Lafai is having a wonderful season with her expansive play and crossing the strip twice in NSW’s undefeated run in the Super W competition.

She started playing backyard footy at a young age with her brothers, including current St George-Illawarra Dragons rugby league centre Tim Lafai.

“He was really into rugby league, so that contact playing with my brothers, wrestling, all that got me into rugby... yeah, I love contact,” Lafai told The Women’s Game.

The Parramatta Two Blues player played at school but wasn’t aware there was a competition for women after leaving school.

Over time and through Facebook, the Minto resident realised Campbelltown Harlequins had a team, so she went there initially.

She said she loves playing for NSW and it’s been more intense than her previous experience representing Sydney two years ago.

“This NSW team is just so much different to the actual Sydney team...there wasn’t as much hype around it," Lafai said.

“There’s a lot more professionalism around training, watching what we do and what we say and just those little things that make us feel more important.

“Obviously, it’s being televised which is pretty cool... I feel that’s the main difference," she said.

Lafai mentioned it’s had a positive effect on the team’s culture.

“It’s pretty exciting, all the girls are so awesome to play with and the camaraderie is something we always talk about because it’s really good in our team and you can see it on the field and off the field," she said

“That’s something I really enjoy."

However, it was NSW’s gain after she had moved to play in Melbourne unfortunately due to injury - she missed playing at Rugby Australia’s nationals in 2017.

After moving back to Sydney, she trialled for a spot in the NSW squad and her blistering speed and evasive skills saw her win a spot in the starting fifteen on the wing.

Since then, the tall and athletic Lafai has been an integral member of the NSW team’s undefeated run.

She hopes to play for the national team one day; with the Wallaroos being a long-term goal.

“Definitely, that’s always been a goal of mine," Lafai said.

“That’s the main goal in the end, for most of us girls - is to make the Wallaroos side”, she said.

Despite her success and putting her best foot-forward in attaining national selection, Lafai remains grounded and humble.

“Moving forward we’re definitely not going to take Melbourne lightly," she said.

“We’re still going to have to be in good form when we go up against them.

“We’ll treat them just the same as the other teams and hopefully we can make the finals and come out on top”, she said.

The first half of that equation has already been solved, with NSW and Queensland already pencilled in as finalists with one competition round to play.

Fans will have to wait three weeks for the final with a break being taken for the Rugby 7's tournament at the Commonwealth Games.

Lafai and her teammates will be putting their best foot-forward against a determined Queensland.