"I'd love to play for the Kiwi Ferns": Black Ferns star Waaka sets sights on becoming dual international

Cross-format rugby star Stacey Waaka has designs on a third variety of black jersey later this year.

Not content with being a double Olympic gold medallist and two-time Rugby World Cup champion, Waaka now has her sights set on representing New Zealand in rugby league.

Waaka's maiden season with NRLW's Brisbane Broncos has left such an impression on her that she'll attempt to trial for the Kiwi Ferns with the aim to take the field at the Pacific Championships in November.

She'll attempt to follow in the footsteps of Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens teammate Tyla King, who made the cross-code transition last year, after her debut NRLW campaign with the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Granted a contractual hiatus to dip her toes in the rugby league waters, the 28-year-old doesn't resume her NZ Rugby contract until December, leaving her free to try and earn selection for the Kiwi Ferns' Tests against Australia and Papua New Guinea in late October, early November.

"I do have the opportunity to trail for the Kiwi Ferns, which I'm super excited about," Waaka told SENZ's The Run Home.

"I just want to see how the season goes to be honest. Hopefully [the Broncos] get through to the end until the final. But week by week, if I play well enough, then I'd be excited to go and trial.

"I'd love to play for the Kiwi Ferns and obviously represent our country in league. That'd be an absolute dream come true."

And It's not merely a fleeting dalliance with rugby league for Waaka, who has been so enamoured by the 13-man code she may try to return to the NRLW when her NZR contract expires in 2026.

"I'm loving league," she exclaimed. "I'm not going to put a stop to it and say 'this is the end for me' because I feel like it's just the beginning.

"If another opportunity comes after the next two years, I will probably jump at it. But I'm just taking it year by year at the moment and seeing how this body goes."

Theoretically, Waaka could still feature in both the NRLW, which runs for a maximum of 10 weeks from the end of July through until early October, and the sevens World Series, which starts in December and ends in June.

However, NZR's current stance likely won't allow their contracted players to alternate between the two codes.

That doesn't mean Waaka won't attempt to persuade her employers otherwise.

"At the moment, it is a bit scratched out for next year," she conceded. "But with the news of a shortened season for the World Series next year, I probably will push my luck and push the boundaries and ask if I can come back and play.

"I understand the whole situation, but I would love to play both.

"The seasons don't clash. They're complete different months of the year and if I'm able to play league, then go to sevens, then come back to league - hey, I'll be winning."

Fresh from scoring a try in the rugby sevens final against Canada at Paris 2024, Waaka jetted to Australia - via a brief pitstop home - to link up with the Broncos, who were already winless through two rounds.

Since Waaka's injection, the Broncos have reeled off four consecutive wins to shoot to second in the competition ladder. Through that quartet of victories, the Broncos have posted an average of 38 points, Waaka crossing for a pair of tries to get off the mark in her new code.

Reunited with good friend and former Black Ferns Sevens teammate Gayle Broughton, Waaka says she's relishing her time in Brisbane and embracing the steep learning curve of her adopted new code.

"It's been really cool playing with Gayle again," she said. "The Broncos are a cool group. Cool bunch of girls. Cool management. The facilities are unreal and I'm loving it so far. I've learnt so much in the last four games that I've been here.

"I'm sad because we're already halfway through the season, but it's all good because I'll make the most of my opportunities when they do come over the next few weeks."

With the NRLW still only semi-professional, Waaka's schedule is in stark contrast to the daily demands involved with NZR.

Waaka is one of only three fulltime players in the Broncos squad, alongside fellow Kiwis Broughton and Tafito Lafaele, who was capped twice for the Black Ferns.

The squad trains just twice a week, with the competition mandating practices no earlier than 3:30pm to ensure players can attend after their regular day jobs.

It's been an adjustment for Waaka, who's suddenly found herself with plenty of spare time to savour the complete Queensland experience.

"Right now, I'm on the Gold Coast. I'm at a resort. I'm just living life because it's a day off today. We don't train again until tomorrow.

"I'm really grateful for this opportunity but I do feel for others who do go to work all day and then train at night.

"But they love it, and they're used to it. They just love playing league, and that inspires and motivates me to want to do better for them."

On Sunday, Waaka's Broncos face the third-placed Newcastle Knights in the antepenultimate round of the NRLW regular season.

Listen to the full interview below: