Leah-Rhys Rangi-Toka’s arrival at the Illawarra Steelers wasn’t part of the plan; in fact, coach Jamie Szczerbanik admits she came “unexpectedly.”
“We had a couple of injuries during preseason, which left us a little bit short, positionally, in the forwards,” Szczerbanik said.
“Some footage of her came across our desk, and we thought we’d give her the opportunity to come in on a train-and-trial.
“She picked up everything quickly as far as our style of play, and she bought into what we were about from day one.
“She probably got her opportunity a little bit sooner than what she and the club expected, but she’s taken that opportunity with both hands and hasn’t let herself or the team down.”
For the 22-year-old, the move to Wollongong happened almost by chance.
“I actually didn’t have plans to play rugby league this year, but Jamie reached out through my uncle,” Rangi-Toka said.
“My uncle said, ‘I’ve got a girl that knows how to play rugby league,’ and Jamie said, ‘I’ll have her.’ And here we are.”
Family connection
Hailing from Huntly in New Zealand’s Waikato region, Rangi-Toka has rugby league in her blood.
“I have a big family background back home. My auntie Harata Butler played for the Warriors, and one of my cousins, Mya-Hill Moana, plays for the Warriors too.
“My pops played; my uncle played, I guess it’s just generational. I jumped on the bandwagon,” she said with a laugh.
Before moving to Australia, she captained the Auckland Vulcans, winning the club’s Player of the Year award.
“That was pretty nice,” she said.
“It’s another level over here, though. In New Zealand, it’s more up the guts. Over here in Australia, it’s fast, skill-wise it’s on another level too.”
New challenge
The step-up in competition has also come with a positional change.
“I wasn’t a prop before I came here, I was more of a utility,” Rangi-Toka explains.
“But over here I’m a prop, and I’m happy with that because it’s always been a position I’ve wanted to play.
“It’s good to play where you’re valued, and I’ve earned that spot.”
Match Centre
Her Steelers debut came quickly, and her family only found out by surprise.
“They didn’t actually know until I played against the Roosters (Round 3),” she said.
“They said my name and were like, ‘Excuse me, what’s happening here?’ and I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, this is happening.'”
She describes the welcome at the Steelers as warm, despite joining late.
“They’ve welcomed me with open hands. You’ve got to earn your spot to get respected, but I understood that, and they’ve all been great.”
Ambition
Looking ahead, the affable Rangi-Toka’s ambitions are clear.
“The big goal is obviously NRLW,” she said.
“Anyone that has me, maybe the Dragons, maybe even the Warriors, I don’t mind staying here either.”
Considering her family’s strong ties to rugby league, and recent form, it may not be all that surprising if Rangi-Toka becomes the next relative to join the ranks of the NRLW.
Words | Angelina Raula