Wallaroos Rugby: Waratahs gun Maya Stewart working hard for success

She only learned the rules of the game three years ago so how did this young Australian get herself on a world list of young rugby stars ready to shine in 2021?

Wallaroos players celebrate the try against New Zealand at Eden Park in 2019.

Life just a lot easier for hardworking Wallaroos youngster Maya Stewart.

When the rugby union talent moved from her family home in Nelson Bay to a share house at Maroubra she got back around 28 hours of travel time a week.

The former junior sprinter, long jumper and surf life saver also found her wallet had a chunk more change in it after forking out around $300 a week on petrol driving backwards and forwards to Waratahs and Randwick training.

Maya Stewart is a rising star of the game and playing for both the Waratahs and the Wallaroos.

And while she now works five days a week in child care on top of training for her club, state and country - rather than digging ditches for $200 a day as she has in the past - Stewart said she is finding juggling everything a lot easier without the extensive travel thrown in.

“I’m not sure people realise most of us work full-time, or study and then go to training at the end of long days,” she said. “Sometimes that can get pretty tiring. But we do it because we love it.”

Stewart, identified as a rising star by World Rugby, and her Wallaroos teammates were knocked for six when their World Cup in New Zealand later this year was rescheduled due to coronavirus.

Wallaroos players celebrate a Mahalia Murphy try against the New Zealand Black Ferns.

But at just 21 and a relative newcomer to the sport, Stewart will benefit from the extra time she has to learn a game she only started playing three years ago.

“It’s harder for some of the older girls who want to start families and stuff,” said Stewart, who will play Jack Scott Cup for Randwick this season.

Rugby Australia is working on a plan to have the Wallaroos play an assortment of internationals or tournaments in place of the postponed World Cup this year.

NSW WARATAHS DOMINATE 2021 WALLAROOS SQUAD

There are mothers, some new faces, an old favourite, Sevens Rugby speedsters and athletes who have dipped their toe into rugby league in recent times in the new Wallaroos squad.

Selectors have named a squad with an extra year to train for their World Cup in New Zealand following news of its postponement this week but still hopeful of playing a series of international matches in 2021.

Mahalia Murphy has returned to the squad from injury.

NSW Waratahs players dominate the squad which includes Grace Hamilton, who played NRLW with the Sydney Roosters last season, and Eva Karpani and Oneata Schwalger who both played with the St George Dragons in the past.

Mothers include Schwalger and Western Sydney Two Blues star Pauline Piliae, while former rugby league and Sevens player Mahalia Murphy is returning from injury.

Other NSW Waratahs players are Iliseva Batibasaga, Emily Chancellor, Lori Cramer, Piper Duck, Anita Faimasui-Brown, Georgina Friedrichs, Fiona Jones, Atasi Lafai, Lillyann Mason, Jemima McCalman, Arabella McKenzie, Layne Morgan, Sera Naiqama, Bridie O’Gorman, Maya Stewart and Adiana Talakai.

Grace Hamilton at the centre of the action against New Zealand.

Former Wallaroos captain Liz Patu has forced her way in alone with newbie O’Gorman who impressed at the NSW Chikarovski Cup late last year.

Following the postponement of the World Cup a revised program and Test match schedule is being drawn up for 2021.

Grace Hamilton with the Roosters last year.

Eva Karpani played NRLW with the Dragons.

2021 BUILDCORP WALLAROOS TRAINING SQUAD

Iliseva Batibasaga, NSW Waratahs, Emily Chancellor, NSW Waratahs, Bree-Anna Cheatham, Queensland Reds, Georgia Cormick, Melbourne Rebels, Lori Cramer, NSW Waratahs, Piper Duck, NSW Waratahs, Anita Faimasui-Brown, NSW Waratahs, Georgina Friedrichs, NSW Waratahs, Aleena Greenhalgh, Queensland Reds, Grace Hamilton, NSW Waratahs, Ariana Hira-Herangi, Western Force, Fiona Jones, NSW Waratahs, Eva Karpani, NSW Waratahs, Grace Kemp, Brumbies, Atasi Lafai, NSW Waratahs, Michaela Leonard, Brumbies, Lucy Lockhart, Queensland Reds, Nareta Marsters, Queensland Reds, Lillyann Mason, NSW Waratahs, Jemima McCalman, NSW Waratahs, Arabella McKenzie, NSW Waratahs. SQUAD CONTINUES BELOW

MORE SPORT

Cousin of Trbojevic brothers toughening up for her sport

Mum’s the word for this NSW Waratah

Positive Rugby state titles: venues, dates, pathways

Michelle Milward, Brumbies, Tiarah Minns, Melbourne Rebels, Averyl Mitchell, Queensland Reds, Layne Morgan, NSW Waratahs, Mahalia Murphy, NSW Waratahs, Sera Naiqama, NSW Waratahs, Bridie O’Gorman, NSW Waratahs, Liz Patu, Queensland Reds, Gabby Petersen, Brumbies, Pauline Piliae, NSW Waratahs, Trilleen Pomare, Western Force, Oneata Schwalger, NSW Waratahs, Christina Sekona, Queensland Reds, Cecilia Smith, Queensland Reds Tayla Stanford, Brumbies, Maya Stewart, NSW Waratahs, Adiana Talakai, NSW Waratahs Ashleigh Walker, Melbourne Rebels.

MORE LOCAL SPORT HERE

WANT MORE OF YOUR LOCAL NEWS? Bookmark your community homepage and never miss out. HERE’S HOW