Girl power reigns supreme in the Metropolitan East rugby side with Malaela Su’a selected for State Championships

GIRL power reigns supreme in the Metropolitan East rugby union representative side with Logan Saints player Malaela Su’a in the team to play at the State Championships.

Malaela Su’a in action.

GIRL power reigns supreme in the Metropolitan East rugby union representative side. Shailer Park’s Malaela Su’a sees to that.

Su’a, 12, who plays for Logan Saints, is the only girl in the representative team to play at the State Championships at Surfers Paradise, from today, August 3 until August 6.

She is one of six players from Logan Saints to make the team, a historic high number of players from the club to make one representative.

And by no means is Su’a intimidated by the boys.

“She has always been the only girl in her team,’’ said mum Agnes Uoka.

“Everyone in the area knows who she is. She always makes the Met East team for union.’’

While her team mates at Harris Field State School and at Logan City Saints know of her capabilities, opposition boys can be taken by surprise.

“The boys are used to her because most (of her team mates) are her cousins. No one holds back – they hit each other really hard,’’ Uoka said. “(But) it is boys from other teams, sometimes they think she is really girlie, but she is not.

“They get shocked and don’t want to run at her any more. She has no fear.’’

Not only is Malaela a good player, she is also a tactician from inside centre.

“She calls the shots, the moves,’’ Uoka said.

Malaela has been playing rugby since she was six and has benefited from individual coaching from her uncle, former Australian seven-a-side player James Su’a.

“That is why she has been playing outstanding since then (aged six) and making rep teams,’’ Uoka said..

Inspired by the women’s gold medal-winning performance in seven-a-side rugby at the Rio Olympics, Malaela wants to play senior sevens for Australia.