Now, Natalie Smith, Layla Ashburn and Alex Avery will have integral roles to play in Greg Gleeson's team when the 2021 Group 3 rugby league season kicks off on May 1 and 2.

Depending on who you ask, the trio are inseparable both on and off the field with Natalie and Alex moving in together although Layla may as well live there too.

"The spare bedroom is no longer the spare bedroom, it's Layla's room now," Layla said.

"We're the three amigos."

Footy created the environment where they first interacted and the friendship grew from there.

"Like attracts like I suppose. You've got to be a bit crazy to put up with us," Natalie said.

"I think we're pretty much as bad as each other, but I think Layla is the worst."

They see each other nearly 24 hours of the day, seven days of the week, 365 days of the year.

"We've got a good network going on with a few other girls like Britt Fens and Georgia Williams and we get along well with everyone in the team which is good," Natalie said.

With Gleeson coaching the side this season, the girls have high hopes of again featuring in the postseason after experiencing the semi-finals in 2019.

But first they will have to navigate their way through a tough opening six rounds on the road as Regional Stadium continues to dry out following the March floods.

"It will be a tough few weeks to start the season but it will be good to do the rest of the season at home," Layla said.

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