‘It’s not over till it’s over’: Mother of four Anastasia Sekene's NRLW dream is real

At 28, a mother of four and with barely a year of rugby league behind her, Anastasia Sekene has already achieved what once felt like a distant goal.

She now has a National Rugby League Women’s (NRLW) contract and a Warriors’ debut.

Of Niuean heritage, (Hakupu, Alofi), Sekene became Warriors No.84 last Sunday when she ran out against the St George Illawarra Dragons.

It was a moment that came much sooner than she expected.

Sekene’s limited league experience could have counted against her, but Warriors women’s head coach Ron Griffiths backed what he saw in the late-blooming forward.

“I appreciate what Ron has done for me. He’s given me a shot, and it’s a shot that would have been a risk to a lot of coaches, but with Ron pretty much just saying it’s not over till it’s over,” Sekene told journalists.

Anastasia Sekene representing the Akarana Falcons in 2025. Photo/Joshua Devenie/Photosport.

For Griffiths, Sekene’s rise is proof that age does not have to close the door on an NRLW dream.

“I was fortunate enough to coach some guys in Australia like Cody Walker. He was 26 when he made his NRL Debut,” Griffiths told media.

“You know, at the end of the day, I think you're never too old. It's a great story for anyone that aspires to be an NRLW player… If you're willing to set your mind to it and stack wins every day and chase your dream, there's an opportunity.”

Sekene has four children - Aaria, 8, Aleah, 6, Lucas, 4, and Lorenzo, 3 - and had always wanted to reach the NRLW level.

But she never expected her first year of rugby league to move so quickly.

“It was always a goal to make this space, but I didn’t think it would come that early. It was a lot of hard work and trust and just belief that everything will work out, and it did.”

Sport has always been part of Sekene's life.

Growing up, she played netball, touch and rugby sevens at Avondale College. At 16, she was selected for the New Zealand development sevens programme, where she crossed paths with stars including Portia Woodman and Tyla Nathan-Wong.

She decided to step away from sports altogether, wanting to take a break from the demand of all the chaos.

Anastasia Sekene will start at fullback when the Warriors take on the Cronulla Sharks at Go Media Stadium on Saturday. Photo/John Davidson/Photosport.

The break came shortly before raising her family, and Sekene now believes becoming a mum gave her a different mindset and the drive to return.

“Before I had the break, I was kind of just in the motion of things, it was so chaotic. I didn’t have the drive or the mindset that I do have now.

“So after that break, and then working hard to come back into sport just changed my whole mindset and just gave me the tools to kind of get where I am now.”

She entered rugby league last year with the Mt Albert Lions before being selected for the Akarana Falcons.

Sekene later attended trial camps with the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans, and from there, the Warriors pathway opened up.

Now, she has 70 minutes of NRLW football under her belt and another chance to show what she can do when the Warriors face the Cronulla Sharks in round 10 on Saturday.

But for Sekene, the biggest motivation is seeing her children sitting on the sidelines watching their mother chase a dream.

Asked what she wants her children to learn whenever she pulls on the Wahs jersey, her answer was simple.

“Just to chase their dreams, give everything you’ve got and just go after what you’re passionate about.

“It wasn’t until I had my last baby I realised I got to do something, I got to either work or do something. So I was like, I’m just going to have a crack at a sport and try and make it, and I chose league.”

And while Sekene jokes that raising four children is harder than playing NRLW, she is only just getting started.

The Warriors face the Sharks at Go Media Stadium this Saturday 5 September, with kick-off at 2.30pm (NZT).