Teleah Waitoa makes the leap from Hastings League to debut with West Tigers

"He's my inspiration,'' Teleah says quietly.

"He was the one who urged me to have a go...to have a crack. Not to miss an opportunity.''

Jeremy 'Whuda' Waitoa, 28, was killed in a truck accident near Walcha in January 2019. Teleah and Jeremy had been married one month to the day when he died. They had been together three years after meeting at the touch football State Cup at Port Macquarie in 2016.

Sport has been a big part of Teleah's life for as long as she can remember. Formerly from Bonny Hills, Teleah, 27, has moved to Sydney to play rugby league with West Tigers in the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership.

She made her debut with the Tigers on March 15 in the one and only match played this season before the competition was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teleah played league as a young schoolgirl and then turned out with the Wauchope Blues in the Group Three women's league tag competition. However, Teleah knew she'd found her sporting niche when she began playing with Long Flat in the women's nines rugby league competition run by the Hastings League.

"I enjoyed the contact. I just loved it,'' she said.

Teleah was prepared to push league to the backburner when she was married.

"It was time to settle down,'' she explained.

"But then my life was flipped upside down.''

Teleah turned to sport, league tag and nines, as an outlet after the accident.

Teleah has a friend who was playing with West Tigers and it was suggested she go to Sydney for pre-season trials.

While she did some extra fitness work before she left. Teleah conceded she wasn't sure how she'd fare.

"But I knew my husband would want me to give it my best,'' she said.

Teleah excelled and was offered a spot in the squad.

Now living in Sydney and working at Lansvale East Public School, Teleah enjoyed training with the Tigers and getting to know her team-mates. She was both excited and nervous before her first game against Penrith Brothers. Being named as a back rower in the starting 13 was another bonus.

"It was different,'' she said of the debut.

Playing on a full field and former longer minutes was a major adjustment from nines football. West Tigers started in style, scoring seven tries in beating Brothers 36-4.

"My coach was happy with my debut game,'' she smiled.

But that was it, with the season now in hiatus due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Now Teleah is looking forward to getting back into training and returning to the field. At this stage there's no word on how long the season will run for when it resumes.

"We're hoping to start playing again in July,'' the 27-year-old explained.

"It's been frustrating and I just want to get back on the field.''

Teleah said making an NRLW team is a long term goal.

"I'd like to play at the higher level. But if it doesn't happen, I won't be too worried,'' she added.

Inspired by her husband, Teleah's achieved plenty already.

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