Isabelle Kelly has detailed how she draws upon the hardest days of her life after the sudden death of her mother as an inspiration to play almost with any injury in the NRLW.
Kelly recovered from a subluxed elbow to feature in the Sydney Roosters' semi-final win over Newcastle, just a week after the elbow joint dislocated and fell back into place.
It is not the first time Kelly has fought through injuries, recovering from a serious throat injury that landed her in intensive care to play State of Origin three weeks later last year.
But when Kelly battles through the pain again to play in Sunday's grand final against Cronulla, the star centre will do so with one person firmly in her mind.
"I've been through a lot of tough things in my life mentally, and I lost my mum when I was quite young," Kelly said.
"So I reflect on that as something that I've been through a lot worse in my life and I'm willing to do everything I can for this team.
"I just think back to the tough times that I've gone through before, and take that as a bit of motivation that nothing's going to be ever as hard as that."
Kelly's story is largely untold due to her private nature, but one of heartbreak and inspiration.
Her mother Maree died suddenly of a brain aneurysm when Kelly was just 17, and therefore never saw her daughter play rugby league.
"I find that I have a big connection with her when I'm out there playing on the field," Kelly said.
"We grew up on the Central Coast and dad was the president and mum was the secretary at the local club.
"We used to go there and hang out in the canteen and I'd just be a little girl with my brothers.
"Playing rugby league is something that was really close within my family and it's really close with her."
Kelly said she regularly reflected on Maree's life before she played, and that it had driven her throughout her career as an Australia and NSW representative star.
That has been the case again this year, with Kelly the stand-out player of the NRLW season and her move back to centre a key element of the Roosters' push for a second title.
"I've always had a thing that she missed out on so much in her life," Kelly said.
"And I want to live my life feeling and doing as much as I can, and really live my life to the fullest.
"I think sometimes we take for granted how special life is and what we can do. That's where I find my motivation as well.
"I love pushing my body to the limit. I love being able to do things that you might not think you're able to do."
