A breakout campaign as a young leader in St George Illawarra’s NRLW pack saw Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa earn a maiden Kiwi Ferns call-up for their 2023 campaign.
Auckland-born Teakaraanga-Katoa came through North Sydney Bears’ ranks to make her NRLW debut in 2022 for Sydney Roosters, making a lone appearance for the club as an interchange.
But the 21-year-old continued to progress with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, forcing her way into the City Origin side and becoming a key member of the Dragons’ engine-room. Teakaraanga-Katoa played all nine of the Saints’ 2023 NRLW matches, including three starts in the front-row.
Teakaraanga-Katoa played in all three matches of the Kiwi Ferns’ post-season foray in 2023, debuting at prop with 10 runs for 100 metres and 29 tackles in the loss to the Jillaroos in Townsville. She held the starting role for the wins over Tonga and Australia, producing similarly industrious displays.
Again a permanent, industrious fixture at prop for the Dragons in 2024 – averaging 140 metres and 29 tackles per game – to shape as a key member of the Kiwi Ferns’ Pacific Championships charge.
Teakaraanga-Katoa was a workhorse for New Zealand in all three Tests, averaging 119 run metres and 23 tackles. Her industrious efforts were rewarded with a maiden international try in the 36-0 win over Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
