Harvey Norman Jillaroos rookie Sarah Togatuki has revealed the secret role NRL stars Brian To'o and Stephen Crichton played in laying the foundation for her rugby league career.
The forward grew up with the pair in Mt Druitt and her brothers played junior rugby league alongside the duo and their siblings for the St Marys Saints.
Togatuki was 21 years old and weeks away from her debut NRLW season in 2018 when the pair offered to help prepare her for the inaugural edition of the competition.
Crichton and To'o have since developed into two of the biggest stars in the NRL but continue to give back to the local community and are still close with Togatuki.
The pair have helped mentor the forward throughout her career and played a vital role in her journey to Friday's Jillaroos debut against Papua New Guinea at Suncorp Stadium.
Sarah Togatuki 's rugby league journey
"Being in the area of Mt Druitt, we had a close community there," Togatuki said. "We're very tight knit and we tend to lean on one another.
"I give credit to Critta and Bizza, before the NRLW started those boys held a couple of sessions for us. They were just rookies at Penrith but they held some pre-season clinics for us.
"I went to some of them and it was an eye-opening experience for me. It really helped me excel coming into the NRLW so I owe it to those boys a lot.
"We still stay in touch and held a holiday clinic last week. We also had Andrew Fifita come out and help the boys and girls so we're really trying to develop the area and make it a safe space for those kids."
Match: Jillaroos v PNG Orchids
Week 1 -
home Team
Jillaroos
1st Position
away Team
PNG Orchids
2nd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The Wests Tigers forward has been named to start on the bench in the first match of Australia's Pacific Championships campaign, with Quincy Dodd and Olivia Higgins also set for their first international appearance.
It's been a lengthy journey for Togatuki from Housing Commission in Sydney's west to the Jillaroos.
The forward's parents worked long hours to provide for their kids and ensure they had an opportunity to thrive in life.
Togatuki took up rugby league as an 18-year-old after her brother died in 2015 and she carries his memory with him into every match.
Since her NRLW debut in 2018, she has developed into one of the most punishing forwards in the competition and capped a stellar rise when she was awarded the Karyn Murphy Medal following the Roosters grand final victory of the delayed 2021 season.
Togatuki received another setback when she missed out on a spot in Australia's squad for the 2022 World Cup. Rather than taking the opportunity from New Zealand to play for the Kiwi Ferns at the tournament, the omission drove her to work even harder to earn Jillaroos selection.
Humble Togatuki claims Karyn Murphy Medal
The decision has paid off two years later, with her debut now just days away.
Having ridden the ups and downs and come out the other side, Togatuki has never forgotten where she comes from and continues to draw on the strength of a challenging upbringing on a daily basis.
"St Marys Saints is like home for me, it's who my brothers played for," she said. "Seeing the way the club's looked after my family, growing up in Western Sydney in Housing Commission, they supported my parents.
"They couldn't afford the registration so to see the kindness and the leniency the club gave us, they paved the way for my family's opportunities. I couldn't think of a better way to go back and help and give back to them.
"I'm very fortunate I'm in a position to do that through the club and I'm now their female ambassador. I'm doing everything I can to make sure those girls get as much as I did when I was getting to know the game. I love the club so much and I owe them so much more than what I've already done for them."
Togatuki and the Jillaroos had the chance to give back to the South-East Queensland community on Tuesday when they hosted a gala day for children from a range of schools from the area.
It was an opportunity the forward wasn't able to experience as a youngster, such is the rise of women's rugby league throughout the past decade.
But like To'o and Crichton did with her, Togatuki is embracing the chance to mentor the next generation.
"It's always rewarding giving back to the community," she said. "They do so much for the game and their support is unwavering. Seeing the smiles on the kids faces is special.
"I didn't have this kind of opportunity back home where I'm from so it's great they get to come out and have this time around elite players to learn from them. Even just the little things, communications, building that bond with one another so it's nice to see them coming together."
