The Warriors celebrate Payton Takimoana's third try against the Canberra Raiders on 16 August. Photo: Bruce Lim/www.photosport.nz
All Payton Takimoana wanted from her first NRLW season was to take the field, but when she got her wish, it turned into a nightmare.
Two months later, the rugby union convert sits atop the tryscorers in the Aussie women's league competition, after scoring two hattricks for the battling NZ Warriors.
Returning to the NRLW after a five-year hiatus, the Warriors were drawn against defending champions Sydney Roosters in their season-opener and quickly found themselves caught in the headlights.
"My one goal for this year was just to debut," Takimoana, 21, reflected. "Debuting in the first game against the Roosters was pretty nerve-wracking for me.
"I let in three tries."
Sydney counterpart Taina Naividi scored a first-half hattrick, as the titleholders ran up an 18-6 lead before the break, leaving the rookie questioning herself.
"She was reasonably distraught after the game," coach Ron Griffiths recalled. "It was the first time she'd played rugby league and it was a bit of a rude awakening for her, but that just shows the fortitude she has to come out the next week with a smile on her face and understand sometimes thing like that happen in sport.
"She's gone from strength to strength since then. To score three tries on a night when you've got 11 players just shows not only what Payton's doing, but what the team's doing too.
"All the rugby union players have adapted really nicely and learned on the run."
That Roosters game is now the only time Takimoana hasn't scored for the Warriors and, fittingly, she has made up for those three tries conceded by grabbing hers in bunches of three.
After opening her account against Parramatta Eels the following week, she crossed for a trifecta against Newcastle Knights in Round 3 and then grabbed three more last weekend against Canberra Raiders, when her team had two players sent off in the first half and played shorthanded for the rest of the contest.
Entering Sunday's encounter with Cronulla Sharks, Takimoana has 10 tries from seven games and put that nightmare debut well behind her.
"It's a pretty unbelievable feeling," she said. "That first game was pretty tough, but I think I've definitely come a long way.
Payton Takimoana scores a try against Newcastle Knights. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
"I'm absolutely loving it and the girls are really cool, which makes it so much easier for me to enjoy it.
"I feel like I catch onto the girls pretty quickly, especially with the trainings we have. The coaching staff are really good at pulling me aside and telling me what I'm doing - that's been really good to help me learn."
Her unexpected success raises questions over what the winless Hurricanes Paoa were missing, when they gave the tryscoring ace just one game off the bench last season.
No wonder Takimoana seized the chance to return to her first love and the rest, as they say, is history.
"I think it was really a no-brainer for me, just seeing how big the Warriors are," she said. "I was brought up playing league, until about 13.
"I was playing with the boys and it got too much, so I couldn't play anymore and there were no girls teams, so I switched to union.
"Definitely a really cool experience coming back into it, not that I really remembered anything from when I was 13."
Takimoana has quickly built a solid combination with centre and flatmate Emmanita Paki, who is also among the league's top try-assist exponents.
"I actually feel super comfortable, knowing who my centre is as well, having that good connection and know she will have my back," Takimoana offered.
That bond has been broken in the last couple of weeks, as injuries hit the Warriors backline, with the versatile Paki shifted to fullback last week and halfback against the Sharks. Instead, Takimoana will link up with former Hurricanes teammate Shakira Baker on the left side.
"I'm still pretty fresh and there's still a lot to learn - defence, playing the ball, getting in the right position to run holes," Takimoana said.
"I've always wanted to put on a black jersey, so Kiwi Ferns would be my next goal."
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