'She's gunning for me': Banter intensifies as sisters prepare to face off

It has been marked in the calendar on their living room wall and the banter in the Tauaneai family household is set to go to another level this week.

Alexis and Trinity Tauaneai will go head-to-head for the first time when the Bulldogs host the Dragons at Accor Stadium on Saturday and the sisters have been eying the Round 3 clash since the start of the NRLW season

The siblings played alongside each other in Wainuiomata before Alexis moved to Australia in 2023 to pursue an NRLW career with older sister Brooke, who plays for St George Dragons in the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership.

Trinity, 18, followed soon after with the rest of the family, including another sister, Paige, who is on a development contract at the Dragons.

"We’ve always played on the same team, never against each other, so it’ll definitely be different," said 20-year-old Alexis, who was one of the first players signed by the Bulldogs for their inaugural NRLW season.  

"We are always very competitive. Even when we play together, we’re always yelling at each other - she will always give it to me, a lot of banter and that kind of stuff.

"Running against each other will be a bit different, but it should be exciting."

The sisters live at home and Trinity admits it will be difficult for the rest of their family to support one over the other in the match.

"We have had it marked on the calendar for some time," Trinity said.

It's there on the wall in living room. The date is marked for the big day.

"Me and my siblings, we all live together so there is going to be a bit of banter during the week. 

"I guess they will just be going for whoever has got the ball at that moment. They are backing us both and whoever comes out on better on the day that's just how it's going to end up.

"We are both keen, we are going to go at it. After the game we will act like we love each other again but, on the field, I am here for my team, and it is all or nothing."

When Dragons coach Nathan Cross first met Trinity, he asked if she was Alexis's sister, and she replied: "No, she's my sister. I'm the best sister".

Yet while there is a strong rivalry between Alexis, who plays in the secondrow for the Bulldogs, and Trinity, a middle forward, the sisters are also extremely close and support each other off the field.

"She has got my back, and I have got hers," Trinity said.

I don't tell her this much, but I do look up to her. She is a role model for me, and I hope she knows that.

"The way she plays, I just try and critique my game in ways that reflect hers. We’ve got different skill sets, so I‘m sure we'll use that on the weekend. 

"I think I’m more of a ball player, [whereas] she's got a bigger engine, but I'm getting there. I think I've got some defence on her, I hit harder, but she'll definitely get me. She's gunning for me, I know that."

Alexis, who made her Test debut for the Kiwi Ferns during last year's Pacific Championships, always knew her younger sister would join her in the NRLW, with Trinity's attitude and confidence convincing Cross she was ready for Round 1.

After a strong debut against the Raiders, Trinity won the St George Illawarra coach's award for her performance in last weekend's 24-10 loss to the Roosters.

“I knew she had it in her, she has a good attitude, she can definitely walk what she talks. I was very excited for her when I heard the news [about her debut]," Alexis said.

"I can’t wait. It is probably game of the season for me and her, all of the family will come and watch, so it is definitely something to be excited about."