When Kiana Takairangi mentioned how she didn’t yet have a Father’s Day present for her dad, Louis, her mother, Susan, said: “Don’t worry, you playing for Parra is going to be the best present he could ask for”.
With Louis and her brother Brad having played for Parramatta, Kiana will create history when she runs out with the NRLW team on Sunday as the Takairangis become the first father, son and daughter to play at the top level for the same club.
“As a family, we supported Brad there for a long time so I have always had a bit of soft spot for the Eels but it was probably my dad who has been in my ear over the last few years, just planting the seed of coming out and playing for the club that they both played for,” Kiana said.
“It took a bit longer than they would have both liked but I got here eventually.”
A member of Newcastle’s 2022 premiership winning team, Takairangi will make her first NRLW appearance since 2023 after being called onto the wing by Eels coach Steve Georgallis for the Round 10 clash against Wests Tigers.
Louis and Brad attended the jersey presentation for Kiana after Saturday’s captain’s run and will be among the big crowd at CommBank Stadium for the Fathers Day double-header, with the NRL team taking on the Knights.
“Dad just said he was so proud. He teared up a bit. He told my mum that he had a bit of a tear in his eye and said he was so proud,” Kiana said of her father’s reaction to her selection.
He didn’t have too much to say but I knew it meant a lot to him because he has been telling me for a couple of years now to get out to Parra and play.
“If I get him a try he will be the happiest father alive.”
Louis Takairangi played alongside the likes of Peter Sterling, Peter Wynn and Bob Lindner at Parramatta in 1987, while Brad played 110 NRL games for the Eels between 2015 and 2020.
“He has always been my biggest supporter, he has always got feedback for me about how I can improve my game so he has always been a big part of why I play footy,” Kiana said.
“I think have always wanted to make him and the family proud but him especially, just knowing the history he has had with footy, and with Brad playing as well.
“He is a big part of why I play, and he is a big supporter of everything I have done in my career.”
It is through Louis that Brad and Kiana are eligible to play for the Cook Islands, as well as New Zealand and Māori All Stars.
The Takairangi siblings created world sporting history by becoming the first brother and sister to captain national men’s and women’s teams in the same code with Cook Islands during last October’s double-header against Fiji in Suva.
“Last year when Brad and I captained together was a very special moment for Dad, and it is nice that we can all make history together with Parramatta,” Kiana said.
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