For Jillaroos and Tigers star Sarah Togatuki, family means everything.
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It’s helped shape her into the player she is and more importantly, the person she is.
The sacrifices made by her loved ones has given Togatuki the platform to strive for greatness in women’s rugby league.
She’s certainly managed to do that.
The 27-year-old is in the Jillaroos’ side for their historic Test match against England in Las Vegas – the first ever professional women’s sporting match to be played at Allegiant Stadium.
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It wasn’t easy for the Togatuki family growing up in housing commission in Sydney’s west, so when Togatuki had the opportunity and financial means to show just how grateful she is for her parents’ unwavering support, she went all out.
Togatuki purchased a house for her parents Vaea and Atagai back in April 2023 and then last Christmas, the Jillaroos star surprised her father Vaea with a brand new ute. It was the make and model he has always dreamt of owning.
The priceless reaction of all involved was filmed and uploaded to Togatuki’s Instagram account.
“I get emotional talking about it,” Togatuki told foxsports.com.au.
“They’re like my best friends, they’ve done everything for me.
“I grew up knowing Brian To’o and Stephen Crichton and I saw what they did for their parents and family (when they made the NRL) so I thought it would be really nice to do something for my family.
“It’s always been my Dad’s dream to have his own ute. Every time we would drive around in a second-hand car I’d hear him make comments like ‘Oh, how nice is that ute’. Obviously we weren’t in a financial position then to get him a ute, but I got the chance to do that last year.
“He was my Secret Santa and I wanted to find a way to not only give him a present for Christmas but his dream car as well.
“He’s just such a happy person right now. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
An NRLW stalwart, having been in the league since its inception back in 2018, Togatuki boasts one of the more glittering resumes of anyone in the sport.
Beginning her career with the Roosters back in 2018, Togatuki would go on and win a premiership with the club in 2021 – a game she was named player of the match.
In a huge coup for their inaugural season in the NRLW comp, the Tigers acquired Togatuki as their marquee signing for 2022 and beyond. It was in that debut season for the Tigers that Togatuki was named Dally M Prop of the Year.
Sarah Togatuki joined the Tigers in 2022 as the club’s first-ever marquee signing.Source: The Daily Telegraph
When she started her NRLW career back in 2018 at the tender age of 20, Togatuki didn’t know where the sport would take her or even what the future of a new women’s competition would look like.
One thing’s for sure, she didn’t think it would take her to Las Vegas.
Clearly the fastest growing women’s professional sport in Australia, rugby league has seen a massive popularity spike in the past couple of years.
It’s now deservedly earned a spot on what is arguably the biggest day in rugby league history.
Togatuki can’t believe how quickly women’s rugby league has grown in Australia and she can’t wait to pull on the jersey and represent her country in Vegas on Sunday morning (AEDT).
“The feeling is surreal,” Togatuki said.
“There’s so many young girls back at home where I’m from in Mount Druitt get to look up and see someone that look like them in this jersey and it just gives them all the belief that they can see themselves in this jersey one day as well.
“To see where the game is heading towards is great and a lot of the girls in the pathways are doing so well as when NRLW started, the women’s pathways weren’t solidified compared to what it is now.
“A lot is happening in our game and we are lucky to be in the mix of it all.”
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