When Sera Koroi found out she was pregnant in mid-2021, she thought her long-held dream to represent the Orchids at a Rugby League World Cup was over, with the tournament scheduled for November that year.
But a 12-month postponement left the door ajar for Sera, whose mother is from New Ireland Province and whose father is from Fiji, to play for PNG after all.
Sera explains: “When I got pregnant, it was God’s plan for me. I really trusted that no matter what. Then when the tournament got postponed, I thought it was meant to be.”
“Before I knew I was pregnant, I actually injured my angle which forced me to stop playing, which was His way of taking me out of the sport and making sure my son would be healthy.
“After I had my son Viliame on October 28, 2021, it was pretty hard because I had a C-section, and I knew that would delay my return to rugby league. But I started training again after three months and my club coach at Souths Logan Magpies in Brisbane, Maia Tua-Davidson, was very supportive.”
With Viliame celebrating his first birthday this week and 20-year-old Sera joining him via video call from the Orchids’ RLWC base in Leeds, she admits it has been a tough time to be away, but made easier by the support of her family.
“I would not be here without my parents – they and my three younger siblings are taking care of my son. My parents have always been 100 per cent supportive because they know I can make a career out of rugby league. We always agreed that I would play in RLWC if I could get selected, and they will continue to support me as I try to earn an NRLW contract.
“They say ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and this is certainly true in my family.”
