Fotu-Moala ready to unleash inner 'warrior'
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Brisbane second-rower Teuila Fotu-Moala admits she will have a target on her head on Friday night when her fellow Kiwi Ferns at the Warriors put friendship to the side in what will be a torrid NRLW encounter in Melbourne.
Fotu-Moala, who hails from Auckland and has coached or played with many of the girls in the Warriors side, is ready to showcase her aggressive best in the NRL Holden Women's Premiership clash.
The Broncos sit atop the NRLW ladder with four competition points and will advance to the grand final with a win over the Warriors. Due to Brisbane's superior for and against even a loss should be enough to secure a spot in the season decider.
Unleashing her inner warrior in an "all's fair in love and war" showdown is the main item on Fotu-Moala's agenda.
"When we knew we were coming up against the Warriors this weekend I just thought I needed to get more aggressive and do what I can to match them," Fotu-Moala said.
Match Highlights: NRLW Roosters v Broncos - Round 2, 2018
"They will be coming for us. I know that. Maybe some of us will be targets for them. It is mixed feelings. I have got a soft spot for my friends but that is all off the field. On the field, I am all for the Broncos.
"I know they will bring their A game and ... be more pumped to play us. We know how they play. They are a real physical side, a big side too, and we are hoping to match them."
Fotu-Moala made the NRL.com team of the week for her stellar performance in the round two win over the Roosters, as did Warriors opponent Onjeurlina Leiataua after her own round one display in the back-row against the Tri-Colours
The duo have a long history with a new chapter in that story set to have an explosive edge even though Leiataua has been named in the centres after playing second-row in the first two rounds.
"The biggest match-up for me would be against Onjeurlina Leiataua," Fotu-Moala said.
"I have coached her in club [with the Otahuhu Leopards] and she is awesome. She is explosive ... strong ... powerful and she eats a lot of metres."
So is Fotu-Moala worried that Leiataua may use some of her own coaching tips against her?
"I hope not, but from what I have learned from my coaching I know what gets into her head so whatever I know I will use it on the field," she grinned.
"The bulk of those girls I have coached in club and I know how they play, but when it comes to next level footy I don't know what they are like, so I guess they will be pumped to get one on their coach.
"It is almost like a Kiwi Fern trial as everyone is pretty much in the running to get into that black jersey at the end of the year so I am pretty stoked and excited to come up against some of my best friends."
Fotu-Moala's attack was on song against the Roosters but she is still frustrated that opponents avoid running at her.
"I get starved of defence sometimes because they tend to run to my halves or back on my inside and frustrates me, so I try and use all my energy on attack and try and perfect my lines, hit the edges and get my one-on-ones on the smaller edges and use my size to my advantage," she said.
