At just 15 years of age, TJ Murray could have been forgiven for getting overawed by the occasion of the 2025 Founder’s Cup Grand Final.
She was, after all, playing alongside several Queensland Reds players and Wallaroos, who she’s idolised from a young age.
A missed tackle or dropped ball could surely have been excused considering the enormity of the situation.
But far from stumbling, Murray stepped up.
Coming onto the field as a substitute for the Bull Sharks in the second half when they had their backs to the wall, the centre scored the try which resulted in the huge momentum swing which saw her team lift the trophy.
The performance saw Murray cement a more permanent place for herself in the team.
A year on, she still isn’t old enough to get her driver’s licence, but she’s driving the Bull Sharks’ recent success, playing a pivotal role in Bond’s convincing win over Norths.
The Bull Sharks sit second below only the undefeated Wests on the table, and will be looking to capitalise on several returning Reds players into the side when they face fourth-placed Sunnybank at home this weekend.
Fellow premiership winning teammate, hooker Malia Snowden, says Murray possesses admirable qualities on and off the field.
“TJ’s a dynamic player – she’s really good in attack and at finding space, but she’s also reliable in defence,” Snowden said.
“What’s so good about her though is her ability to act her age off the field, but then play with maturity and handle the pressure.
“She likes to have fun and joke around, and you can see she’s really enjoying what she’s doing – it’s for all the right reasons.”
The King’s Christian College student appears on a fast-track to a career as a professional athlete, but will soon face an enviable decision in which sport to choose.
In a similar vein to ex-Bull Sharks Maddison and Teagan Levi, who were drafted into the Gold Coast Suns before representing Australia in rugby sevens at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Murray has excelled in multiple sports.
She has represented Queensland in touch football in junior high school before being selected in the 2025 Australian Schoolgirls 7s squad which competed in Aukland in December.
But Murray evidently has a penchant for the original format of the game, with her acceleration, pace and agility a perfect fit for Bond’s fast, expansive style of play.
Snowden believes Murray has everything it takes to cut it in the highly competitive world elite rugby union.
“She’s got all the right ingredients and a massive future ahead of her, but with her being so young, it’s also important not to rush it.”
“If she just stays in the scene and keeps doing what she’s doing in playing well, in a couple of years she’ll be a breakout player.”
The Canal will come alive for Saturday’s Past Players Day, with the women’s game following the Colts 1 clash in which Bond will be looking for a big win to improve on their fifth place standing, and Premier Men, who have the opportunity to avenge last weekend’s loss to Norths.