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Emmanita Paki (born 2 January 2003) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. Her positions are centre and wing. She previously played for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership.

Background

Paki is of Tongan heritage and is one of four children.

Although born in Mildura, Victoria, Paki grew up in Emerald, Queensland where she attended Marist College and achieved considerable success playing touch football and netball. In touch, she represented the Junior Cowboys, Junior Titans and Central Queensland Bulls sides.

Paki completed her schooling at The Cathedral College in Rockhampton where she began playing rugby league, representing the school in the Karyn Murphy Cup.

Paki credits Tamika Upton, whose mother was Paki's touch football and netball coach, with helping with the decision to transition to rugby league. Paki has also said she looks up to Will Hopoate and is also inspired by her mother who became an amputee at the age of three when she lost her left arm in an accident.

Playing career

Early years

In 2020, Paki joined the Yeppoon Seagulls. In 2021, while playing club football with Yeppoon, she also began playing for the Central Queensland Capras women's team in the BHP Premiership. On 25 June 2021, she represented the Queensland Maroons under-19s team in the "curtain raiser" held prior to the 2021 Women's State of Origin which was played on the Sunshine Coast.

2022

The following year, Paki continued playing with the Capras in the state competition, which became known as the BMD Premiership. The team progressed to the 2022 Grand Final where they were defeated by the North Queensland Gold Stars. Despite the loss, Paki delivered a commendable performance scoring a try in the 42nd minute, putting the team in front for the first time during the game.

On 9 June, Paki signed with the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership for the 2022 season. Later on, she represented the Queensland Maroons under-19s team for a second time.

After being brought into the side to replace Bobbi Law in the centres, Paki made her NRLW debut in the 2022 NRLW season on 11 September 2022, in the Knights' round 4 clash against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, the Knights losing 16–18.

Her second NRLW appearance came a week later in the round 5 game against the St. George Illawarra Dragons on 18 September 2022 at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford, where she played on the wing instead of her usual centre position. Paki scored the first try of the second half.

On 2 October, Paki played in the Knights' NRLW Grand Final win over the Parramatta Eels, scoring a try in the Knights' 32–12 victory.

Paki and the Knights parted ways after 2022.

2024

In June 2024, Paki was called-up to play for Queensland in the 2024 Women's State of Origin series.

References

1. ^ "Emmanita Paki". Newcastle Knights. National Rugby League. 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
2. "Emmanita Paki - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
3. ^ Gould, Joel (23 June 2021). "Brave mum and Upton light fire in Paki". QRL.com. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
4. Holdsworth, Matty (28 August 2015). "Emerald four carve up". Central Queensland News. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
5. Holdsworth, Matty (18 February 2016). "Emma's magic touch". Central Queensland News. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
6. Booth, Kristen (18 September 2020). "Young CQ netball players, coaches ready for state comp". Central Queensland News. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
7. "Development Teams". Queensland Touch Football. 28 August 2018.
8. "Team Lists". Queensland Touch Football. 24 August 2018.
9. "TFA NYC 2020 Magazine" (PDF). National Youth Championships. 1 October 2020.
10. ^ McKay, Pam (28 June 2022). "Emma Paki to join fellow Central Qld rugby league star at the Newcastle Knights for the 2022 NRLW season". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
11. "Brave mum and Upton light fire in Paki". Queensland Rugby League. 23 June 2021.
12. McKay, Pam (5 May 2021). "'She's got a gift': League convert making her mark". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
13. "Three Gold Stars named in Queensland U19s team". North Queensland Cowboys. 21 June 2021.
14. ^ McKay, Pam (5 June 2022). "CQ Capras beaten by North Qld Gold Stars in BMD Premiership decider". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
15. "Knights confirm further 2022 NRLW signings". Newcastle Knights. 9 June 2022.
16. Thompson, Rod (15 June 2022). "Knights amassing impressive NRLW squad". Newcastle Weekly. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
17. "Emmanita Paki". National Rugby League.
18. "NRLW Squad Update: Changes made ahead of Roosters clash". Newcastle Knights. National Rugby League. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
19. "NRLW 2022 - Round 4 - Sydney Roosters (W) 18 def. Newcastle Knights (W) 16 - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
20. "NRLW Late Mail: Round 5". NRL.com. National Rugby League. 18 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022. Emmanita Paki moves from centre to the wing
21. "NRLW ScoreCentre: St George Illawarra Dragons vs Newcastle Knights live scores, stats and results". ABC News. 18 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
22. "Knights v Eels". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
23. "2023 NRLW Signings Tracker: McGregor a late withdrawal for Dragons". National Rugby League. 9 July 2023.
24. "From a sports shop to Origin: Meet Emmanita Paki, the off-contract Maroon". NRL. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.

External links

• Newcastle Knights profile

• 2003 births
• Living people
• Australian female rugby league players
• Australian people of Tongan descent
• Australian rugby league players
• Newcastle Knights (NRLW) players
• People from Emerald, Queensland
• Queensland Rugby League State of Origin Women players
• Rugby league centres
• Rugby league wingers
• Rugby league players from Victoria (state)
• Sportswomen from Queensland