Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 20 August 1993 Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75 kg (11 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row, Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: RLP As of 3 November 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vanessa Foliaki (born 20 August 1993) is a New Zealand-born Australian rugby league footballer who plays for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Women in the NRL Women's Premiership and the Wentworthville Magpies in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.
Primarily a second-rower, she has represented Australia and New South Wales.
Background[edit]
Born in Auckland, Foliaki grew up in Māngere, where she played rugby union before moving to Australia in 2010.[1]
Playing career[edit]
In Australia, Foliaki first played rugby league for the Orange Hawks.[2] In 2014, Foliaki joined the Canley Vale Dragons in Sydney, and was selected to represent Australia and New South Wales.[3][4] In 2016, Foliaki moved to Queensland, joining the Burleigh Bears.[5]
In 2017, Foliaki and teammates Karina Brown and Sasha Mahuika left Burleigh to form the Easts Tigers women's team.[6] In December 2017, she was a member of Australia's 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup-winning squad.[7]
2018[edit]
In June, Foliaki represented NSW Country at the Women's National Championships.[8] In July, she joined the Sydney Roosters NRL Women's Premiership team.[9]
In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, Foliaki made her debut for the Sydney Roosters, starting at second-row in their 4–10 loss to the New Zealand Warriors.[10] On 30 September, she started at second-row in the Roosters' 12–34 Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos.
2019[edit]
On 21 June, Foliaki came off the bench in New South Wales' 14–4 State of Origin win over Queensland at North Sydney Oval.[11] She played three games for the Roosters during their winless 2019 NRL Women's season.
2020[edit]
In 2020, Foliaki joined the Mounties RLFC NSWRL Women's Premiership team before moving to the Wentworthville Magpies in August.[12][13] On 25 October, she started at second-row in the Roosters' 10–20 NRLW Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos.[14]
2022[edit]
In early June 2022, the Parramatta Eels announced that Foliaki had signed to play for the club in the 2022 NRL Women's season.[15][16]
Achievements and accolades[edit]
Team[edit]
- 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup: Australia – Winners
References[edit]
- ^ "Kiwi league star's Auckland family 'very proud'". NZ Herald. 23 June 2018.
- ^ "Vanessa Foliaki and Kaitlyn Phillips named in Country Rugby League's side for Women's National Championship". Central Western Daily. 8 May 2019.
- ^ "2014 Women's Interstate Challenge". NRL. 13 July 2014.
- ^ "Kiwi turned Jillaroo: former Emus rugby star a hit in league". Central Western Daily. 6 February 2015.
- ^ "Burleigh Bears co-captain Karina Brown would trade maiden Jillaroos try for win over New Zealand". Gold Coast Bulletin. 11 May 2016.
- ^ "Sign on for Easts Tigers Women's team". QRL. 12 January 2017.
- ^ "Here we go: Foliaki, Jillaroos primed for World Cup bid". Central Western Daily. 9 October 2017.
- ^ "Women's Nationals the perfect Origin appetiser". NRL. 29 May 2018.
- ^ "Love on the line when Brown and Foliaki clash in Origin". NRL. 14 June 2018.
- ^ "Roosters v Warriors NRLW Round 1 preview". NRL. 4 September 2018.
- ^ "Blues v Maroons Womens Origin preview". NRL. 14 June 2019.
- ^ "Major state competitions kick off in NSW and Queensland". NRL. 8 March 2020.
- ^ "Broncos, Queensland contingent join NSW women in season return". NRL. 1 August 2020.
- ^ "From on the outer to a grand final: Foliaki's turnaround pays off". NRL. 25 October 2020.
- ^ "2022 NRLW Squad Announcement". Parra Eels. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ Newton, Alicia (2 June 2022). "Eels find Vette-Welsh replacement with Olympic gold medallist". NRL. Retrieved 2 June 2022.