Super schoolgirls Malaela Su’a ready for Super W debut

Meet the super schoolgirls who will make history as Queensland’s youngest Super W rugby players.

She grew up playing football against the boys and now Logan schoolgirl Malaela Su’a is set to take on the best female rugby players representing Queensland’s Super W side.

Su’a, 16, a year 11 student at Mabel Park SHS, is so proud of her achievement that she gets emotional at the thought of playing senior representative rugby for Queensland.

“I can’t believe I am living the dream,’’ said Su’a.

“Ever since I was a little girl I dreamt of being in the Reds’ squad and sometimes I go to my room and start crying, or go to mum and dad who are so proud of me.’’

Two other schoolgirl teenagers, Keebra Park SHS products Skyla Adams and Imogen Hei, will join Su’a in the Queensland Super W squad when it is announced today. The Super W starts in two weeks.

All will play for Queensland as 16-year-olds, with Su’a the third youngest, Adams the second youngest and Hei the baby of the lot of them.

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It all started for Su’a playing backyard football with her sister and her cousin, PJ Su’a.

Then in primary school she would play in the Harris Field State School rugby league with the boys during the week, and then on the weekend play rugby union for Saints – again with the boys again.

Mabel Park SHS student Malaela Su'a will be one of the youngest player to represent the Queensland Super W rugby union team at 16. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Asked if playing with and against the boys as a child gave her a grounding to be successful, Su’a said: “100 percent it helped me a lot.

“You know how girls like boys, well I didn’t think of them as boys. I thought of them as my brothers when I took the field,’’ said Su’a, who will play inside centre.

“If I had been playing against the girls back then, I would not be where I am today. The boys were a big help to me and I appreciate them so much.

Keeba Park High student Skyla Adam. Picture: Jerad Williams

“The contact – I did not care if it was a big boy running at me. I would just hit him.’’

Su’a’s mother Aggie said she had no concerns about her daughter playing senior representative rugby – but she was nervous last year when she made her first grade debut for the Easts Tigers.

“I was really nervous but her dad (Semi) wasn’t,’’ Aggie said.

“I knew she was capable, but she was just so young. But she killed it. That is how come the Reds picked her up.’’

Mabel Park SHS student Malaela Su'a will be one of the youngest player to represent the Queensland Super W rugby union team at 16. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Her long time coach at Mabel Park SHS, Tamati Elers said Su’a’s “drive, commitment and humility are exceptional’’.

“The support from her parents and family must also be acknowledged and the Mabel Park High staff and students are extremely proud of her and her accomplishments.’’

Su’a said it has been amazing having Adams and Hei on the journey with her in representative football.

Ironically Hei is a halfback, No. 9, Adams a fly half, No. 10, and Su’a an inside centre – No. 12.

Keeba Park High student Skyla Adams, 16, has become one of the youngest player named in the Queensland Reds Super W Rugby team. Picture: Jerad Williams

Adams said it was possible that one day the three of them would line up together in the Queensland Super W starting side.

“It would be awesome if we all started together. It could happen,’’ said Adams.

Adams’ journey in sport started as a prominent netballer and touch football player in Perth, before she moved to the Gold Coast in primary school.

She was initially at Coomera State School and Helensvale SHS, but eventually settled at Keebra Park SHS.

Keeba Park High student Skyla Adams, 16, has become one of the youngest player named in the Queensland Reds Super W Rugby team. Picture: Jerad Williams

Adams said all her coaches along the way had contributed to her making the Reds Super W squad, but her first touch coach in Queensland, Lawrence Faifua, had played a big role.

“He was my first touch coach and he has always trained me. Even now,’’ Adams said.

Adams and Faifua have a link through Tweed Seagulls, Bond University rugby and touch football - Faifua is involved coaching in all three sports.

The sight of Faifua training Adams at the Coomera fields is as common as the sun setting.

Adams said the culture of Keebra Park SHS and the quality of her teammates had also played a huge role in her development. “We have a real sisterhood in our Academy.’’

Imogen Hei will be the youngest Super W Red. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)

“Everyone knows each other, we all get along and it is a really nice place to come back to. We are always there for each other.’’

Adams said her mum (Gaylene) and dad (Clayton) “still can’t get a jest of what I have done’’.

Adams said she had no doubt her grounding in touch football had given her a foundation to be successful.

Nathan Small, Keebra Park SHS Head of Department HPE, Basketball and Girls’ Sport Academies, said Adams was a “skilful ballplayer with deceptive speed’’.

“She is as tough as they come and is not afraid to throw her body on the line in defence.

“It is no surprise that despite her young age she is proving more than up to the task of playing alongside of and against some of the most elite women in rugby union.’’

Malaela Su'a in action as a primary school player. Now she is a Super W Queensland Reds rep.