‘If you run it straight I’ll handle you’: NRLW sisters Trinity and Alexis Tauaneai collide for first time
They’ve played their whole lives together, but powerful Tauaneai sisters Trinity and Alexis will clash for the first time when the Bulldogs face the Dragons on Saturday.
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It’s a packed home in many ways. Talent being the biggest.
Tauaneai sisters Alexis and Trinity could start an NRLW dynasty when the close-knit siblings face each other for the first time on Saturday.
After moving over from New Zealand two years ago to chase a rugby league career, the pair live in Liverpool with their parents, as well as younger sister Paige, who has a development contract with St George Illawarra, and older sister Brooke who plays NSW Harvey Norman women’s competition with the Dragons too.
A dream of one day playing together could become a reality, but for now, Canterbury edge forward Alexis, 20, and rising Dragons prop Trinity, 18, will fly the family flag.
“We’re very competitive, it’s probably unhealthy,” Alexis says.
MAKING MOVES
Alexis was one of the first signings for the inaugural Bulldogs NRLW team this year, leaving the Dragons and her little sisters after two seasons at the club.
Trinity made her NRLW debut in round one, and Saturday’s date has been circled in the calendar since, when the undefeated Bulldogs host the Dragons at Accor Stadium.
Alexis has been one of the form players of the competition for the past fortnight, making 381 metres across the first two games, while Trinity has also been impressive off the bench for the Dragons.
“Obviously there’s banter in the house, which is what you want,” she says ahead of her third NRLW game.
“It’s like, ‘If you run it straight at me, I am going to handle you’.
“But I’m not going to go looking for her, if she comes for me she comes for me.
“It should be a good show.”
TRANS-TASMAN SWITCH
The entire family moved across from New Zealand at the start of 2023.
Alexis and Brooke arrived first, with the rest following just four months later.
They knew they had to be in Australia to take their rugby league career seriously, but it meant leaving their beloved hometown of Wainuiomata, a small area near Wellington.
“Growing up around sport, this is what I want to be doing. We knew we had to make that move to pursue our careers and our parents made that sacrifice and we’re so grateful that they did,” Trinity says.
“I’m always thinking about home, I miss it a lot.
“It’s a small suburb but a lot of talent.”
Their dream is to play NRLW together, along with 17-year-old Paige, who has just finished a dominant season with the Bulldogs’ Lisa Fiaola Cup squad.
All three have come through the Bulldogs’ lower grades system, with Alexis returning to the club to play NRLW this year.
It meant pressing pause on their dream of playing together. For now.
“Our parents are really big on wanting all of us to play together one day, but we need to build ourselves individually before we are blessed with the opportunity to all play together,” Alexis says.
“When I made my decision to come back to the Bulldogs, Trin was in the middle of making her deal to stay with the Dragons.
“That did come into my mind when I was thinking about my future and what I wanted and where I could grow my footy before we come back together.
“My plan was to come here whether she was at the Dragons or not. I was more excited to play against her anyway.
“It’s a much more interesting game if we’re playing against each other for the first few years, but I definitely want us to play together one day.”
NOT ALEXIS’S SISTER, SHE’S MINE
Alexis is on a sharp rise.
She made her debut for the Kiwi Ferns last year and is quickly building a reputation as one of the game’s most powerful forwards.
Trinity is proud of course, but wants to carve out her own path and there’s already excitement about her future in the game.
“We have such a good relationship, but Alexis has made a way for herself and it’s something that I need to do now too, is start living and making my own name, not as her little sister,” she says.
“(When she signed with the Bulldogs) I thought, ‘How am I going to cope with her being over there?’
“She’s someone I could fall back on with anything.
“But that was her choice for her, and I’m here supporting her with whatever she does.”
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