Tiana Raftstrand-Smith

Tiana Raftstrand-Smith

Personal information
Born	(2003-07-17) 17 July 2003 (age 20) Auckland, New Zealand
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	84 kg (13 st 3 lb)
Playing information
Position	Second-row, Centre, Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2021–22 Gold Coast Titans 11 1 0 0 4 2023– Nth Qld Cowboys 8 2 0 0 8 Total 19 3 0 0 12 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2021–22 Queensland 2 0 0 0 0 2022–23 Māori All Stars 2 0 0 0 0 2023 Prime Minister's XIII 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1] As of 16 September 2023

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]

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.

External links

• North Queensland Cowboys profile