Cheyelle Robins-Reti is ready to take the stage in front of a home crowd this weekend as the Raiders NRLW team play their first home game in the history of the club.
After a loss in their inaugural game against the Sharks last weekend, Robins-Reti also marked history of her own playing her first ever game of professional rugby league.
“It was awesome to finally get out there after a big pre-season, a little bit of nerves. But once that ball was kicked, I was ready to get into it,” Robins-Reti said.
The centre was a threat in her first game and will only look to grow in that position, claiming a try assist and two line break assists on debut.
Robins-Reti has come from a rugby union background, representing New Zealand in fifteens and sevens internationally, joining many of her teammates who have made the switch also.
Her plethora of experience in rugby union puts herself and her teammates in good stead when it comes to their performances, as they continue to build their connections on the field.
“We obviously have areas to work on coming into a good game this weekend against the Roosters, but throughout training we'll make sure we build those connections so that we can be sharp on Saturday,” Robins-Reti said.
“Going into the game I was confident in who was beside me and I knew that the coaching staff were definitely supporting me.”
The Green Machine will experience the notorious Viking Clap for the first time at GIO Stadium Canberra this Saturday, which has been something Robins-Reti has been looking forward to for quite some time to encourage herself and the girls around her.
“Just the sound of it kind of gives you goosebumps. So, to be able to hear that as you're running out on the field should be really special,” Robins-Reti said.
The use of the new changerooms at GIO Stadium Canberra is something Robins-Reti is excited about heading into her first game in the nation’s capital, providing a major boost to the team’s already welcoming environment.
“Yeah, it was awesome to see the new changing rooms for us to have an allocated area to make it feel like home. We've already felt that from the club from day dot once we got here, but to be able to see a space that's our own is really special,” Robins-Reti said.
Robins-Reti was heavily involved in the Vikings Clap try celebration against the Sharks last weekend, paying tribute to the Canberra faithful.
“We had heaps of other ones planned and then they got taken as the weekend went on by. So I was like, ‘well no one can really take the Viking clap from the team of Vikings,’” Robins-Reti said.
When asked about what try celebrations are on the cards for Saturday, Robins-Reti replied, “We’ll have to see this weekend.”
