Dual Olympic sevens gold medallist Stacey Waaka admits she's nervous before her NRLW debut for Brisbane Broncos — incredibly her first game of rugby league.
The NZ rugby union legend proudly held the gold medal she won in Paris, when she gave her first interview as a Bronco, before Sunday's clash with Gold Coast.
Waaka, 28, has achieved it all in union, winning two 15-a-side World Cups, plus sevens gold at the 2020 Olympics, 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 World Cup.
"I'm just keen to give it a go," she said of her code switch. "I'm here to learn lots, take what I've learnt and hopefully help some of the girls, and vice versa.
"I probably wanted something different. I've been playing for New Zealand 10 years now and it is quite a long time, and it's cool, it's fun and it's comfortable.
'Something different'
"I love what I do, but here I've seen some of my friends come over [to the NRLW] and just excel.
"It's been amazing watching them play and do well, so I'm like, 'Cool, you've inspired me, and you've motivated me to come and do the same thing'.
"I know how big NRL is in Australia and I know how many girls have cross-coded from New Zealand to play this unreal sport."
Waaka explains why she feels "nervous" for her debut.
"For me, it's about something different," she said. "I've never played league ever.
"I've only just started watching it, probably, the last couple of years and it's cool.
"I know there's a little bit more structure than sevens. It's a bit more free flowing, but I've literally come with an open mind.
"I don't really know plays or anything, and I've learnt heaps in the last few days that I've been here.
"I'm very uncomfortable, but I love being in that zone."
Waaka trained with the Broncos on Tuesday night and has been named on the wing against the Titans, alongside former teammate Gayle Broughton, who will play No.6, after missing the side's opening two losses of the season with a back injury.
The euphoria of beating Canada 19-12 in the Olympic final is still plain to see when Waaka speaks.
"I'd probably rate it above Tokyo, mainly for the reason that we had a crowd," she said. "There were no COVID rules and we got to interact with other athletes in the village.
"And the stadium… I went to the Rugby World Cup last year and watched the All Blacks versus Ireland, knowing that one day, I was going to be there playing at the Olympics and it was everything that we expected.
"With lots of pressure on your shoulders, and especially us chasing back-to-back titles, we managed to do it. I'm so proud of the girls."
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