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Stacey Waaka recognised as one of NRLW’s best before rugby sevens return

Stacey Waaka of the Black Ferns Sevens. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Two-time Olympic Games gold medallist Stacey Waaka has taken the rugby league world by storm. Before returning to the SVNS Series with the Black Ferns Sevens, Waaka has been named in the NRLW’s Dally M Team of the Year and the RLPA Dream Team.

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Waaka arrived in Brisbane less than a week after Team New Zealand’s inspirational run to glory at the recent Paris Olympic Games. The women in black fell short of the top prize on the SVNS Series in Madrid but made amends on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

With a sold-out crowd at Stade de France watching on, New Zealand beat Ilona Maher’s USA 24-12 in a thrilling semi-final before overcoming a valiant Canadian outfit in the gold medal match. Waaka, Michaela Blyde, Sarah Hirini and more had etched their names into the history books.

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While there was of course time to celebrate, Waaka was on a plane soon after with Brisbane as the final destination. Waaka is also a Rugby World Cup Sevens, Commonwealth Games and Women’s Rugby World Cup winner, but this was an all-new challenge.

 

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Waaka hadn’t played in the NRLW before but an opportunity to try something new awaited. The Brisbane Broncos are one of the biggest rugby league clubs in the world, and Waaka embraced the chance to venture out of her comfort zone.

“I’m scared. I am scared as heck,” Waaka said with a laugh on The Breakdown earlier this year. “I’m nervous, I’m still trying to learn the rules!

“I’m trying to watch as much as I can, but I’m excited too. I’m excited to go out there and do something new.

“Yes, I have been to a lot of pinnacle events: Commonwealth Games, World Cups, Olympics, but the next goal on the list is potentially play for the Kiwi Ferns.

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“I’m probably going to put my hand up and trial this season, just to see where it goes. Obviously, I’m back with sevens for the next two years so you can’t get rid of me just yet, but maybe a potential switch after I finish playing rugby, who knows.

“Maybe a league World Cup, we’ll see where life takes me!”

Waaka played six matches for the ‘Bronx’ in the 2024 season and the winger didn’t look out of place by any means. The New Zealander scored six tries, broke 23 tackles, made six line breaks, and tackled with 94.7 per cent accuracy.

While the Broncos’ season came to an end last Sunday with a 14-nil loss to the Cronulla Sharks, Waaka will still look back at the campaign as a success. The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) has recognised the code-hopper as one of the competition’s elite.

The player-voted team recognises “the best 14 players by their positions.” Waaka is one of six players who were named in the Dream Team for the first time, and part of a trio from the Broncos who were the minor premiers.

“On behalf of the RLPA I’d like to congratulate these 14 players for making the 2024 Players’ Dream Team,” Clint Newtown, the CEO of the RLPA, said in a statement.

“The Players’ Dream Team from the NRLW is always an incredible list of players who have contributed to creating the best domestic women’s competition in our region.

“… On the field they battle through intense rivalries, but they also have a profound mutual respect and authentic admiration for each other’s abilities and performances.”

HSBC SVNS Perth takes place on 24-26 January at HBF Park. Plan your ultimate rugby weekend in Western Australia with the help of flexible travel packages including tickets and accommodation. Buy Now or Find Out More.  

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H
Hellhound 41 minutes ago
France put World Cup pain behind them with unbeaten run in November

France is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.


NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.


With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.


That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.

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