Nā Shakayla Andrews-Alapaki tēnei atikara.
Paris Lokotui (Ngāi Tahu, Tonga) is no stranger to finals pressure, but this weekend's Super Rugby Aupiki championship match presents a very different challenge.
The former netballer is preparing to take the field with Matatū against the Blues in the 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki final at Te Kaha Stadium, trading the goal circle for the rugby pitch.
Lokotui said the mindset needed for a rugby final differs significantly from a netball final.
“Heading into a netball final is very different to heading into a rugby final. Making sure that my mentality is there, I'm ready to hit some people and honestly get hit as well,” she says.
Matatū enters the final after suffering a 38-29 loss to the Blues in the final round-robin match last week. However, the side is focused on improving key areas of its game, particularly its defence and set piece execution.
“Last week was a hard game for us in terms of what we wanted to do and execute. But I think coming into this week we've brought the energy. We know what we wanted to work on in terms of our set piece,” Lokotui says.
While much of the attention has been on experienced players such as Lokotui, the final will also mark a milestone for Matatū fullback and Black Ferns Sevens star Maia Davis (Ngāti Kahungunu), who is preparing for her first grand final appearance.
“It's cool to have another skill under my belt with my kicking. I think that's one of our game plans to win territory this weekend,” Davis says.
Davis said the squad's focus remains firmly on sticking to its structures and trusting one another.
“We can only do what we can do. So I back our forwards to do their mahi and then us backs to do our own mahi and hopefully finish it off for them.”
Matatū head coach Blair Baxter has been pleased with the growth shown by both Lokotui and Davis throughout their debut season with the team.
“Paris, we've seen her thriving and shining week on week, and Maia's certainly growing in that space too. Both of those are super competitive and we know come finals footy, we absolutely need to bring that edge,” he says.
Regardless of the result, Lokotui says she has no plans to leave the game and remains committed to her future with Matatū.
“I just want to enjoy my footy and what that looks like is me trying to be at my best and play for my team. The black jersey is a goal, but that's not something at the front of my mind.”
The Super Rugby Aupiki final will kick off at 2:35 p.m. on Saturday at Te Kaha Stadium in Christchurch, with either Matatū retaining the trophy in Ōtautahi or the Blues taking it back to Tāmaki Makaurau.
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Ehara i te mea he tauhou a Paris Lokotui, nō Ngāi Tahu me Tonga, ki ngā haepapa nui o te kēmu whiringa toa, engari anō mō tēnei kēmu whakamutunga o te terenga Super Rugby Aupiki, he wero anō.
E whakarite ana tēnei kaitākaro poitarawhiti ō mua kia takatakahī ai i te whīra me tōna kapa o Matatū, e tuki ana ki te kapa Blues mō te whiringa toa o te whakataetae ki te taiwhanga o Te Kaha. E whakawhiti ana te wāhi ūhanga mō te whīra.
Hei tā Lokotui, he rerekē rawa te whakarite mō tētahi whiringa toa mō te whutupōro ki tā te kēmu poitarawhiti.
“Heading into a netball final is very different to heading into a rugby final. Making sure that my mentality is there, I'm ready to hit some people and honestly get hit as well,” hei tāna.
Ka uru atu te kapa o Matatū i te whiringa toa ahakoa tā rātou hinga 38 - 29 ki te kapa Blues i tērā wiki. Heoi anō, ko te aronga o te kapa nei, ko te hāpai ake i ētahi wāhanga o te kēmu pēnei i te taha kaupare me te whārere hoki o te kapa.
“Last week was a hard game for us in terms of what we wanted to do and execute. But I think coming into this week we've brought the energy. We know what we wanted to work on in terms of our set piece,” hei tā Lokotui
Ahakoa te aronga nui ki a Lokotui e rite ana mō tōna whiringa toa tuatahi, he tuatahitanga anō tēnei mā Maia Davis, nō te kapa takiwhitu wāhine o Aotearoa, kia eke ki tēnei taumata.
“It's cool to have another skill under my belt with my kicking. I think that's one of our game plans to win territory this weekend,” hei tā Davis.
E ai ki a Davis, ko te aronga matua ko te ū ki ngā whakaritenga kei mua i a rātou me te whakapono i a rātou anō.
“We can only do what we can do. So I back our forwards to do their mahi and then us backs to do our own mahi and hopefully finish it off for them.”
E mea ana te kaiwhakahaere matua, a Blair Baxter, kua kaha kitea i te whanake haere mai i a Lokotui rāua ko Davis, ahakoa koinei tā rāua terenga tuatahi me tēnei kapa.
“Paris, we've seen her thriving and shining week on week, and Maia's certainly growing in that space too. Both of those are super competitive and we know come finals footy, we absolutely need to bring that edge,” he said.
Hinga atu, hinga mai, ka noho pūmau a Lokotui ki tōna kapa o Matatū me tōna hiahia kia noho tonu ki te ao whutupōro.
“I just want to enjoy my footy and what that looks like is me trying to be at my best and play for my team. The black jersey is a goal, but that's not something at the front of my mind.”
Hei tēnei hātarei, ka tū te kēmu whiringa toa o te Super Rugby Aupiki hei te 35 meneti pāhi i te rua karaka i te ahiahi ki te taiwhanga o Te Kaha kei Ōtautahi. Taihoa ake ka kite inā ka noho te taonga o Hineruhi ki Ōtautahi, ka hoki rānei ki te pōkapū nui o Tāmaki Makaurau.