'The player I wanted to be': How Ruan inspired Rima's Origin dream
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Rima Butler modelled her game on former Jillaroos captain Ruan Sims, but the Blues prop has refused to rule out a World Cup switch to the Kiwi Ferns as she prepares to make her Origin debut.
Butler, who was born in Campbelltown and is of Māori heritage, has always been torn between representing Australia or New Zealand at international level.
The Sydney Roosters star has represented Māori All Stars but previously turned down the Kiwis Ferns because of her dream to play Origin after watching cousins Harata Butler and Teina Clark in the Interstate Challenge.
After her best NRLW season for the Roosters last year, Butler was offered a Jillaroos jersey and made her Test debut against Fetu Samoa in the Pacific Championships, knowing she would still be eligible for Origin.
However, changes to the Origin eligibility rules enabling anyone who qualifies for NSW or Queensland to represent their states regardless of their international allegiances, coupled with the IRL’s decision to scrap the tiering for women’s nations means Butler again faces a choice.
“I've been asked so many times by my family and friends, they are all like, ‘what are you gonna do? Are you going to play for the Kiwis?’,” Butler said ahead of Origin II at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
“I'm like, ‘guys, I need to get through this (NRLW) season first. We haven't even played Round 1’.
“I have no clue. I'm taking it game by game, so once we get down to the end of the season, then I'll probably have made my mind up, but at the moment, I'm not sure."
Former Jillaroos prop Shannon Mato has already announced her intention to play for the Kiwi Ferns at RLWC2026 and a number of other players are expected to switch allegiances ahead of the World Cup.
“I made my Jillaroos debut last year, I’m about to make my Origin debut and then everyone's like, ‘oh, well, the rules have changed. You can also play for the Kiwis’," Butler said.
“I really don't know. That’s something I'm so unsure of, but at the moment I'm just focusing on Origin, then our season with the Roosters and then hopefully the World Cup.”
The 28-year-old, who won a premiership with the Knights in 2023, has been playing at the highest level since her late teens and was a team-mate of Sims at the Sharks in 2017 – the season before the NRLW was introduced on the back of the success of RLWC2017.
Sims co-captained the Jillaroos to victory in the World Cup final and also starred for NSW in the Interstate Series which preceded State of Origin. She is now on the NSW Blues coach staff.
“I was lucky enough that when I first started coming into league, I actually got to play with Ruan Sims and Alana Ferguson. That was when they were really big stars, and I was like, ‘wow, this is crazy’,” Butler said.
Ruan is such an inspiration. She was the kind of player that I wanted to be like.
"I've seen her play in the Origin arena and she's just as tough as it gets. That's the kind of energy I want to put out.
“Everyone knew that if they were going up against someone like Ruan, it's going to be a long day - and a tough day - so that had a big impact for me when Ruan was still playing Origin.”
Match: Maroons v Blues Women
Game 2 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues Women
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
