Onjeurlina Leiataua is one of the Farrelly Photos Women’s Championship’s most experienced players, and has been playing with Otahuhu since 2014. She’s been part of the New Zealand Warriors’ NRLW squad in 2018 and 2019 after originally coming from a rugby union background. We caught up with her to discuss the journey so far. 

You played rugby union growing up... how did you come to get involved with rugby league? 

I was 18 at the time in 2014 and was playing for the Auckland Marist women’s rugby union team. We didn’t make the playoffs that year and at an after-match function one of the girls in our team, who also played league for the Otahuhu Leopards, asked me if I was keen to go down and have a run to keep up fitness.

I went down, trained and learned heaps about the game. I was lucky enough to play a game that year, it was their last game of the season. From there my love for league grew and I made sure I registered the following year. 

Do you have other connections to rugby league? 

My family have always been into league; watching the NRL was a family tradition. I’d support my little brother, who would play league in mini/mods, before my own union games, which was a typical Saturday for my household. 

Who have been the biggest league influences for you since you started playing? 

I am fortunate enough to still get tips off my uncle Ali Lauitiiti (former Kiwis and Toa Samoa International) and my partner (former Papakura Sea Eagles player) Jamel Hunt. They’ve been around the professional side of footy so they have a better understanding of my position and game as a whole. With their experiences playing as second rowers, it’s a bonus for me. 

When my uncle comes to my games, I know I can expect a call after to talk about what I need to work on. My partner is always down to help me out, whether it’s with tackle technique, passing or running lines. 

How have you found the Farrelly Photos Women’s Competitions?

I love that the women’s games are on Sundays as it enables me to still play union on Saturdays. I love that there are two grades, Premiership and Championship, which allows our teams to grow and develop at their own pace.

Overall, the Auckland competition provides more opportunities for women, not just as players but as volunteers and match officials too.

You still play both codes... what are the main differences you have found? 

Besides the obvious differences of rules and playing the ball, the physicality is what stands out to me. Personally, I feel league is more physical than union – harder runners, faster pace, big hits and running it straight on. I’m not saying there aren’t big hitters in union because there are plenty – I just feel more sore after a league game than I would in a union game!

You’ve made a number of representative teams over the last couple of years in league too, how have those experiences been?

To play representative footy is a blessing as it’s allowed me to better myself as a person and player. I’m also really grateful for the friendships I’ve made along the way. 

I’ve learned that wellbeing is so important. Most people just see us chucking a ball around, but there’s another side to it – pressure and mental health. The more I play, the more I realise not to lose sight of why I play which is simply because I love it. 

Article added: Thursday 01 October 2020