Rugby: Wallaroo Waiaria Ellis Says New Zealand Was 'The Best Place To Debut'
Western Sydney schoolgirl Waiaria Ellis debuted for the Wallaroos last weekend, playing for her country against her other home side.
The Laurie O'Reilly cup match between the Black Ferns and the Wallaroos at Sky Stadium meant the Australian pocket rocket became the second-youngest debutant in Wallaroos history at 17 years and 305 days.
Ellis, who is nicknamed 'Baba', was just 60 days short of Caitlyn Halse's record set in 2024.
"I wasn't expecting to debut so soon. I thought that I would have had a few more training camps and that, because I'd been to a few, but I just wasn't expecting it, so it's literally so surreal," Ellis said.
"There's definitely no better place to debut, to be honest. Like, just being Māori, then being able to debut in New Zealand and versing New Zealand was pretty crazy, but it was amazing."
The Castle Hill High Schooler started in the number 14 jersey on the same wing as Katelyn Vaha'akolo.
The Black Ferns clinched a 37-12 win over the Aussies.
Her mum flew over the Tasman to the capital, and her koro, nan, and aunty drove down from Tūrangi.
The Ngāti Tūwharetoa descendant said that having the backing of her family was everything.
"I'm just so proud to be Māori. Our culture, our connection to the land, and just my family. Family is a lot to us. It is important."
Her dad Ben Ellis played in the NRL for St George Illawarra and captained the New Zealand Māori Rugby League team in 2008. Her sister Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis has also played in the NRLW for the Parramatta Eels.
The young Ellis looked up to both her dad and her big sister.
"My dad helped coach me and everything, and he played in the NRL as well. He knows a lot about footy and he's just helped me a lot with everything in my career.
"But then, a few years ago, my sister debuted for Para, Parramatta NRLW, and she was the first junior Parramatta player to play for the women - the first junior one to come through the path - she was actually a very big idol of mine, I looked up to her."
She also praised her teammate Caitlyn Halse, who is another strong contender for the number 15 jersey.
"She's very, very good, and she's so young, like, she's just a year older than me but she's achieved so much, and, she's just such a great player."
Ellis hasn't been playing the 15-aside game long but owes her nifty playmaking ability to rugby league - the sport she has been playing since she was five years old.
She has also worn the green and gold in junior Australian gymnastics, Oztag, and schoolgirls sevens.
In just her second year on the rugby pitch, she scored a spot in the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby Women's team at 16.
The Waratahs won the Super W championship back-to-back, defeating the Queensland Reds 43-21 this year.
"Super W season is one of my favourites. The girls are just really good to be around."
With a Wallaroo cap under her belt, Ellis wants to see where her rugby career can take her.
"Australia has given me everything, all my opportunities and stuff. So I feel like that's who I should be representing."
"But also, if I was in a black jersey, I'd be very proud to be in a black jersey as well - both I'd be very grateful for if I ever had to swap for anything."
And the utility back isn't limiting her options.
"I definitely would want to give sevens a crack."
But for now, Ellis' focus is impressing selectors for the Women's Rugby World Cup in England.
"Obviously I do other sports and stuff, but I've just been really concentrating on 15s, just because that's, like, the World Cup is literally the pinnacle of our sport. Everyone wants to achieve that, so that would be pretty amazing."
Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp said in a pre-match statement that the coaching staff are "all really pleased for Waiaria."
"She has an excellent skillset and her youthfulness has a great effect on the playing group. We are confident in her ability to take the next step at this level."
Australia is hosting Wales in a two-test series on 26 July in Brisbane and 1 August in Sydney in preparations for the Rugby World Cup.
A squad of 32 will be selected for the World Cup following the match in Sydney, then will jet off for the UK on 11 August.
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