Kiwi Ferns full of NRL winners
Kimiora Nati, the star of the NRL women’s grand final, has more to smile about after being named in the Kiwi Ferns yesterday.
The halfback will be riding the high after picking up a hat-trick of tries during Sunday night’s inaugural grand final, driving the Brisbane Broncos to their premiership title.
She also received recognition for her outstanding display by taking home the player of the grand final award.
Nati is joined by several of her team-mates in the Broncos’ winning side – Ngatokotoru Arakua, Karley Te Kawa,Teuila FotuMoala, Maitua Feterika, Lavinia Gould and Lilieta Maumau – in the Kiwi Ferns team.
Double rugby and rugby league international Honey Hireme is also named in the 19-strong squad.
Hireme first played for the Kiwi Ferns 16 years ago, and after a brilliant stint with the St George Illawarra Dragons, she will look to back up her fine form in the World Cup where she was top try-scorer.
Kiwi Ferns head coach Kelvin Wright has named the squad ahead of the trans-Tasman tripleheader on October 13.
Laura Mariu, who has played in all five women’s World Cups, is back in the side.
Her stellar national women’s tournament earlier in the year saw her then progress into the Warriors women’s squad which she captained in the four-week competition.
Wright said his team was filled with ‘‘some great leadership and experience mixed with some exciting youth whose form has been too hard to ignore’’.
Counties Manukau Stingrays centre Onjeurlina Leiataua, a powerhouse in her breakout season with the Warriors, is one of the debutantes and is joined by Broncos utility Lavinia Gould and Masuisuimatamaalii TauasaPauaraisa, of Canterbury.
The Kiwi Ferns go into camp on October 7 in preparation for the trans-Tasman triple-header in Auckland on October 13.