Chantay Kiria-Ratu: 'I’ve got a job to do for Queensland'

Chantay Kiria-Ratu is calm, cool and collected.

Queensland Under 19 coach Deanna Turner is relying of the young gun’s ability to maintain composure when her side comes up against New South Wales on July 13.

“Chante is very chilled and relaxed. She brings a calmness about the team,” Turner said.

“Her calmness and her ability just to see things is beyond her years.”

Kiria-Ratu, who starred for Souths Logan Magpies in the BMD Premiership, said she was “super excited” to make the team for the second time.

“Hopefully we can come away with the win this year,” Kiria-Ratu said.

“I’m definitely keen.”

Kiria-Ratu said the coaches had told her to know her role and take control.

“Not to feel uncomfortable to let people know what I want,” Kiria-Ratu said.

“The halves is a hard job but for myself, the easiest way for me to be ready for a game is to just be calm and just let all the tension fall behind and just go out there and just do my job… I’ve got a job to do for Queensland.”

The teenager first started playing rugby league at school after her older brother Jay encouraged her to trial.

“I didn't even know how to play rugby… he was just like, ‘just go have a try’ and I went and I did it and then I was lucky enough to make the South Coast and that year was near COVID so it didn’t go on that year,” Kiria-Ratu said.

“Then basically started at school at Keebra Park… that's where I kind of built and developed.

“Played my first game in Year 10. That's where rugby league started for me and now I'm here, so super grateful.”

Kiria-Ratu said she loved the game.

“I think there's a lot to league… it's not just scoring a try, running. I think there's a lot of assets to rugby league… for me in the halves, that's communicating with everyone in the team, not just wanting to pass and then score tries,” Kiria-Ratu said.

Kiria-Ratu said in the women’s space she looked up to Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons flyer Evania Pelite.

“She’s a massive role model down at the Titans and I was actually lucky enough to play with her for sevens for a club team,” Kiria-Ratu said.

“From there on, she's just been an amazing role model for me to look up to.”

Moving forward, Kiria-Ratu wants to make her NRLW debut for the Gold Coast Titans.

 Turner said she was very excited by the team.

“We just got athletes that are going to play hard and fast,” Turner said.

“They’re fit, they’re mobile. I think it’s one of the strongest Under 19 teams we’ve put together right across the board. I don’t think there’s any weak links in the chain.”