21 July 2025

As seen on nrl.com

Wainuiomata sister duo Alexis and Trinity Tauaneai went head-to-head for the first time in the NRLW, when the Bulldogs hosted the Dragons at Accor Stadium on Saturday.

The sisters had been eying the Round 3 clash since the start of the season, with it marked in the calendar on their living room wall.

Alexis and Trinity shared their excitement and anticipation ahead of the game, “We’ve always played on the same team, never against each other, so it’ll definitely be different,” said 20-year-old Alexis, who was one of the first players signed by the Bulldogs for their inaugural NRLW season.

“We are always very competitive. Even when we play together, we’re always yelling at each other – she will always give it to me, a lot of banter and that kind of stuff.

“Running against each other will be a bit different, but it should be exciting.”

20-year-old Alexis broke onto the NRLW scene in 2023, shining for the Dragons in 2023 and 2024 before making her Test debut for the Kiwi Ferns in last year’s Pacific Championships. Her maiden campaign was impressive, earning her the Kiwi Ferns Rookie of the Year award.

Alexis, alongside younger sister Trinity, 18, played junior football for their local Wainuiomata Lions in Lower Hutt, both being standouts in Aotearoa before making the move across the ditch.

2022 was Alexis’ breakout year as a youth. She represented the Wellington Orcas in the inaugural NZRL National District 9s Tournament where she dominated, being named Tournament MVP. Later that year, she represented the Upper Central Stallions in the first-ever NZRL National Girls Youth Tournament, where yet again she showed her skill and power, earning selection in the NZRL Girls 18s Clubs representative side. This string of outstanding performances on the national stage saw her awarded NZRL 18s Girls Player of the Year for 2022.

Following closely behind in her footsteps, in 2022 Trinity represented the Wellington Orcas at the NZRL National Youth Tournament, then was selected in the first NZRL Aotearoa Whaanui 16s representative team. In 2023 the Orcas 16s Girls team won the NZRL National District 9s, spearheaded by Trinity who was named Tournament MVP just like her sister the year prior.

The sisters made the move to Australia to pursue an NRLW career, along with older sister Brooke, who plays for the Dragons in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership, and younger sister Paige, currently on an NRLW development contract also at the Dragons.

When Dragons coach Nathan Cross first met Trinity, he asked if she was Alexis’s sister, and she replied “No, she’s my sister. I’m the best sister”.

While there is a strong rivalry between Alexis and Trinity, the sisters are also extremely close and support each other off the field.

“She has got my back, and I have got hers,” Trinity said.

“I don’t tell her this much, but I do look up to her. She is a role model for me, and I hope she knows that.

“The way she plays, I just try and critique my game in ways that reflect hers. We’ve got different skill sets, so I‘m sure we’ll use that on the weekend.

“I think I’m more of a ball player, [whereas] she’s got a bigger engine, but I’m getting there. I think I’ve got some defence on her, I hit harder, but she’ll definitely get me. She’s gunning for me, I know that.”

Alexis always knew her younger sister would join her in the NRLW, with Trinity’s attitude and confidence convincing Cross she was ready for Round 1.

After a strong debut against the Raiders, Trinity won the St George Illawarra coaches award for her performance in their 24-10 loss to the Roosters.

“I knew she had it in her, she has a good attitude, she can definitely walk what she talks. I was very excited for her when I heard the news [about her debut],” Alexis said.

The game was an intensely close contest with the Tauaneai’s and their teammates battling it out on the pitch. The Bulldogs were downed 18-14 after a try with just 30 seconds remaining, giving the visiting Dragons the victory.

Alexis was massively instrumental for the Bulldogs, making more tackles and run metres than all players from both sides, with 40 tackles and 192 metres.

Holding her own, the younger Trinity made 18 tackles and took 8 runs for 78 metres, coming on as an interchange prop with 46 minutes of game time for the victorious Dragons.

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