When Metanoia Fetalaiga was playing grassroots rugby league in Auckland, she had no idea that she was about to get a message that would see her become the third sister in her family to play in the NRLW.
Two-times premiership-winning coach Ronald Griffiths had been appointed as the Warriors head coach ahead of their return to the competition in 2025 and was on the look-out for players that would fit his vision for the club.
“I was playing for Ōtara Scorpions at the time, playing with my friends, having a totally good time,” says Fetalaiga (nee Fotu-Moala).
“I didn’t realise he was watching our live stream games on Wednesdays back in Australia, so he messaged me and said that he was very interested in having me sign up for the Warriors, and I was blown away by his message. I was really lucky and fortunate to be picked out by him.”
Front rower Fetalaiga made her debut in round four of last year’s competition, against the Gold Coast Titans, and was the club’s first signing from local rugby league. She’d seen her older sister Teuila play and win a premiership in the inaugural NRLW for the Brisbane Broncos in 2018, before Metanoia’s twin Ma’atuleio made her debut for the Dragons in 2024.
“Rugby has always been a big part of my family story,’ she says.
“Teuila was one of my biggest inspirations growing up. Watching her achieve so much in the game made me believe that I can follow a similar path, and our family has always loved sports, so I’m grateful for the avenues that sport has given us.”
As fate would have it, Fetalaiga, who is of Tongan descent, was with her father when the formal offer from the Warriors came through.
“I was in the living room, and my Dad happened to have his day off from work. I was sent through a contract by the Warriors right then and there, and I didn’t know what to do, so I said a quiet prayer to myself, and I just randomly went up to my Dad and said, ‘Hey, Dad, I got a contract for the Warriors.’ He was in the middle of washing dishes, and he dropped a plate and just gave me the biggest hug. It was awesome to see that reaction from him considering he comes from an old school mentality.”
Fetalaiga’s faith, and her Tongan heritage are two key elements of what make her the person she is. Her parents migrated from Tonga before she was born in Auckland.
“I think that helps us be grounded in whatever platform or spaces that we’re in. My parents had installed that from the get-go. Initially they thought that New Zealand was the land of milk and honey, only to realise that the kids were the milk and honey, and then they ended up having to wait for a really long time to see what they’re produced. It was awesome to have that in the forefront of everything.
“I was born and bred here in New Zealand, and so my story will be different to other Tongans. I can’t speak Tongan, but I can understand Tongan, but I am heavily invested in my Tongan values. I have played for Tonga just once, and I was unfortunately injured last season, so hopefully in the next few years I’m able to be selected again and play for that red jersey.”
Growing up, sport enabled the sisters to blow off some steam away from school, with their parents taking them to the local park whenever they could.
“That’s where our love of sports stemmed from. We had a big family, so we had enough for a rugby team. We played cricket, touch, basketball, and pretty much any sport that involved any balls.”
Fetalaiga, 27, attended McAuley High School in Ōtāhuhu, but it wasn’t until she finished there that she started playing rugby league. Joining the open competition in Auckland, she was thrown in the deep end to play with the likes of Krystal Rota, Amber Hall and Annetta Nu’uausala, the last of whom is one of three players (alongside Mele Hufanga and Gayle Broughton) to join the Warriors this season from the 2025 premiership winners, the Brisbane Broncos.
Fetalaiga herself has links to Brisbane, with her husband Ieti working there as a deputy principal at Marist College in Ashgrove. She’s also involved in education, currently working at Saint Kentigern College in Auckland as a relief teacher as she juggles her Warriors commitments.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to live both worlds,” she says.
Six of the club’s new signings lined up for the trial game on June 21 against the Broncos at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch. Broughton started at stand-off with Nuuausala at prop. Ocean Tierney, an ex- Farah Palmer Cup rugby union representative from the tiny Northland settlement of Tinopai was named on the wing, with Jay Huriwai, Natalia Hickling and Anastasia Seneke alongside Fetalaiga on the bench. The game ended in a tight 12-10 win for the Broncos and Fetalaiga was pleased the side were able to get into a competitive match.
“Pre-season has been awesome and it was really good to see where we were at as a team. From the first minute I got on the field, my lungs were blowing. I thought that my fitness was up to par, but it’s not the same as match fitness, so yeah, we were really feeling it.”
“Other teams will be doing a lot of fitness, boot camps, but for us it’s a lot about connection leading up to the season. Ron loves making sure that we’re connecting off the field.”
The 2026 season kicks off this week, with the Warriors hosing the Canterbury Bulldogs at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, on Sunday afternoon. Fetalaiga is on the extended bench for the match.
Like 2025, it’s an 11 round/12-team competition, with the top six teams advancing to the finals series.
Of their five home matches, the Warriors will play two games at FMG and the other three at Go Media stadium in Auckland. As well as the five away matches, round five will be a Magic Round showcase in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
Having finished in eighth place last year, Griffiths believes they can go much further this year.
“We have a squad this season that is competitive, and no doubt has the potential to be there on the final day,” Griffiths said.
“We believe we’ve got a good mix of youth, experience and players who are looking for an opportunity.”
A key to that success with be the passionate home support, which has shown itself to be a huge factor historically for the men’s team, and last year, the women’s team, both home and away. Griffiths knows the players can feel that passion from the terraces and beyond, describing it as a ‘juggernaut’, with a culture and fan base unlike any other in the NRL.
“I’ve got no doubt since they’ve been here, they’ve felt a different environment and a culture they’ve never experienced anywhere else before,” he said.
Fetalaiga and her teammates are certainly up for the challenge and can’t wait for the season to begin.
“I think the connection and the energy has been immensely good so far. I’m excited because we’re that type of team that won’t care what team we’re facing, we’ll just continue to battle through each team at a time, each week at a time, so I’m excited for the season and what the girls will bring into this space.”
- Watch live on Sky Sport 1: The One New Zealand Warriors NRLW team opens the 2026 season against the Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday. Kick-off is at 3:45 pm at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.
