can stick with the Capras... you know, I want to stay local, but otherwise I'll look down south in Brisbane... I just want to keep playing," Jackson said.

"This year, I played in the under 17 Central Queensland Capras at the Country trials. I was unsuccessful, sadly, but it was a great experience just being with that amount of talent and has really inspired me to improve.

"I took away the importance of teamwork and working together and will definitely help us into the future.

"In the games that we weren't switched on, you could see that we weren't that successful compared to the games we were really working together and came through with the wins."

The 2022 Harvey Norman Under 19 draw will be released on Friday, December 5.

2022 Central Queensland Capras Harvey Norman Under 19 squad

Aaliyah Gyemore, Taiah Ardley, Olivia Cave, Nikki Clarke, Cassandra Dau, Sophie Davison, Dakota Demaine-Beale, Tiaan Harbin, Antonia Hendry-Ratima, Imogen Hiscox, Taylor Hook, Britney Hooper, Luca Howarth, Kearna Hows, Jordan Jackson, Tamika Little, Waverley Marsh, Brianna Mauger, Ihndara McLeod, Summer Nicholls, Jessica Olsson, Miah Powell, Mykennzie Rowley, Meg Skuthorp, Lalekqua Songoro, Laynie Sweet, Kyah Szepanowski, Shaniqua Tamwoy, Pania Tane, Chloe Tipman, Kiarah Tull, Alenna Whipp, Abigail Wini, Sophie Wright, Lillian Yarrow.