Black Ferns Sevens star Stacey Waaka jokes she's "filthy" after being run down by international teammate Tenika Willison and denied a try during their NRLW encounter at Newcastle last week.
Waaka and Willison are fresh off defending their Olympic gold medals at Paris last month, but have joined a growing number of women switching between codes in search of professional opportunities.
Both are still feeling their way through the early stages of their respective rugby league careers — Waaka with Brisbane Broncos and Willison at defending NRLW champions Newcastle Knights — but enjoyed a moment near the end of Brisbane's first-ever win over the Knights last week.
With a try double already secure — and five tries in as many games, all wins — Waaka set off upfield for a third, but was pursued and caught by Willison, who planted a kiss on her cheek, as the pair wrestled on the ground.
"That is embarrassing," she told NRLW on Fox. "My mate giving me a little kiss, saying 'You're all right, get up'.
"For me, I'll play right to the end for any team that I'm in. It was cool coming from behind 18-4 and it was tough in that second half against a tough Knights crowd.
"I'm just stoked I get to tick that box and a win over my mate Tenika Willison."
Waaka and Willison have joined former sevens teammates Tyla King (St George Dragons), Gayle Broughton (Broncos) and Niall Williams-Guthrie (Gold Coast Titans) in the 13-a-side code, making light of a daunting transition.
Brisbane were winless when Waaka made her debut.
"My first expression was, well, if my sevens teammates can do it, maybe I can give it a go," she told NRLW on Fox. "They excelled highly last year, they're all loving it and thriving in this environment, so I thought it's my turn.
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