'It's our job to speak up': The meaning behind the Mana Group

Mana means power, a source of personal and collective strength, pride and identity...“all the good stuff.”

Launched by the Rugby League Players Association in March, is a player advisory body aimed to represent the over 45 per cent of Māori and Pasifika players and leaders within the game.

Led by current and former players including NRLW stars Simaima Taufa and Zahara Temara and international props Junior Paulo and James Fisher-Harris, the Mana Group hopes to be a voice for players from those cultural groups. 

Raiders playmaker and Māori women’s All Stars co-captain, Temara, said the advisory body wants to ensure the large cohort are represented in some of the decision-making processes around the game.

“The last couple of years we've had a group where we met here and there, but this year there was a bit more investment being made to the group by the RLPA and it had a big push by some of our Māori and Pacific RLPA representatives,” Temara told pan66.com.

“So it's been revamped and come to light a little bit more this year and we decided on the name Mana, which mainly means power and spirit, all the good stuff.

“There is such a high percentage of Pasifika and Māori players in the NRL and NRLW we thought it was important for us to be that voice, for our people and to push where they feel comfortable.

“The game is already in a great position as it is. But we know we can make it better, by embracing some of the stuff that we do and vice versa.”

On the back of her sixth Māori All Stars campaign, Temara believes the competition and players can do a better job of carrying the learnings and practices from the camp into the regular NRL and NRLW seasons.

“I love every jersey that I play in but that camp, the Māori Jersey is where I'm the most comfortable,” Temara said.

“In any team, if you could make every person feel like they can be comfortable, be themselves and embrace that, their game will be better, the team's performance will be better and the game overall will be better.

“Going into Māori All Stars camp, I learned a lot about myself and about the girls around me and even the Indigenous girls as well.

“I think if we could embrace that a bit more in every team, the game will be in a better position in my eyes.”

Temara said she has also enjoyed the opportunity to work with fellow foundation members Paulo and Fisher-Harris, who have recently led their countries on the World Stage.

A proud Samoan, Paulo stamped himself as one of the game's best leaders when he took Samoa to a historic World Cup Final in 2022, while last year Fisher-Harris led New Zealand to their first win over Australia since 2018.

“I enjoyed seeing Junior captain Samoa and Fisher-Harris captain the Kiwis because you don't usually see the Pacific or Māori boys or girls taking those leadership roles, but when they get the chance, they really lead by example,” Temara said.

“They're natural leaders and it's not only great for the game but helps them grow too.

“We get really passionate about who we are and sometimes we just need those opportunities to push for bigger and better things for our people and for ourselves as well.

“I've definitely grown as a person and a player and I'm not saying that any other nation or race is not respectful, but in our culture and how we’re raised, you respect things and even if it's wrong you keep your mouth shut.

“But I think we're all growing and especially the leaders in this group and in the RLPA, I think it's our job to speak up about certain things.

“But I do see growth within the boys and within myself and to overcome that and still be respectful, but also to fight for what's right.”

Passionate about providing more opportunities for smaller nations within the NRL, former Kumuls Test captain and NRL winger and David Mead has jumped on board the initiative as an Independent Advisor.

“What they’re trying to do has a really good purpose so I thought I would jump on board and see how I could help," Mead told pan66.com.

“I think when it comes to having discussions around the game over things that are happening, I think it’s important to have representatives from the Māori and Pasifika group because they’re a big part of our game.

“When I was first coming through as a player, it was mainly only the Warriors that you saw Māori and Pasifika players in leadership positions.

“But now that group has grown it’s good to see more players from these backgrounds stepping up and being leaders across different clubs.

“I think Pacific Islanders are usually quite timid, especially in an environment where there’s a mixed group of cultures.

“Giving Māori and Pasifika players more of a platform and a voice definitely breaks barriers for more players to speak up and have an opinion on how the game can move forward.”