Police force after Cup
strengths as Kiwi Ferns, as New Zealanders.
‘‘We’ve got a job to do and we have to stay focused.’’
There is about a handful of Kiwi Ferns in their mid to late 30s who have played with each other for the better part of 20 years and Mariu, who first played for the Kiwi Ferns when she was 19, said these close bonds were what made the national side so solid both on and off the field.
Her 39-year-old team-mate Sharlene Atai is the oldest in the side and playing at her third World Cup. Atai works as a teacher when she is away from the game and was a late bloomer of 23 when she played at her first World Cup in 2000.
Top try-scorer of the tournament and triple international Honey Hireme is playing at her fourth World Cup and works as a community sport manager in Auckland as a day job.
Mariu however has struggled to find her feet in a career outside of league because she has put her all into the game. It is only recently she has decided to turn her focus to becoming a policewoman and will begin her course in January once retired form league. She has recently been working as a motorcycle postie in Auckland.
‘‘I’ve been in and out of a few lifestyle jobs as they have enabled me to achieve what I have in sport. It will be good to have another focus.
‘‘League is like another fulltime job on top of a day job. It will be nice to know I have something else to look forward to, but in the meantime this [the World Cup semifinal] is my focus.’’
After three pool matches the Kiwi Ferns have conceded only one try and scored 164 points.
Kick-off is at 3.45pm (NZT) from Southern Cross Stadium in Sydney.