With family going for either team, Wallaroos wunderkind Waiaria Ellis is hoping to convert more to the gold as she prepares to take on the Black Ferns on ANZAC Day.
Ellis will start at fullback in Saturday’s game on the Sunshine Coast, the first time the two teams will face off on the special day.
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The 18-year-old has deep connections to New Zealand as a proud Maori woman, making her debut against the Black Ferns in Wellington last year.
Having come through the Waratahs system, Ellis remains committed to Australia and is looking to turn her family that still hold their loyalty to the black jersey.
“My immediate family, I'm hoping, are going for me, but I know some of my uncles and aunties, my koro [grandfather] and some of my other extended family back home in NZ, they go for New Zealand,” she explained.
“They go for the Black Ferns and the All Blacks, but I'm hoping that I can turn them and get them to become Wallaroos fans.”
In her second year in the program, Ellis is drawing on the experience of fellow young gun Faitala Moleka and Waratahs teammates Desiree Miller and Maya Stewart.
The fast-footed Ellis has been used consistently as a finisher in the Pacific Four series, missing the Fijiana game due to injury.
As she gets the chance to start at fullback, communication and consistency remain key to her growth.
“I think for me it's just trying to be a better player every day and just learning new things…growing up, it’s always just been hard work beats talent. Talent gets you so far, hard work gets you to where you want to be,” she expressed.
“It’s always about the basics, I think, just making sure I'm doing what I'm good at as best as I can and then learning new things and building my craft. I’m just trying to become a better player every day and just remembering where I am, what I want to achieve and just doing what I can to achieve those little things.
“I think also becoming more of a leader on the field and off the field [is a key work-on]. Obviously, being in the halves is a key playing position for the team. I've got to lead them around, so I just need to be more confident with myself and leading the girls on the field in a better way.
Ellis was relishing the chance to experience the Black Ferns war cry once again after her debut, but knows there’s a job to do once the whistle starts.
“It's always an honour to be facing the Haka and I got to face one last year, which was pretty surreal and I think just being able to face another one, it always gives me goosebumps,” she added.
“I'm a proud Māori girl as well, but then knowing how proud the Black Ferns are when they do the Haka and just facing one and being on the other side of it, it's pretty crazy.
“It gives me goosebumps all the time.”
