After conquering rugby union and sevens on the world stage, Stacey Waaka has the unique opportunity to complete a cross-code grand slam when the Kiwi Ferns face the Jillaroos in Sunday's World Cup Final.
Few athletes have successfully transitioned between rugby's major codes, let alone reached a World Cup final in all of them.
With two Olympic gold medals and a Commonwealth Games gold to go with Sevens circuit titles and a bronze medal at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, 31-year-old Waaka has established herself as one of New Zealand’s most decorated athletes.
Now she gets an opportunity to tick off one of the few achievements missing from her decorated resume.
“It’s one of my goals to tick off,” Waaka said.
Fresh off a player-of-the-match performance and a hat-trick in the semi-final win over Samoa, Waaka is eager to dethrone the reigning champions.
“At the end of the day, any team is beatable," she said.
“But if we are going to beat them, we have to be clinical in every area.”
After weathering a shaky start to the tournament where they came within an ace of losing to Fiji, Waaka believes New Zealand's World Cup campaign is finally gathering momentum.
“We’ve been building over the weeks, and we're trying to fine-tune things, and I think it’s coming together really well,” she said.
Stacey Waaka named Player of the Match against Fetu Samoa
Waaka's semi-final hat-trick was her second of the tournament, but coach Ricky Henry believes her influence extends well beyond her tryscoring vigour, praising both her professionalism and relentless defensive workrate.
“Even defensively at the moment, you can’t fault her, she’s playing some really good footy,” said Henry.
“She's playing rugby league because she has a passion to be successful.
"She’s a competitor and she wants to achieve something new. She’s done everything in rugby union."
Kiwi Ferns skipper Georgia Hale believe Waaka's greatest contribution may be the example she sets for younger teammates through her professionalism and cultural pride.
“She is an absolute competitor in all the codes she's played - she brings such wisdom, so much experience and professionalism,” said Hale.
As a player accustomed to the big occasion, Waaka’s influence will be critical as New Zealand look to deny the Jillaroos a fourth consecutive World Cup crown.
Raecene McGregor Try
The Kiwi Ferns can take some confidence from the fact they were the last team to beat the Jillaroos, in the final of the 2023 Pacific Championships at AAMI Park in Melbourne, with Mele Hufanga and Leianne Tufuga scoring tries in a tense 12-6 triumph.
Now the two great rivals square off in a fifth consecutive World Cup final, with New Zealand hungry to deny Australia another title and deliver Waaka one of the few major honours still missing from her remarkable resume.
- Tune into Channel 7 this Sunday to see the Kiwi Ferns and Jillaroos battle for World Cup supremacy. LIVE from 3.30pm AEDT
