Hailing from Wainuiomata, New Zealand, she has made a successful transition from Rugby Union where she represented Wellington Pride at a representative level in New Zealand’s Farrar Palmer Cup.
A cornerstone of the Tarsha Gale Cup team’s forward pack, Tauaneai possesses a strong carry and running game which yielded three tries across the first six rounds.
Her strong performance and contribution to Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs’ undefeated record in Tarsha Gale Cup were recognised, with Tauaneai debuting in the club’s Harvey Norman Womens Premiership win in Round 7, and later in the top grade when coach Craig Sandercock named her to start against Mounties in the 2023 NSWRL Women’s Premiership Grand Final.
While the team fell short in extraordinary circumstances, going down to the Mounties 1-nil in the Grand Final, Tauaneai will look to bounce back as she prepares to make her NRLW debut in the 2023 season with the Dragons.
