Mini Maroon: Lolesio draws inspiration from mentor Isa’ako

While they are yet to play rugby league together, Ivana Lolesio is still drawing inspiration from mentor Evania Isa’ako, who helped her to transition between codes to now be on the Origin stage.

One of the first big-name rugby sevens players to make the switch to the NRLW in 2020, where she debuted for the Warriors, Isa’ako (nee Pelite) featured her first State of Origin match in 2022, where like fellow convert Lolesio, she played centre.

Currently at the Titans, Isa’ako missed last year’s NRLW season to grow her family, welcoming baby Letti in October. Now back at pre-season training on the Gold Coast – the Samoa international said she was proud to see her namesake making her mark in the Origin arena.

“I was so proud of Mini, obviously talking to her, I know it's something that she's really wanted to achieve since coming over the league,” Isa’ako said of Lolesio's Game One debut. 

“First was obviously putting on a Titans jersey and then ticking off that one and putting on the Maroons jumper, so I was really proud.

“(I thought) she was quite strong in her debut, obviously in a losing side, but she was quite impressive.

“Mini does that tough work in the back that probably goes a little bit unnoticed.

“She comes in and takes those tough carries and then defensively, she's quite strong.

“I think that's one of her strengths and something that I'm looking forward to playing with again this year at the Titans.”

For Lolesio, the her quick elevation into the Maroons squad has been remarkable, especially given the fact she missed the 2024 entire season soon after signing on after suffering an ACL injury in the pre-season.

Along the way, she’s had Isa’ako in her corner to support her development. 

“I'm definitely very grateful to have had Vani be the big sister I've never had all my life,” Lolesio said.

“Obviously, she's done amazing things in our game and has achieved it all, especially in the Maroon jersey.

“The advice she's given me is just to trust myself in the process and just to enjoy it as well.”

In the lead-up to the vital Game Two match, which Queensland needs to win to keep the series alive, Lolesio said she felt more prepared about what to expect with game under her belt.

“I definitely feel a lot more prepared walking into Camp Two … (and) what to expect,” Lolesio said.

“We have the best players to ever do it in both teams and it's just exciting, I'm really looking forward to it.

“(In camp) energy's good, I definitely feel like everyone's a lot more prepared and we know that we can back ourselves.

“Now it's just all up to us to execute it.

“(We need) to back ourselves and our game plan.

“We know we have the ability, the calibre of players and more so the character to do it – and now it's just up to us to execute that.”