Women’s Origin residency ruling allows Kiwis to play
MAITUA Feterika will achieve a dream she never knew was possible tomorrow night, when the Kiwi Ferns sensation dons the Maroons jersey.
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MAITUA Feterika will achieve a dream she never knew was possible tomorrow night, when the Kiwi Ferns sensation dons the Maroons jersey.
The women’s interstate clash will this year come under the State of Origin banner for the first time, but eligibility has still been determined by residency rules in some cases.
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With the female game still growing, the governing bodies wanted the best of the best to play in this year’s Origin, opening the door for the likes of Feterika and NSW utility Nita Maynard to feature.
Both starred for the Kiwi Ferns at last year’s World Cup and Feterika said she remains a proud New Zealander.
But she moved to Queensland at the start of this year to open herself up to better opportunities in the women’s game.
She just didn’t realise a Queensland jersey would be one such opportunity.
“I pinch myself every morning I wake up in Queensland camp,” she said.
“I’m shocked I’m representing Queensland … I’ve watched it but I didn’t really think I could make it.
“I’m from New Zealand but I’ve been in the country for four months. I wanted to put my name out there and motivate my nieces and nephews who are also playing footy.
“I wanted to set an example for them that you can chase your dreams. Moving here has given me a lot of opportunities, my family has seen a change in me, it’s more supportive here.”
Feterika will start in the second row tomorrow night, after her club Ipswich Brothers this year turned her from a centre into a forward.
Originally published as Women’s Origin residency ruling allows Kiwis to play