|
Tiana Raftstrand-Smith
Tiana Raftstrand-Smith (born 17 June 2003) is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Women's Premiership. A second-row, centre, she previously played for the Gold Coast Titans. BackgroundRaftstrand-Smith was born in Auckland and is of Māori descent.[2] She played her junior rugby league for the Richmond Rovers before moving to the Gold Coast, Queensland as a 13-year old.[3][4] In Australia, she attended Keebra Park State High School and played rugby league for the Parkwood Sharks.[5] Raftstrand-Smith's aunt, Portia Woodman, is a New Zealand rugby sevens and rugby union international.[6] Playing careerEarly yearsWhile at Keeba Park, Raftstrand-Smith was a member of the Australian rugby sevens Youth Development Program.[7] In 2021 and 2022, she played for the Burleigh Bears in the QRL Women's Premiership, winning a Grand Final with the club in 2021.[8] On 25 June 2021, the 18–year old Raftstrand-Smith started at second-row for Queensland in their State of Origin win over New South Wales. In August 2021, she signed with the Gold Coast Titans.[9] 2022In February, Raftstrand-Smith represented the Māori All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars.[10] In Round 1 of the delayed 2021 NRL Women's season, she made her NRLW debut for the Titans against the St George Illawarra Dragons.[11] On 24 June 2022, she came off the bench for Queensland in their 20–14 loss to New South Wales.[12] 2023Raftstrand-Smith began the 2023 season playing for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.[13] On 20 May, Raftrand-Smith signed with the North Queensland Cowboys NRLW team on a two-year contract, alongside her younger sister Ebony.[14] In Round 1 of the 2023 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Cowboys, starting at prop in a 16–6 loss to the Gold Coast Titans.[15] 2024In Round 1 of the 2024 NRL Women's season, Raftstrand-Smith started at second-row in the Cowboys' 14–0 loss to the Cronulla Sharks.[16] In Round 2, she scored two tries in a 38–34 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons.[17] On 9 November, she re-signed with the Cowboys until the end of the 2027 season.[18] References
External linksInformation related to Tiana Raftstrand-Smith |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
