Dragons recruit Eva Karpani hits internet to learn rules ahead of women’s NRL
IT could well be one of the most unusual ways of getting a rugby league contract — hitting the internet to learn the rules of the game.
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IT could well be one of the most unusual ways of getting a rugby league contract - hitting the internet to learn the rules of the game.
But when you come from an AFL city like Adelaide and play rugby union, it was the best way for Dragons signing Eva Karpani to get a crash course in the code.
The former teenage sevens star, dubbed a female ‘Jonah Lomu’ for her speed and strength during last year’s ARU University Women’s Sevens, is now firmly entrenched in rugby league territory after picking up one of 22 contracts on offer at the Dragons for the inaugural women’s NRL competition.
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With little more than a handful of rugby league games under her belt, Karpani is now preparing alongside the likes of Jillaroos stars Sam Bremner and Kezie Apps for next month’s start of the competition.
Scouted playing in a Combined Affiliated States game and invited into a Jillaroos camp last year, Karpani, 22, is working overtime to bring herself up to speed with the nuances of the game.
“When I played that game a year ago I didn’t know any of the rules so I had to look it up on the internet to learn,” said Karpani, whose highlight reel from the Uni 7’s series last season went viral and earned her a comparison to the late Lomu, a player she said inspired her.
I just love my footy and the club, the girls here are just awesome. If I could sleep on the grass I would
“I also watched as many game of NRL as I could so I could study them.
“I just get the ball and run. When I first played I didn’t know what I was doing.
“I had trouble with doing a tackle. Instead of jumping straight off I had to stay on a bit. I’m so used to in rugby union getting up.”
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Karpani, the second youngest of 10 siblings, studies coach Daniel Lacey’s play book each night and is embracing the new challenge.
“I just love my footy and the club, the girls here are just awesome,” she said.
“If I could sleep on the grass I would.”
Karpani said it was her partner Lyle who urged her to resume her sporting career after she broke her collarbone and went to work in an oil and gas mine outside of Adelaide for two years.
“I was earning good money as an 18-year-old but I wasn’t happy, wasn’t doing what I loved,” she said.
“I ended up pulling my finger out, coming home, started a job and playing rugby sevens and 15 in Adelaide.
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“Then this happened. Such a big opportunity. I’m just excited about the opportunities coming my way.”
The women’s NRL competition will be run during the NRL finals series.
The Dragons squad is headed by Jillaroos stars Sam Bremner, Kezie Apps and Talesha Quinn, with six local players and numerous internationals including New Zealand great Honey Hireme.