A compact second-rower also capable of playing in the centres, former Black Ferns and Auckland rugby union star Leiataua became a dual-code international before she turned 23.
The Papatoetoe High product gave rugby league her full attention in 2018 and used a starring role in Counties-Manukau’s NZRL National Women’s Competition triumph as a springboard to a spot in the Warriors’ inaugural NRLW premiership squad.
Leiataua played all six of the Warriors’ games in the 2018-19 seasons – averaging 100 running metres per outing – and scored her side’s only try against St George Illawarra during the latter campaign.
She made her Kiwi Ferns Test debut in the late-2018 trans-Tasman Test loss to the Jillaroos, making 83 metres and 26 tackles after starting in the second-row.
Leiataua featured prominently in New Zealand’s World Cup Nines triumph in 2019 – making several powerful charges in the upset of Australia in the final – and was a second-row starter against the Jillaroos again as the Ferns went down in Wollongong a week later
The 24-year-old represented Samoa in rugby league – against the Kiwi Ferns at Mt Smart Stadium – and rugby union in 2020.
