The family sacrifice that laid foundation for Mato's rise

Harvey Norman Jillaroos star Shannon Mato has opened up on the sacrifices her mother made to set up a new life for her family in Australia.

The forward was born in New Zealand and was 13 when her mum moved across the Tasman to lay the foundation for the rest of the family. 

A few months later, Mato and her four siblings joined their mother in Queensland and they haven't looked back. 

Now, the Jillaroos star is preparing to represent her country in her new home town when Australia open their Pacific Championships campaign against Papua New Guinea in Brisbane on Friday night. 

For Mato, there will be one particular face in the crowd at Suncorp Stadium that stands out. Her mum Cheryle. 

"My mum went over to Australia first to work and set up a house for us," Mato told pan66.com. "She was doing all the hard work and my older siblings were looking after us little ones [in New Zealand]. 

"When we came over we were reunited again. That's why I love Australia because of all it's done for me and my family. It's given me opportunities like playing rugby league and awesome mates that are now my lifelong friends. 

"It's really special for her to watch me play for Australia. At first she didn't know how to watch rugby league but now I know she's very proud of me and it's cool to have that support. Playing in front of her is a way to say thank you for my mum because she was so selfless and sacrificed a lot for us kids."

The next two weeks provide Mato the opportunity to embrace both her new home and her cultural identity as the Jillaroos prepare to play in Brisbane and against New Zealand in Christchurch. 

The 26-year-old has embraced the opportunity to learn more about her Māori heritage in recent years and used a trip to Rotorua for the 2023 All Stars match to dive deeper into her ancestry. 

Mato recognises it will be emotional to return to New Zealand next week but is excited to share the experience with her Australian teammates. 

"I've been able to be part of the All Stars campaign so I know that feeling," she said. "It's a bit overwhelming but it's so special I get to share my culture with some of the girls. 

"That's been a beautiful piece that I carry within this camp. I still get to be myself and be proud of my heritage and culture but I'm also very grateful for what [Australia] has done for me and my family. 

"It's a really beautiful place and I'm honoured to be given the opportunity to represent Australia."

Since transitioning from rugby union to rugby league in 2020, Mato has developed into one of the most damaging forwards in the game. 

The prop was dominant during Queensland's come-from-behind victory in this year's State of Origin campaign and was awarded the Nellie Doherty Medal for player of the series. 

Mato made her Jillaroos debut in 2022 and has developed into a leader within the Australian squad as the team looks to build to the 2026 World Cup. 

With a number of new faces joining the side for the Pacific Championships campaign, the forward is eager to help pave the way for the next crop of players.

"It's surreal that I'm one of the leaders in the team because this team's filled with leadership," she said. 

"We feed off each other and that's the beauty of this team, we all step up when we need to.