It was a “dream” NRLW debut for New Zealand’s Olympic rugby seven’s star Stacey Waaka, who helped bring a golden touch to the Broncos as they secured their first win of the season.
Waaka – who made 146 run metres, seven tackle breaks and a line break in her team’s 44-4 victory over the Titans – looked right at home on the wing and said her focus for the rest of the season was on learning and challenging herself.
“I have been playing (rugby union) for so many years and I have never played league which is cool, a new challenge so if I can come out of here a new me, well not a new me, but just evolve into something more, more skills, more awareness of the game then I’ll be happy,” Waaka said.
“I had a few good runs which is cool, get the touch of the ball, but I am stoked.
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“Dream debut, obviously a massive win over the Titans. Had no expectations coming into here, so just played my game.
“It was really funny because they were like ‘don’t go towards the sideline’ and I started making my way there and I was like ‘ah, get back into the middle’.
“I probably should’ve stepped the other way, but it was cool, and I got told to just keep leg driving.”
Waaka, who laced up the boots to play only 11-days after her gold medal winning Paris Olympics campaign, said she was taking in every moment as they come – and that included adapting to the length of a rugby league match.
Waaka away!
“I looked at the clock and only 15 minutes had gone and I was like ‘come on calves, stay in there’,” Waaka said.
“I started cramping at the 60th minute, but nah, it was good.
“The girls had my back the whole time, so it just made my job easier.”
One major factor in bringing Waaka to the Broncos was her good friend Gayle Broughton, with the pair winning gold together for New Zealand in the Tokyo Olympics.
Broughton made the transition to rugby league last season and had her first appearance in the NRLW this season in the win, coming back from back surgery she had in December.
Initially expecting to return for Round 1, the five-eighth endured a tough few months of recovery and wasn’t sure if this day would come.
“It definitely got to a point where things weren’t going as planned and I was getting to points where I was hitting my goals, but the pain and the tolerance that my back was taking, it was just pushing getting back to the field further and further away,” Broughton said.
“I definitely got to a point where I was like ‘man, I don’t even think I’m going to make it this season’, so I am just happy to be here. I think a month ago … retirement was on the cards, so I am just grateful to be here.
“I’ve always had that mentality of never giving up on myself and I’ve gone through a lot of adversity in my life, not even just on the field and off the field.
“For me, it’s about getting my body through each week, enjoying each moment and enjoying each game, and whether I am on the field or whether I am off supporting the girls, it doesn’t matter.
“I think that’s just my own personal goal is to just enjoy it.”
Broughton played like she’d never left in her return, with her smart ball playing options helping to create points, something the side the had struggled with in their opening two losses. Her return also helped lift the team’s confidence.
“The message all week was we must earn the right to play, but also have enjoy it,” Broughton said.
“This is why we play, to enjoy footy. We don’t just play it because we love it, but you have to think of it as fun and don’t go away from that,” Broughton said.
On her friend Waaka’s debut, Broughton was full of praise and happy to have her join her team.
“Honestly, since the day I found that she was coming and that dotted line was signed, I’ve just been over the moon about that situation,” Broughton said.
“What a bloody trooper she is aye, 11 days ago she won gold in the Paris Olympics and then she comes in like she’s been here the whole pre-season.
“She’s that talented, but just her attention to detail, her preparation all week has just been great.
“She’s just come to have fun, she’s got no expectations on herself and that’s pretty much what we told her all week – you don’t have to come in here and be the best winger in the world, just do your role and have some fun.”