Maarire Puketapu signs with New Zealand Warriors for 2025 NRLW season
Just two years after picking up a footy, Sunshine Coast female rugby league talent Maarire Puketapu is excited to return home and represent the Warriors NRLW side. See what she had to say.
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A former softball star who only picked up the footy two years ago has now signed with the New Zealand Warriors for the 2025 NRLW season.
Kawana Dolphins premiership winning captain and player of the final, Maarire Puketapu has been offered a full time one year contract with a Warriors club option.
After only making the move to the Sunshine Coast in 2023, in pursuit of more opportunities in the female game, the 22-year-old has rapidly progressed in the past 18 months.
“I first visited the Sunshine Coast in 2022 while on holiday and ended up asking my cousin (Stevie-Ray Haenga-Albert) if I could have a run around with the Kawana women’s team,” she said.
“I ended up playing quite well and the coach at the time, Rob Brough, asked me if I’d consider moving over while explaining the opportunities in Australia.”
Puketapu had only just completed the first year of her electrical engineering studies but made the move a week later and within months earned a BMD Premiership debut with the Central Queensland Capras.
Puketapu made three appearances for the Capras during the 2023 season before a head injury ruled her out for the remainder of the competition and she moved back to New Zealand for family reasons.
Once back on the Sunshine Coast, Puketapu was quickly boosted into the inaugural Falcons BMD squad where she played every single match of the 2024 season.
After claiming back-to-back titles with Kawana, Puketapu’s manager Orewa Goldsmith sent off some highlight packages to various teams.
“In all honesty I didn’t think anything would come of it but not long after Ronald Griffiths (Warriors NRLW head coach) gave me a call and things slowly started to progress from there,” Puketapu said.
“I was actually at work when I got the call from Goldsmith and at first he told me ‘nah it doesn’t look like the Warriors want you’ so obviously I was gutted until he said he was joking around with me and that they were actually offering me a full contract.
“At first I didn’t even know how to feel, it didn’t feel real at all but I hung up the phone and said something along the lines of ‘f**k I’m going to be a Warrior’.
The damaging second row forward said she was extremely excited for the move back home.
“I know many girls from New Zealand that move to Australia at a young age to pursue rugby league and I know how hard that can be which is what makes me even more grateful for this opportunity.
“Coming from a strong cultural background it definitely is something that I miss about home and can’t wait to be immersed in that again, however in saying that I do love and respect the culture here in Australia.
“I think just being able to play for a team from home is something I’m super excited about, representing your home is a feeling you just can’t explain.”
Puketapu said she owed a lot to Brough for his encouragement while also thanking her teammates, the Kawana Dolphins, Sunshine Coast Falcons and wider sporting community.
“My rugby league journey has definitely been a gradual progression,” she said.
“I first played with the slightest knowledge on rugby league due to playing softball my entire life but I can say that the knowledge I have gained with Kawana and the Falcons has most definitely put me in the position I am in today.
“I’m determined to cement myself in the team as a starting player or to ensure I make the playing side every week.
“My main focus this year is to work hard to show I belong in the position that I’m in and willing to do anything to keep it.
“Long term I haven’t really thought too hard about it, however inspiring young women into loving the game of rugby league would definitely be up there.”
Originally published as Maarire Puketapu signs with New Zealand Warriors for 2025 NRLW season
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