NZ women’s league needs more

Kiwi Ferns hooker Nita Maynard says the national team could benefit from a stronger domestic competition in New Zealand.

The 26-year-old played a vital role for the Kiwi Ferns against Australia, despite losing narrowly 26-24.

She was playing against six of her Roosters team-mates on Saturday night, and believes that if New Zealand had a stronger women’s competition she and several other Kiwi-born league players wouldn’t have to base themselves in Australia.

‘‘I wouldn’t put it past me if there was a stronger league culture back home and there was greater opportunity to go home. ‘‘I wouldn’t say no to that.

‘‘I just feel at the moment there has been a lot of development in the game here in Australia with the competition.

‘‘There’s a lot of girls over here who are of Kiwi descent, Kiwis living in Australia and I just want them to take pride in the jersey like I do.’’

The women’s NRL sees a lot of traffic head across the ditch.

Maynard left New Zealand shortly after she finished university to seek the Australian dollar and improve her league.

Gisborne born and raised, Maynard says she won’t rule out returning to New Zealand, but she has solidified her life in Sydney and enjoys the team culture at the Roosters, as well as the strong club competitions and State of Origin.

The Kiwi Ferns came close to pulling off a great win over the Jillaroos in a thrilling encounter at Mt Smart Stadium. It was a display

At a glance

Australia 26 (Julia Robinson, Ali Brigginshaw, Tazmin Gray, Isabelle Kelly 2 tries; Chelsea Baker 3 goals) New Zealand 24 (Langi Veainu 2, Annetta Nuuausala, Maitua Feterika, Amber Kani tries; Apii Nicholls 2 goals). HT: 12-4. that showed determination and passion as they fought their way back from being 12-0 down early in the game.

Maynard says playing for the Kiwi Ferns against her Roosters team-mates did give her a small advantage, as she knew what most of them would bring to the match. ‘‘Obviously playing with them for a few weeks you learn their tendencies and what they like to do and you kind of have that up your sleeve.

‘‘They sent a lot of traffic my way. It was a really physical game. I didn’t expect them to come out so physical. It was really fast paced.’’

She says it is time the Kiwi Ferns developed a winning culture and overtook Australia as the dominant country for women’s league.

‘‘I would really like to start a winning culture . . . to really start believing in ourselves that we are good enough and on top of the world.

‘‘I am just really eager to start putting some wins behind the jersey.’’

Maynard works fulltime as an operations manager at Carpet Court, juggles motherhood with her five year-old daughter, but never misses her training commitments.

She is however looking forward to the break from rugby league, but will be training over summer to keep fit.