The Kiria-Ratu code: One strong sister trumps two ACLs

Sharks rookie Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu credits her rapid NRLW rise to the close bond she formed with sister Chantay as they helped each other recover from knee injuries.

After moving to Sydney with Chantay, Anne-Marie was initially signed to Cronulla's Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership team following more than two years on the sidelines due to back-to-back ACL ruptures.

Yet within a month she has graduated to a development contract, then a place in the club's top 24, an NRLW debut against Wests Tigers and now a regular starting position alongside Chantay, the Sharks and Cook Islands halfback.

“We’re from the Gold Coast, it's our first time out of home without mum and dad, so it's good that we've moved here together. We stay in the same apartment," Anne-Marie told 94ddz.com.

"She usually leads me around, telling me what to do, but it feels good being out there with the girls."

The siblings have become used to relying on each other for support as they both had to overcome significant knee injuries last year.

After steering the Titans to the 2023 grand final, Chantay ruptured her ACL and missed most of last season, while Anne-Marie suffered a knee injury on the eve of her Test debut for Cook Islands at the 2023 Pacific Championships.

Anne-Marie had just recovered from knee surgery and ruptured her other ACL at the captain's run in Papua New Guinea on the day before her 18th birthday.   

“I did one ACL, tried to make my way back but then got another setback and did my other ACL," she said.

"I think just my support system that I had with me during that time, my family, my mum, my dad, my siblings as well - and especially my sister - helped me through that.

"She’s been there with me since the start, even when she had her setbacks with her knee as well. I just had to support her as well.”

Sharks coach Tony Herman is full of praise for Anne-Marie’s resilience and determination to rise to the top grade, with the 19-year-old impressing her coaching staff and teammates in the short time she has been with the club. 

“Anne-Marie came down and was in our Harvey Norman side four weeks ago, now she's played a Magic Round against the Broncos and she came out again [against the Dragons] and played another 70 minutes," Herman said.

"For those young girls to come into our system and have the confidence to just play their footy, it's a real testament to these girls and the culture they create."

The opportunity to play first grade came much faster than Anne-Marie had anticipated, and she is grateful for the faith shown in her by Herman and the coaching staff.

"I didn’t realise how quick this opportunity would come around, but I’m so grateful for the girls and Tony, just for believing in me," she said.

"They’ve been around since the start of the pre-season, I only came around here just to get game time in Harvey Norman, and to support my sister. But now I'm here, playing full 70-minute games."

In a monumental moment for the Kiria-Ratu family, Chantay and Anne-Marie played together on the right edge against the Dragons for the first time in years due to their injury setbacks.

"It's very special. We haven't played next to each other in a few years," Anne-Marie said. "We've had a few setbacks - both of us - but it felt great out there with her. It's good to be back playing alongside her.”