Character + Attitude + Dedication!
- Misa Janet Ta'afili Tuitama
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
As the Wellbeing Officer and Sports Chaplain, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be part of the Richmond Rosebuds U14/U16 Rugby League Australian Tour in July 2025. So I eagerly accepted the role to join the tour officials. What an incredible opportunity to be part of the first ARL Auckland female team to travel to Australia! Our tour group consisted of 56 amazing players and officials.
My role on the Tour was to provide off-field support, which began with leading early morning motivational talks and then being available for the entire group throughout the day. On reflection, I realised that Presence and Purpose became my daily anchors. One activity I set for the players was to choose a personal value each morning that would guide them through the day, and then share it with their buddy. This created a culture of encouragement, motivation, and empowerment within the group. My buddy was Alariyah, an exceptional U14 player who was initially quite reserved, yet I had the privilege of watching her confidence blossom over the week. Each morning, she was the first to ask me about my value for the day, those small but intentional moments helped me prepare myself for what lay ahead. I was so proud of Alariyah as she received the 'Most Improved Player' on the tour!
The Tour was filled with many highlights, but one moment has left a lasting impression. During our final game at Pine Central Holy Spirit Hornets in Bray Park, QLD, Ana Fotu (2025 Harvey Norman U19s Coach) had the opportunity to address all the players as the match drew to a close.
"If you are Not-Coachable..."
Her words struck a deep chord with me, as they spoke to character and the personal values we uphold. In any sport, being labelled ‘not coachable’ is one of the greatest concerns for a player. It’s a challenging and thought-provoking reminder, and one every athlete needs to hear, about the qualities that truly make a good player.
Not-coachable means to:
Not listening to instructions
Not committing to the schedule
Not showing up for team training
Not serving or supporting others
Not being a team player
Over the past four years, I’ve had the privilege of standing alongside incredible athletes, from grassroots to high performance, witnessing their relentless drive to reach their full potential, perform at their peak, and make their families proud. The phrase, ‘If you are Not-Coachable, then don’t even think about being noticed!’, was a revelation to me, capturing the very real challenges athletes face on their journey to excellence and their highest potential.
It was an honour to be part of the Richmond Rosebuds Australian Tour, and I am confident that we have extraordinary emerging talent whose character, attitude, and dedication will help shape the future of women's rugby league.
PAUSE & REFLECT
When was the last time you honestly examined your character and attitude, recognising qualities that could be strengthened, reshaped, or released altogether?
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