Sydney Roosters star Taina Naividi has experienced the very highs and lows rugby league has to offer.

From sneaking out of school to catch a train from the Central Coast to Sydney just to attend training, Naividi’s rise to becoming an NRLW player has been anything but conventional.

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“I was born and raised on the Coast and I was catching a train to Sydney (to attend training),” she told foxsports.com.au.

“I was leaving school early, literally logging into my mum’s emails and pretending to be here to leave early.

“Then played Harmony Cup where I met Keeley Nizza and Brydie Parker. I met those girls there at Mounties and the rest is history.”

However, the unlikely path to the NRLW was only the beginning of her journey.

Debuting with the Parramatta Eels, Naividi revealed for the first time that she considered walking away from rugby league altogether after rupturing her ACL in 2022.

Naividi began her NRLW career with the Parramatta Eels.Source: Getty Images

Not only was she off-contract when the injury struck, leaving her without the security and support of an NRLW club as she faced the long road back.

But away from the field, she was also dealing with the devastating loss of her father, making an already difficult rehabilitation journey even more challenging.

“Back when I did my first ACL, we just lost our dad, so my rehab was not my priority,” she said.

“I shouldn’t really be here, honestly, the way I was going about my rehab, but I just kept chipping away.

“It was so recent, so even though I did my ACL, my family was so supportive even though they’re struggling too.

“But they had my back the whole way and if it wasn’t for the sacrifices they made, I would not be here.

“It was incredibly hard. I generally don’t know how I’m here today through all that.

“ It was the hardest moment of my life and I think, in another outlook, that’s what has made me the player I am today.

“I feel niggles here and there, but I’ve dealt with worse. It’s really nothing (now).”

Taina Naividi of the Roosters. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Without a club and grieving the loss of her father, the utility wasn’t convinced she had a future in the game.

That was until Keeley Nizza sent her a direct message on social media out of the blue.

“After my first ACL stint, I didn’t feel like I was going to be playing footy at that level again after playing for Parra, but then Keeley messaged me on Instagram saying, ‘What’s your number?’ Naividi added.

“My coach wants to talk to you and I was like, there’s no way.

“Then the next minute John Strange is on the phone to me, and he wanted to sign me, and the rest is history.

“I thought I was going to play sport but probably just not to that level. I thought it was always going to be club (local footy), which is great, but I didn’t expect it.”

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Having endured so much already throughout her career, Naividi was dealt another cruel blow at the back end of last season when she ruptured her ACL for a second time – one day before the 2025 NRLW Grand Final.

This time she approached the long road back with a different mindset.

Knowing exactly what lay ahead, she has used the setback as fuel, with the prospect of returning to the grand final arena this year driving her on.

“With my first ACL rehab journey, I didn’t take it seriously at all so I knew what to expect but with the rehab process I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into,” Naividi continued.

“I think the second time I knew I needed to lock in.

“It’s made me more hungry and, to be honest, coming back from an ACL you don’t think you’ll ever play the same way you did before.

“But I think having an amazing staff and amazing team to always back you up and bring belief in yourself has been great and because of them I can continue to play.”