Destiny Mino-Sinapati: 'I always want to progress further'

“I grew up playing basketball  and I’ve only been playing footy for two years, so to already be at this level… I’m just very proud.

“To make my parents proud is a big thing and representing the state that's done so much for me growing up, I’m so grateful.”

The 18-year-old electrical apprentice first picked up a rugby league ball in 2020 but had surgery on her knee, so properly started playing in Year 12 at Marsden State High in 2021 and hasn’t looked back.

“I played with some of the girls in this team and yeah, it just went on from there,” Mino-Sinapati said.

“I played at Wynnum Manly, that was like my first club that I played at and they been super helpful and played a big part in where I am now.

“I never really knew of rugby league growing up and then when I went to Marsden, it was like a big thing there, and as soon as I started playing it, I just fell out of basketball and loved the footy so much.

“The sport itself… there's just so many opportunities and I just feel so happy playing it.

“And the amount of friends I've made from it… yeah, I'm pretty happy.”

Mino-Sinapati said she loved being able to be an example for her younger brother.

“He’s so naughty but it's good… I want to set a pathway for him and obviously set an example,” Mino-Sinapati said.

“I want to be that role model that he looks up to.”

Mino-Sinapati, who is in the top 24 at Gold Coast Titans, said aside from striving to win every time she played, she was constantly striving to be better.

“I always want to progress further than I am now,” she said, adding she was “super grateful” to be at the Titans.

“Hopefully one day progress to the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons team and then playing good and hopefully debuting for NRLW.

“I love the girls at Titans… they're so supportive and make me feel part of it, especially Karina Brown and Shaylee Bent.

“They played with me at Wynnum Manly… so I've always like been under their wing and they always remind me to keep pushing and back myself.”

Mino-Sinapati said despite playing some centre, she enjoyed playing fullback.

“It gives me more opportunities on the field… just to see the whole field in front of me is good,” she said.

“I’m still working on finding my strength and weaknesses, but I feel like one of my strengths is speed so I try to use that as much as possible in my game.”

Mino-Sinapati said playing with Wynnum Manly helped her work on the areas of her game outside of speed.

“They helped me work on something other than speed, like finding the right holes to hit, working with the players around me and not only working on my attacking, but working on my defence as well…holding the try line,” Mino-Sinapati said, adding at Titans she would fill a utility role.

For now though, her focus is on learning everything she can once in Queensland camp from Friday and facing New South Wales on July 13.