Welcome back to the GooseStep!
This is a special edition where we get to meet the young ladies who represented WA at the recent U18 Schoolgirls ASSRL Championships in Coffs Harbour. While a core part of the team came from WA, there were many girls who were brought in to make up the side, so that our WA could take the chance to show their wares on the big stage. Lets meet the rest of the team, with the girls in 11-20.
#11 – Juliet Tufuga – WA – Lakelands Senior High School – “The Jukebox With Headgear”
An unassuming and quiet character, Juliet gets about her business in a no nonsense fashion. And she is a defensive weapon on the edge where the hits just keep on coming. A rugged defender who always aims high, she has no issues finishing off ball runners twice her size. And don’t let her small stature fool you, as she is a tough ball carrier who won’t shirk the work when it comes her way. Armed with a ready smile off the field, she settled into the squad with ease. Easy going and a brilliant team mate who can do it all on the field, she was a diamond in the rough and a big hope to come back in 2026.
#12 – Maliana Afu – WA – Eastern Hills State High School – “Optimus Prime”
A true Alpha in every sense of the word, much like Optimus Prime, when Maliana decided she wanted to go for it, it was a case of get out of her way. A brilliant athlete with great size and pace, when she wanted to put herself into the game, it was a scary sight. A massive hitter who could affect a dominant tackle with ease, her ball running when on show, was a case of “I will just take them all on”. A big personality off the field once settled, she was a lightning rod among her peers and a great social lubricant for all the new girls who came into the squad.
#13 – Mackenzie Croyston – QLD – Palm Beach State High School – “The Scalpel”
Calculating and efficient. Those are two words that come to mind when explaining Mackenzie. A brilliant tactician of the game, who excels in breaking down defensive lines, she prods and pokes and uses the players around her to lay foundations before putting the accelerator down and busting a game wide open. A workaholic, who gets through offensive and defensive work with aplomb, she is a professional who wants to get to the highest level. Much like her sister, they were always pushing and pulling everyone around them including themselves to do better.
#14 – Maya Binto Shahran (Middle) – WA – Christmas Islands District High School – “Christmas”
Unfortunately, poor Maya was unable to participate in the games on field, but when she was able she was a fantastic supporter and able member of the side. Smart, funny with a hidden wit, she mixed with the girls well when able and shared quite a a bit about her life in the Indian Ocean Territories and was a welcome smile when her team mates needed it. We appreciate all the players who made Maya feel welcome, through everything that we went through.
#15 – Ayva Papalii – NSW – Endeavour Sports High School – “The Finishing Touch”
WA’s leading try scorer at the carnival, Papalii was a finisher through and through. Her ability to find the line was on display often, as she scored 4 tries in 4 games. A powerful ball runner, with an aggressive streak, Ayva wasn’t only a great try scorer, but was dogged when looking for work out of her own territory, and provided a brilliant one-two punch with centre Makayla Vakauta. Funny and possessing a vibrant personality, her outgoing nature and easy going qualities made her a team mate favourite among the group A key member of the side, her ability to finish off a half chance shone through at the tournament.
#16 – Summer Barton – NSW – St Joseph’s College – “The Fight In The Dog”
If Ayva was one of the finishing touches in attack, Summer completed the team on the right edge as a defensive maestro. One of those players others loved defending next too, she attacked with her defensive all weekend. Not just holding her ground, she actually stepped into contact with girls who were much bigger and physical. And she punished them time and again. As the week went on, she also found her voice in attack, and forced her way into finding more work on the offensive side and showed she can do the tough stuff as well. A brilliant competitor with a ready smile, she was always positive and while quiet, when engaged in feedback or conversation was always a willing participant in any team activities.
#17 – Leilani Tongi-Finau – QLD (ex-WA) – Keebra Park State High School – “The Engine Room”
One of the most honest rugby league players you will ever meet, Leilani does everything at a high level. A true team player, her best game and worst game are so close together that Leilani never has a bad game. A post contact expert, she hits the line at speed and continues to keep her legs pumping, always gaining more metres. An able defender on top of that, she is one of those players that coaches love, and will literally play anywhere on the field for the team. A humble person, with a loving personality, she has great empathy for her team mates and is always a key team person that can be relied on.
#18- Serenity Mila – QLD – Kirwan State High School – “The Smiling Assassin”
To say she was a favourite of the staff and team mates on tour would be a complete understatement. Serenity brought amazing energy, pure enthusiasm and an intensity on game day that was a breath of fresh air. And thats only the off field. On the field she was a wrecking ball, taking the ball at speed and throwing herself at defender after defender, bouncing out of tackles at will. Breaking tackles for fun with the ball, she was also a tough defender, capable or mixing it with opponents of any size and speed, making her a great edge defender. An infectious personality only added to Serenity’s value to the Schoolgirls squad.
#19 – Mya Poto (Left) – WA – Thornlie Senior High School – “Hype Girl Plus”
Again, Mya’s time on the field was limited, due to an unfortunate ankle injury, and bless her soul she was so apologetic, the staffs heart broke for her. But she didn’t let that dent her spirit on tour. A brilliant confidant and able team mate, she spent the time doing everything she could to support and pump her team mates up for the incredible challenges they faced and over came. An endearing personality that showed through, she was always herself, and made her mark on the team regardless of injury.
#20 – Annika Parker – NSW – St Joseph’s College – “The Accelerator”
Every time Annika stepped on the field, the diminutive hooker put her foot on the accelerator and didn’t take it off. Capable of catching out tired or lazy defenders, her snipes out of dummy half over the week was something to behold. And while not the toughest defender, her work ethic and willingness to never say die or give up, shone through from the first minute she stepped on the field, to the last second she spent on it. While a quiet natured young lady, with her side kick Summer never far from her, they were a capable double act who loved and took part in the entire camp experience.
And thats it! Hope you had as much fun reading as we tried to have writing it.
Was a good opportunity to meet the young ladies who represented WA with such pride, and left a mark on everyone involved.
Thank you to the parents, staff and everyone involved, and will see you on the next article of the GooseStep!