All Stars an overdue trip 'home' for Strange family
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Whatever the result on Saturday afternoon at Rotorua International Stadium, women's Māori All Stars winger Jasmin Strange knows a special moment awaits her come full time.
Included in the family contingent travelling to watch Strange's NRL Harvey Norman All Stars debut will be grandma Carol, who was born and raised in Rotorua before heading to Australia as a teenager.
The trip for the game will be the first time 20-year-old Strange has been to New Zealand, and she is anticipating an emotional post-match meeting with Carol, who made a point of teaching her grandchildren about their Māori heritage when they were growing up.
"I am just so excited to give her a hug after I play, that is going to be the best feeling ever," Strange told pan66.com.
"I wish I had it on video when I told my grandma... when she found out she called me, and she doesn't usually get emotional about much, but she was so excited that she was crying from happiness.
Telling her was just a beautiful moment.
Jasmin Strange
"She came over to Australia when she was 15 with her family and she has always been big on culture and taught my dad, my brother and I all about it.
"Because she came over so young there is a lot she doesn't know about too. She doesn't speak very good Te Reo (Māori language), but it's amazing to have a baseline of the knowledge.
"I haven't learned nearly as much as I would like to about the culture yet either."
Match: Maori v Indigenous
Round 1 -
home Team
Maori
away Team
Indigenous
Venue: Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
Aged just 19 at the time, Strange marked her NRLW debut for the Roosters last season with an impressive performance that included a try and 99 run metres.
The All Stars experience is set to be made all the sweeter by having dad John – who coached her at the Roosters – on the coaching staff as an assistant to Keith Hanley.
"It's awesome because dad is the Māori one of my parents, so it is amazing that we get the opportunity to go over there and work together," Strange said.
"All the girls and the staff have been so welcoming and it's been the best experience so far.
Strange gets her NRLW first
"Before I went to any of the trainings I was nervous, but the second I got into training the girls were amazing towards me, helping me with my pronunciation and stuff.
"Now it's just pure excitement."
