How the North Queensland Cowboys unearthed Tongan test bolter Ana Malupo

The Northern Territory talent will have the opportunity to debut for Tonga in the next fortnight. Find out when Cowboys NRLW coach Ricky Henry knew Malupo had a big future in rugby league.

North Queensland Cowboys NRLW player Ana Malupo has been selected for Tonga. Picture: North Queensland Cowboys

North Queensland NRLW coach Ricky Henry believes breakout sensation Ana Malupo can take the biggest step in her rugby league development so far during this year’s Pacific Championship.

Malupo earnt a shock call up to Tonga for the upcoming tournament in the same week that the Cowboys prospect agreed to an extension with North Queensland that will see her elevated to the NRLW squad in 2025.

Henry, who is also the head coach of New Zealand’s women’s side, said he was looking forward to seeing the 19-year-old’s raw talent being further refined in the international arena.

“It’s awesome for Ana to make the Tongan team, they’ve assembled a really good team and she’ll play a big part in it,” Henry said.

“I reckon she’ll probably get an opportunity on the wing because she’s fast and I think she’ll thrive there.

Womens rugby league game between Charters Towers and Western Lions. Lions Ana Malupo. Picture: Evan Morgan

“That’s where she played her first trial game of NRLW this year and played really well. She’ll take a lot of confidence out of that trial game going into the Pacific Champs.”

Malupo is a blistering outside back who moved to Townsville from the Northern Territory in early 2023 for greater rugby league opportunities, quickly catching the eye of Cowboys coaches and earning a development contract.

The scorching speedster graduated from Kirwan State High School last year, earning the school’s best and fairest award to go with her Rugby League Townsville and District best back trophy.

Ana Malupo of the Kirwan Grizzlies will play in the state final of the 2023 NRL Schoolgirls Cup, with the winner progressing to a national final for the first time. Picture: Courtney Thomson.

Last year this masthead crowned Malupo the best female grassroots player in Queensland, signalling her huge future in the sport.

Henry said he knew Malupo had talent in spades when he first saw the long-legged fullback playing for the Townsville Blackhawks.

“I saw her play down in Mackay for the Blackhawks under-19s and really liked the way she plays. She’s quite a tall, athletic person so I was keen to watch her a couple more times and I did that and was really happy with what she did,” Henry said.

“She’s obviously athletic and can do things that other players simply can’t, so I thought there was a lot more development in her.

“We invited her in to train with us for our six-week pre-season block. It took her a little while to understand what training meant and how to train like a professional, but once she grasped that she was away.

North Queensland Cowboys NRLW player Ana Malupo. Picture: North Queensland Cowboys

“We want to be really patient with her, to get her physically stronger, fitter and understand the game more. We haven’t really worked out where she’s going to play but what we do know is we’ve got an athlete that will fill out and be this strong, big and tall outside back.”

The Tonga XIII women begin their campaign against Fetu Samoa on Saturday, October 19, in Suva. Kick-off is at 4pm AEST.

TOWNSVILLE STARS SET FOR BIGGEST TESTS

Some of Townsville’s greatest rising rugby league talents will have the opportunity to play on the biggest stage of their careers in the upcoming international window.

Townsville Blackhawks flyer Dudley Dotoi has been called into the PNG men’s PM’s XIII side after a sensational Queensland Cup season where he scored 11 tries in 14 appearances, while Ana Malupo eyes her international debut with Tonga.

North Queensland’s 2024 NRLW winger Lavinia Tauhalaliku was also selected for Tonga while Sareka Mooka and Essay Banu were selected for Papua New Guinea’s PM’s XIII along with 2023 Cowboys Jessikah Reeves and Sera Koroi.

North Queensland Cowboys NRLW player Sareka Mooka. Picture: North Queensland Cowboys.

Cowboys centre Jakitya Whitfeld was North Queensland’s only NRLW player selected for Australia while Vitalina Naikore was selected for Fiji.

North Queensland NRLW coach Ricky Henry said it was testament to the club’s strong foundations.

“We’re really stoked, we got quite a few players selected for internationals,” Henry said.

Essay Banu is tackled by Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis and Kennedy Cherrington of the Eels. (Photo by Russell Freeman/Getty Images)

“We’re really happy with the development of the squad and it’s a reward for where the players have been performing this year and what they’ve done, so I can’t wait to watch them go around.

“What we’re trying to do as a club is trying to have a bit of a pathway for our local, regional players that they can step into.

“We want to really promote that and try to help them so that there’s a pathway for players to step through.”

Cowboys legend Jason Taumalolo will co-captain Tonga with young gun Kulikefu Finefeuiaki also selected for the squad, while winger Semi Valemei was selected by the Fiji Bati.

Earlier in the week Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden and Reece Robson were selected for the Kangaroos, Griffin Neame was selected for the Kiwis and Sam McIntyre was selected for Anthony Albanese’s PM’S XIII.

Originally published as How the North Queensland Cowboys unearthed Tongan test bolter Ana Malupo