New Zealand’s Teuila Fotu-Moala named Player of the Tournament for Women’s World Cup

NEW Zealand’s Teuila Fotu-Moala was named the Player of the Tournament for the Women’s World Cup after a stunning campaign to get her side into Saturday’s final.

Fotu-Moala has been a powerful force for the Ferns. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

TEUILA Fotu-Moala has come a long way from her days of sneaking out of the house to play rugby league.

On Wednesday the Kiwi Ferns sensation was named the Player of the Tournament for the women’s World Cup after a stunning campaign so far to get her side into Saturday’s final.

But just four years ago she was struggling to play the game she loved because her family did not find the sport to be feminine nor did they think she should skip Sunday church for games.

It meant Fotu-Moala had to become a “rebel” at the age of 19, but her decision to put rugby league first has paid off in a big way.

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Fotu-Moala with her award. Photo: Liam Kidston

“At the start of my journey, (my family) weren’t that supportive only because it wasn’t feminine to be out of the house and training at night,” she said.

“I wasn’t allowed to play on Sundays ... my family would try to stop me from playing. But I kept sneaking out of the house and going anyway.

“I know you’re supposed to be at church but I just went. They wanted me to be really traditional but I rebelled against everything.

“When they saw how well I was doing they realised that if this was my talent, I should go ahead. They no longer said no.

“They know that I have my head in the right place and I’m trying to achieve goals.”

Fotu-Moala, who also celebrated her 24th birthday on Wednesday, is starting to become a cult figure in the women’s game thanks to her hard-hitting ways and incredible talent with the ball.

The aggressive forward has been labelled a “jukebox” by rugby league great Darren Lockyer because “the hits keep on coming” and has also drawn comparisons with Jason Taumalolo over the course of the tournament.

Fotu-Moala has been a powerful force for the Ferns. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

She will need to maintain that tough attitude if the Kiwis are to beat Australia in Saturday’s final at Suncorp Stadium.

And Fotu-Moala said it is her brother Fata who she owes thanks to for turning her into the tackling machine she is today.

“I’m a real softie. I’m not as scary as I look on the field,” she said.

“But (the aggression) came from my brother. My brother would smack me over. He would walk past me and put a shoulder into me.

“But I started giving it back to him and I just got used to it and put it on the field. It’s all credit to my brother for smashing me around the house.”