HUNGRY BEAR
Burleigh star desperate to make Jillaroos No.7 her own
BURLEIGH Bears playmaker Zahara Temara has boldly declared she is ready to make the Australian Jillaroos’ No.7 jersey her own.
The gifted Queenslander (pictured) will return to the halves for the Jillaroos on Saturday when they take on the Kiwi Ferns in Auckland.
The Nerang Roosters junior spent the majority of last year’s World Cup as a utility for the Australian side, trying her hand at lock and in the centres before coming off the bench in the final victory over the Ferns.
But after proving her worth as the halfback for the Sydney Roosters in the inaugural NRLW competition, Temara has been handed another chance in the No.7 and said she was desperate to make the most of the opportunity.
“I was really shocked that I got a call, let alone to be playing in the halves,” the 21-yearold said.
“I haven’t played in the halves for the Jillaroos in a long time (since her May 2017 debut). I’m always happy to play wherever, but half is my preferred position. I’m most comfortable there.
“I’m really happy I’m back in the halves. Hopefully in the future I can stay here … I definitely want to.”
Temara was one of the breakout stars of women’s rugby league last year, making both her Queensland and Australian debut.
She entered this season in hot demand between rugby league and union, with the Queensland Reds also signing her for the Super W season.
Temara then went on to play in the NRLW in what she has described as a life-changing experience.
She said the move to Sydney for the duration of the competition forced her to grow up but also saw her become a leader after her stunning performance in Round 3 was the catalyst to the Roosters making the NRLW grand final.
With an eye on a long future in the Jillaroos line-up, Temara, who immigrated from New Zealand in 2007, hopes her new experiences will help Australia continue their winning ways over their trans-Tasman rivals this weekend.
“I went down there because I needed to get out of my comfort zone,” Temara said of her brief move to Sydney.
“I grew and I learnt a lot about myself off the field. It made me be an adult. In the Jillaroos we have a lot of standards around how you should act and the professionalism.
“Those standards were at the Roosters too, but there were people who haven’t been in that type of environment before. We had some girls just coming up from a local club level.
“I learnt a lot about myself in trying to be a leader for those girls and trying to help the team. You shouldn’t be waiting for others to do something. If you see something, you do it.”