From questioning if she was “good enough” to play rugby league, to scoring a try in her Australian Jillaroos debut; things have really come around for Taliah Fuimaono.
Always a talent, Fuimaono has overcome numerous career-threatening injuries, including a ruptured ACL, broken collarbone and shoulder reconstruction, making her selection in this year’s Rugby League World Cup squad a story of triumph and resilience.
“I think it’s something you can never really put into words, it’s very surreal feeling, it’s something you dream about as a little kid growing up,” Fuimaono said about making her debut.
“I think just being surrounded by such strong women, (it) is really empowering and gives you goosebumps talking about it.
“It’s just been a long journey and I was side-by-side with some women [during the anthem] that I have known for a while and have gone through my struggles with, and it was just a really powerful moment.
“I definitely reflected over those tough times, I guess this has come around a lot quicker than I anticipated, although it felt like a really long journey with my injuries, but definitely standing there, side-by-side with my sisters, it was very emotional.
“I definitely questioned if this was for me, if rugby league was what I was supposed to be doing; I definitely had a lot of doubt if this was what I was supposed to be doing and if I was actually going to be good enough to actually crack it.
“But thank God I stuck at it, because to stand side-by-side with some strong women in England, who would have thought, it’s crazy.”
Match Highlights: Australia v Cook Islands
While they were unable to make the long trip to the UK this time around, the St George Illawarra Dragons star was thankful to her family for their ongoing support, with her mother’s support of Fuimaono’s brother Tyrell’s sporting career also getting a mention on the television commentary.
“They were watching from Sydney; they were up nice and early,” Fuimaono said.
“I did give (my mother) a call, she was emotional, but trying not to get emotional in front of her clients [at work], she gets really nervous when I play with injuries and stuff, as any mother would, she was just grateful I came up in one piece.
“She was a massive support, she is probably one of my biggest inspiration growing up, I have seen her do it tough, she’s really led by example and showed we can really do anything we want to put our mind to.
“She has made a lot of sacrifices for us growing up, just to make it work and she is one strong woman that I aspire to be like.”
Although normally a five-eighth who also played centre and lock this past season, her versatility saw her play hooker in the game against Cook Islands, but she did not let the unfamiliar role stop her from scoring a try on debut, making her one of five new faces including Evania Pelite, Tarryn Aiken, Caitlan Johnston and Shenae Ciesiolka to do so.
“I wasn’t looking for that to be honest, it just opened up in front of me, I am not naturally a nine, I looked up and they were gone, so I had no choice (but to run in),” Fuimaono said of her try.
“I didn’t even celebrate because I was in shock that I got over the line, but I will watch it back and I am sure it will give me goosebumps.
“I did not expect that, I did not expect that at all.”
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Selected for the next game against France, who put in a fighting effort despite going down to New Zealand 46-0, the NRL Indigenous All Stars and former Samoa representative was hoping to showcase her skills in the halves.
“Throughout my NRLW season, I have had to adjust to a couple different positions, so I am here to play any position they need me to be, and I am just grateful, and I just want to give it my all, whatever position,” Fuimaono said.
“I am hoping to get a crack in the halves, at five-eighth, so hopefully we can get the job done again.”