Family ties inspiring Lauitiiti's personal journey to the big stage

Like father, like daughter. 

If you wanted to know where Warriors Ivana Lauitiiti gets that energy from you only have to research her father Ali Lauitiiti, who played 394 first-grade games across 19 years.

Big Ali was a cult figure in his seven years with the Warriors before joining Leeds for eight years and finishing with four seasons at Wakefield Trinity. 

He played for the Warriors in the 2002 NRL decider against the Roosters and won a premiership with Leeds in 2004 alongside 20 Tests for New Zealand and seven for Samoa (2000-2010). 

Ivana says she’d like to have that kind of lengthy career. 

And if you were thinking the NRLW Magic Round might be Ivana’s lucky charm, you’d be right. 

She scored a try on her NRLW debut in the 2025 edition at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium, and in 2026 she scored again at Wagga Wagga’s Geohex Park to mark her 20th birthday. 

“I don’t really like celebrating my birthday but I wouldn’t want to do anything else than play the sport that I love with the teammates I love,” Lauitiiti told NRL.com. 

The young prop said she never felt the pressure “too much” from being Ali Lauitiiti’s daughter. 

“I feel like I use him as a lesson, well not really a lesson, but as doing something I want to do well too," she said.

“The only pressure I really feel is do better each game. 

“Dad talks to me a lot about footy – and sometimes I don’t listen – but I am quietly very proud of him.” 

Ivania was born in Leeds in 2006, while Ali was playing with the Rhinos, and since he didn’t retire until 2016 she remembers him playing. 

“I loved watching him... it’s what inspired me to get into football – my dad and my cousins," she said.

She’s not only followed down the club path by being at the Warriors, Ivana has already pulled on the Kiwis Ferns jersey in last year’s Pacific Championships.  

Perhaps nothing should really be a surprise in these father-daughter connections. 

Lauitiiti also scored on his NRL debut against North Sydney in 1998, and while he won Dally M Second-Rower of the year in 2002 his daughter also has a Dally M honour. 

She won the Youi ‘Tackle of the Year’ at the 2025 awards night for her tackle on Wests Tigers centre Emily Bass in the Round 11 win at Campbelltown Stadium last September.

“I do love the physical side of rugby league but also the bridges you build around it with your teammates in and out of footy,” she said. 

“We give it our all every game and we hope to play finals this year. 

“For me I need to execute all the coaches are teaching me.” 

After two away games, the Warriors are sitting in third spot on the NRLW ladder and host the Knights at FMG Stadium Waikato, in Hamilton, this Saturday.