'Kick the door open': Lauitiiti following in the footsteps of proud dad

Ivana Lauitiiti just shrugged and smiled when told her famous father Ali had also scored a try for the Warriors on debut after announcing herself with a bang in NRLW Magic Round. 

Like Ali, who was in the crowd with other family members at McDonald Jones Stadium, Ivana prefers her actions to speak louder than words and made the most of her late call-up in the 12-6 defeat of the Cowboys.

Coming off the bench, the 19-year-old prop scored a barnstorming first half try and produced a momentum-turning hit in defence to help the Warriors to their first away win since rejoining to the NRLW this season.

“I am still in shock that I even debuted, but it was pretty cool doing it all with the girls and taking it all in,” Lauitiiti told ljmpta.com.

“I only just found out on Thursday, so it was a lot (to prepare for), but it was pretty good. I'm still trying to take it in.”

Ali, who also scored in his NRL debut against North Sydney in 1998, said he was “a proud parent” seeing his daughter make the most of her opportunity in the NRLW.

“I'm happy for her, it was good just to see her out there … Praise God for the opportunity that she's been given,” said Lauitiiti, who works in wellbeing for the Warriors and NZRL.

“The girls are all being looked after, the team are being looked after, the coach has been real awesome.

“Her and Ash (Matapo), who’s one of the other (development) players that are playing, I can see they're really fortunate to get the opportunity.

“This year was more of a progression year, just learning the game and I guess being in that environment, but she succeeded on the field.”

Interviewed by Nine after her sensational debut, Lauitiiti was reluctant to talk.

"She doesn't say much, probably like me. I am probably not a good talker myself," Ali said. 

One of two debutants to make their mark for the Warriors in their Magic Round win, with Tyra Wetere stepping in for her first ever game on the wing, coach Ron Griffiths was full of praise for his latest Warriors.

“When you watch Ivana at training; she's just powerful,” Griffiths said of the Ōtāhuhu Leopards junior.

“We've got some things that we really need to keep working on her with, but that's how she runs at training when she scored that try, and we knew she'd bring that.

“Tyra's not a winger, that's her first game of NRLW and she just went out there and acquitted herself extremely well. Her defensive movement and being able to lock on different times was really good.”

It seemed that Lauitiiti, who was born in Leeds when her father played for the Rhinos, was always destined to play with the Warriors, having developed a love for the game as she grew up.

Ivana began playing at intermediate school in Auckland and has two sisters who Ali said also enjoy tackling and the physicality of rugby league.

“To be honest, I just wanted to play the game, but I think I was just blessed to be picked up and be in this squad,” Ivana said. “It’s cool, building culture and a team.”

Speaking of her try, Lauitiiti said she wasn’t even thinking about that being a possibility in her first game, but had just kept her instructions from the coach front of mind when charging to the line.

“I wasn’t even thinking, I was just going in. Coach said to run with intent (and I thought) I’m just going to take it and just do it. He just told me to run with intent and kick the door open.

“I think with the help of the more experienced players, it helped take off the stress and let me just go with it.”

The Warriors return to Australia to take on the Bulldogs in a double-header at Accor Stadium, and Lauitiiti said she will keep working on her game to earn another call-up

"I think just to focus on (what I did) today and work for my next game."