Negatives brushed: Humble grandma fends off doubts in born-again move
After more than three decades dedicated to her family, this humble grandmother has broken the shackles and now the hearts of young defenders in a life-changing switch to rugby league. Here’s how.
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This is no ordinary footy yarn, it’s the story of a broad-shouldered grandmother. One who at the ripe old age of 52 has decided to wedge her head in rugby league scrums.
She’s the doting mother of four and former wife of a pastor who, after decades of unselfishness, has finally found the light.
In fact, the longer Leah Alefaio-Stevenson speaks the harder it is to reconcile that after a 34-year absence from any organised sport, she now rotates alongside daughter Tessa in the Campbelltown Collegians front row.
“I’ve never played before and all the girls in my team just look at me, the youngest is just 17 – I’m still trying to get my head around it,” a humble Leah said.
And just to be clear, this is no Sunday afternoon touch or tag in the local park. The Macarthur Open Age Women’s competition is littered with aspiring talent already on pathways towards the NRLW.
Furthermore, Collegians is unbeaten after nine rounds and captained by Aggie Dean, a Cook Islands rep at last year’s Women’s World Cup in England.
“It just happened,” Leah explained.
“I took Tessa to training and Aggie asked who I was and then told Tessa, ‘I like her shoulders, I want her in the team’.”
“We both come from Wellington in New Zealand, but I wasn’t sure if Aggie was joking. At first I wrote it off due to my age and fitness.”
Having raised four children now aged 22 to 30, the pieces of an unsuspecting rugby league career began coming together last year.
“I’ve had a full on life. I’ve always been a motherly figure to my family, and always supported my elderly parents,” she said.
“It really started after my divorce. I went through depression and then weight gain, but when I finally let go of the marriage, I think I found myself.
“My mum headed back to New Zealand, she wanted to give me more freedom. I’ve never had that, I’ve always had to care for basically everyone in my family, and then the grandkids came along.”
But freedom to play footy?
“I always used to join my brothers and cousins when they played rugby when I was a kid, and no one could tackle me back then,” the proud Samoan said of a talent that she’d kept from her children.
“I guess there’s always been a yearning to rediscover my youth.”
With the all-clear from the GP, the next stumbling block came when the online registration process crashed after the fresh-faced prop entered her age.
On the track, Leah shed 12kg and was quickly christened ‘Mumsy’ by her supportive Collies teammates.
Rocked after her granddaughter commented that ‘old people can’t play football’, she immediately booked annual leave fearing her debut could lead to a long recovery.
But since strapping on the headgear and biting down on her mouthguard ‘Mumsy’ hasn’t looked back, and in her last start carried five defenders along for the ride.
“My body pulls up fine, I can’t believe it,” the fearless wrecking ball said of her second coming. “I really enjoy the sport and I’ve got my time – I’m finally doing something for myself that I really enjoy.
“Everyone has been so supportive, the team is like an extended family. My brothers can’t believe it and there’s even been positive comments on Tessa’s facebook page from members of my former church.”
Pressed on advice she has for other women, Leah simply tucked the question under her arm like a footy and headed straight for the posts.
“Don’t focus on age, weight and negatives – with a positive mindset and willpower, women are unstoppable.”
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