What A Team! - Isaiah's Warrior Mum
Woman’s Day Magazine NZ|May 13 2019

The mother and son are in a league of their own

Cloe Willetts
What A Team! - Isaiah's Warrior Mum

As Lorina Papali’i sprinted around the field at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium in a purple Warriors jersey and braids, she was too fast to catch the eye of the young man cheering from the sideline as he warmed up for his own game.

Wearing matching plaits, Isaiah Papali’i was about to unleash the same agility as the woman in front of him – one of the team’s first female NRL players ... and his mother!

“We were the first mum and son to play for the same NRL club at the same time and on the same grounds,” says Warriors player Isaiah, 20, the only child of former Kiwi Fern Lorina, 42. “We even wore the same number 15 jersey!”

That double-header game day last August held plenty of significance for the sportsmad duo, who live under the same roof, with Isaiah’s dad Jerry, 43, in West Auckland.

Lorina explains, “Isaiah was playing against Newcastle, where I was brought up after being born in the Waikato. Funnily enough, his debut for the Warriors was also against Newcastle.”

For promising front rower Isaiah, that clash was one of about 30 played with the Warriors so far, but for CrossFit instructor Lorina, it was her first since retiring eight years ago.

“I played league from 1994 to 2008, and women’s NRL wasn’t talked of in that time,” she says. “It never looked like it was possible, but I always wanted to do it.”

So when Lorina, a former New Zealand Rugby League women’s player of the year, heard the Warriors were introducing a female NRL team, she pulled on her boots and spent months preparing and trialling.

Bu hikaye Woman’s Day Magazine NZ dergisinin May 13 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Woman’s Day Magazine NZ dergisinin May 13 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE NZ DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
TREASURE & TRAUMA
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TREASURE & TRAUMA

The launch of the new season of Celebrity Treasure Island doubled as an eighth wedding anniversary celebration for contestant Millen Baird and his wife Siobhan Marshall, who came fourth on the show back in 2022.

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024
JUDGE JAY-JAY
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

JUDGE JAY-JAY

Radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas

time-read
2 dak  |
August 31, 2024
CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'

The Te Puke gym owner refused to let a devastating accident stop her from becoming a mother

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2024
DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO

The Emmy Award-winning writer is starring in a macabre new comedy

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2024
TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!

Rosa and Margo have a new cookbook and bundle of joy on the way

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2024
HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR

The son of a Kiwi sporting Legend, Cantona Stewart is making waves in Summer Bay

time-read
2 dak  |
August 31, 2024
TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'

The actress and director opens up about her terrifying ordeal

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2024
CARMEL SEPULONI  I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

CARMEL SEPULONI I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!

Our former deputy PM the lessons she's learnt in politics on CTI

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2024
KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR

The Black Ferns co-captain and her rugby star husband organised the ir nuptials in just five days!

time-read
5 dak  |
August 31, 2024
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Woman’s Day Magazine New Zealand

THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!

Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!

time-read
1 min  |
August 31, 2024