Tysha Ikenasio in NRLW action for NZ Warriors. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Kiwi Ferns v Fetu Samoa
3.35pm Sunday, October 19
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
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Despite appearances, former Black Ferns Sevens star Tysha Ikenasio's transition to rugby league hasn't gone completely without setback.
Ikenasio has joined fellow rugby converts Shakira Baker and Patricia Maliepo in the Kiwi Ferns for this week's Pacific Championship opener against Samoa, adding another chapter to their impressive international resumes.
Between them, Baker and Maliepo have accumulated 23 tests for the Black Ferns. Baker, 33, won Olympic sevens silver and Commonwealth gold, while Ikenasio, 28, was travelling reserve for the triumphant Paris Olympics campaign.
All three switched to the 13-a-side game, as NZ Warriors returned to the NRLW, after a five-year hiatus, and obviously impressed national coach Ricky Henry with their adaptability.
Ikenasio, though, has had to learn some of those lessons the hard way.
In August, the centre was red-carded for a clumsy 'hipdrop' tackle on Canberra Raiders opponent Monalisa Solioa that earned her a three-week suspension and ended her rival's season.
Tysha Ikenasio was named for her Kiwi Ferns debut against Samoa. Photo: Photosport
"It's probably still difficult to talk about, because obviously you never go out on the field to hurt anyone," Ikenasio reflected. "To hurt someone, I found that really, really hard.
"I'd never got a red card before, and to be sent off and know I've hurt someone, not intentionally, it really did get to me."
The hipdrop occurs when the tackler dumps their bodyweight on the legs of the ball-carrier and often ends in serious injury. It's not often found in union and is an example of the subtlety of nuance between the two codes.
"With the hipdrop, I don't want to say that they do happen, but within the game, it happens in a split second. I watched league before and thought, 'Oh my gosh, surely you can stop that', but it does happen so quickly.
"I guess that's part of coming from a different background and I haven't played league my whole life, so I'm still learning the craft of the game."
In Ikenasio's defence, her indiscretion took place in horrible wet, slippery conditions at a time of the season when the semi-professional nature of the Aussie women's competition was taking a physical toll on players.
"The women's season is so short, you get chucked into a pre-season and, especially for the Warriors, we were a new team and a re-introduced club, we're trying to connect and trying to do all this in a short time.
"With the hours the NRLW gets, you're learning a new sport, we didn't even get a pre-season game, so all those factors come into it. I know it's no excuse for a hipdrop."
During her enforced absence, Ikenasio was able to gain a different perspective on the game and strengthen bonds with teammates outside the gameday nucleus. On a roster that featured very few NRLW veterans, she and her high-performing rugby colleagues - including sevens superstar Michaela Brake - provided a professional edge that rubbed off on those around them.
At the end of the season, Ikenasio was named Warriors Clubwoman of the Year for her contributions on and off the field.
Tackling wasn't the only challenge for the union converts. What to do with their opponents once they were on the ground also posed some problems.
"Shak and I were just talking about it at breakfast," Ikenasio said. "When you're making a tackle and you have to say on top of the ball-carrier and get up slowly to become a marker.
"In rugby, you make tackle, you get up and you're trying to steal the ball. I don't know how many times we got told in training, 'Slow it down'.
"We were just tackling and getting up and trying to go again. We had a lot to learn, but we had amazing, experienced people around us, always wanting to help.
"I'm hoping, the more you play and train, the more you learn."
While they have quickly adapted their skills to their new environment, Ikenasio, Baker and Maliepo brought a professional edge to a locker-room filled with players promoted from club footy.
That won't be the case with the Kiwi Ferns, where most of those around them are hardened veterans at NRLW and international level.
"This selection is really special, because any time you come into an environment with a chance to put on the black jersey, whatever sport it is, to represent your country and family and past players is special," Ikenasio said. "I'll never take that lightly.
Tysha Ikenasio scores a try against Spain at the Singapore Sevens. Photo: Photosport
"Honestly, for this campaign, I just want to come in and be myself. I know what strengths I bring - not much knowledge within league, but I have been in professional teams.
"It's about putting my best foot forward and taking all the learnings from different coaches. We've got the best of the best girls within the Kiwi Ferns, so I've got a lot of people to learn off and lean on.
"We've got a few Warriors girls in here, so when we go back for next season, we can bring what we've learnt from this environment."
While the crossover between women's rugby and league has been relatively straightforward, enabling many to earn a living from both, Ikenasio is adamant she won't be one of them.
She signed a three-year contract with the Warriors before the 2025 season and is focused on helping the club to a premiership in the near future.
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