Richmond Roses centre/second-rower Crystal Tamarua has become a regular in the Kiwi Ferns’ pack in recent seasons.
The 21-year-old debuted in the 2017 Anzac Test loss to the Jillaroos, but she went on to represent Cook Islands at the World Cup at the end of the season.
Tamarua, who also turned out for Akarana in the NZRL National Women’s Competition, was part of the Kiwi Ferns’ wider squad in 2018 but did not play a Test. However, she did earn a place in the Warriors’ inaugural NRLW squad and made a solid impression in the front-row in their loss to St George Illawarra.
She was a standout off the bench in the Kiwi Ferns’ mid-2019 clash with Fetu Samoa, racking up 85 running metres in the 46-8 victory. After featuring in a third straight Auckland grand final loss with the Roses, Tamarua backed up for a second NRLW campaign and started all three of the Warriors’ matches in the second-row.
Tamarua was subsequently one of New Zealand’s most effective forwards in the World Cup Nines final defeat of Australia, before notching 70 metres and 26 tackles in a wholehearted second-row performance as the Kiwi Ferns went down to the Jillaroos in the Wollongong-hosted Test.
One of only five New Zealand-based players to venture to Australia for the Warriors’ 2020 NRLW campaign, Tamarua started at prop in all three of the club’s matches and averaged 87 metres and 18 tackles. She was one of just two NRLW players to return home for the Kiwi Ferns’ clash with Fetu Samoa, starting in the second-row and charging 40 metres for the final try of their 28-8 win at Mt Smart Stadium.
Overcoming a serious ankle injury that prevented her from lining up for fledgling Gold Coast Titans, Tamarua linked with Brisbane Broncos in 2022 and came off the bench in two NRLW matches. She capped the comeback with Kiwi Ferns selection for the World Cup, where her sole appearance came as an interchange in the pool win over Cook Islands.
