The sacrifices of the Warrior women
As soon as the Warriors’ NRLW season-opener was confirmed for Melbourne, forward Tasia Seumanufagai had added incentive to make the side.
Not only would it have meant a premiership debut against the Roosters today, but after two months living away from home the Samoan international would finally get to see her three-year-old son.
Competition for places is high, though, and it’s for that reason that informing Seumanufagai – who was initially named on an extended bench – did not make the final cut was coach Luisa Avaiki’s toughest decision of the week.
But in a touching gesture from Seumanufagai’s team-mates and staff members at the Warriors, they chipped in to cover her airfare and ensure she was reunited with her family.
‘‘She hasn’t seen her son and partner for the whole time she’s been here and we knew how hard she’s been working to make the team,’’ Avaiki said.
‘‘It was something that Georgia [captain Georgia Hale] and I spoke about after one of our training sessions. [Hale] reached out to the playing group and staff and they were very keen to support and chip in and I booked her flight yesterday. It was really important for her.’’
One of the few squad members not based in New Zealand, Seumanufagai was originally from Wellington but has been living in Melbourne since 2012.
The 29-year-old was signed by the Warriors after starring for the Combined Affiliated States at the Australian nationals this year before being selected in the Fetu Samoa squad to face the Kiwi Ferns in June.
A call from Avaiki was the last thing she expected but with the support of her partner and sister, Seumanufagai’s been able to pursue her rugby league dream in Auckland, staying at the Warriors’ Autex House with team-mate Charntay Poko.
Yet as any parent would attest, being away from her son for so long has taken its toll.
‘‘I call them every day, most days twice a day. He’s had enough of the phone calls,’’ Seumanufagai said. ‘‘He wants to see me in real life and get some cuddles.
‘‘The struggle is real, it is hard.
‘‘He wants to see me in real life and get some cuddles.’’
Tasia Seumanufagai, left, on her 3-year-old son
My partner’s over there holding it down. He knew it was going to be hard but he was like, ‘just go’ we’ve got this’. He’s really supportive.’’
It’s a big sacrifice and the Warriors squad is full of players going the extra mile as they juggle work and family life on top of their sporting careers.
‘‘I don’t think people realise until the stories come out or until someone asks them about the big barriers and big sacrifices that they make to be part of this competition,’’ Avaiki said.
‘‘We give these girls the opportunities and they have to make it work for themselves and their families because they’ve got so much to give up.’’
Avaiki highlighted the number of players who alter their work schedule to make the evening trainings, such as police constable and fullback Apii Nicholls, who often heads back out on the beat once a session is over. Or the mothers whose partners work at night and have to arrange childcare so they can attend.
Timaima Ravisa and Roela
Radiniyavuni have both made the move from Fiji to chase their goals.
Then there’s Christchurchbased Poko. After missing last year’s inaugural campaign with two fractured tibias, Poko was told her best chance of making the Warriors was to regularly test herself in the Auckland club competition.
The 23-year-old playmaker was up for the challenge but that meant flying back and forth from Christchurch every week for four months – paying mostly out of her own pocket.
It’s certainly paid off, though, with Poko winning the race for the No 7 jersey having also made her Kiwi Ferns debut in June.
‘‘It was definitely tiring working five days a week, playing rugby on a Saturday back home, then flying up to Auckland on Sunday, playing league there and going back again on Monday,’’ Poko said.
While there has been a high player turnover amongst all four NRLW clubs, the Warriors head into the Roosters clash as underdogs, with Poko among six new faces in the starting lineup.
Star signing Honey Hireme is also unavailable on compassionate grounds, although Avaiki has had the luxury of calling on fellow Kiwi Fern Atawhai Tupaea to fill the void at centre.