Tiana Raftstrand-Smith

Tiana Raftstrand-Smith
Personal information
Born (2003-07-17) 17 July 2003 (age 21)
Auckland, New Zealand
Height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight84 kg (13 st 3 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Centre, Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021–22 Gold Coast Titans 11 1 1 0 6
2023– Nth Qld Cowboys 16 6 0 0 24
Total 27 7 1 0 30
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021–22 Queensland 2 0 0 0 0
2022–24 Māori All Stars 3 0 0 0 0
2023 Prime Minister's XIII 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 15 September 2024
RelativesEbony Raftstrand-Smith (sister)
Portia Woodman (aunt)

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.

Background

Raftstrand-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 career

Early years

While 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]

2022

In 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]

2023

Raftstrand-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]

2024

In 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

  1. ^ "Tiana Raftstrand-Smith - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. ^ "Rollercoaster ride for Raftstrand-Smith in her return to Māori team". NRL. 8 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Tāmaki Makaurau represented in All Star players, coaching and referees". Auckland Rugby League. 14 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Te reo in a league of its own for young star". Inkl. 31 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Rookie watch: Raftstrand-Smith ready to make titanic impact". NRL. 21 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Tiana Raftstrand-Smith hopes to follow in her Aunty Portia Woodman's footsteps". Te Ao Maori News. 30 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Keebra Park rising talent Tiana Raftstrand-Smith impressing in both league and rugby sevens". Gold Coast Bulletin. 30 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Burleigh claim epic grand final win against Diehards". QRL. 6 June 2021.
  9. ^ "First Look: Inaugural Titans NRLW squad revealed". Gold Coast Titans. 13 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Maori v Indigenous All Stars: Both sides 1-18 with no late changes". National Rugby League. 12 February 2022.
  11. ^ "History made, as first ever Titans NRLW team selected". Gold Coast Titans. 22 February 2022.
  12. ^ "QRL confirms Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons squad". QRL. 6 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Bulldogs Academy Team List: Semi Finals". Canterbury Bulldogs. 18 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Cowboys sign Raftstrand-Smith sisters". NQ Cowboys. 20 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Final team list: Eight Cowboys named to make NRLW debuts". NQ Cowboys. 22 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Tonegato leads the way as Sharks shutout Cowboys". NRL.com. 27 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Cowboys down Dragons in 13-try thriller in Townsville". NRL.com. 4 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Cowboys extend seven". NQ Cowboys. 9 December 2024.

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