Reconnecting to Culture and Giving Back with Vanessa Foliaki

Whether it is young players earning NRLW contracts or choosing to represent their heritage on the international stage, Vanessa Foliaki’s passion now lies in helping others take those same leaps she once did.

Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the women’s game, Foliaki built an impressive playing résumé.

A part of the inaugural Sydney Roosters NRLW squad that reached the Grand Final in 2018, Foliaki also represented Australia internationally and New South Wales in State of Origin before choosing to represent Tonga later in her career.

Success these days, though, looks a little different for Vanessa.

After announcing her retirement in 2025, Foliaki moved into coaching roles with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Lisa Fiaola Cup squad and as an assistant coach of the Tongan women’s team.

“I think success for me at the moment is seeing the girls that I coach in pathways move forward and gain those NRLW contracts,” says Vanessa.

“And seeing young Tongan, Samoan or Islander girls take that leap of faith and decide to play for their country, that’s the biggest thing.”

Growing Up Between Cultures

Born and raised in New Zealand by Tongan parents before moving to Australia, Vanessa grew up surrounded by a blend of cultures, although, identity wasn’t something she fully embraced early on. While she was raised with strong Tongan roots, the language and cultural connection weren’t always as prevalent.

“While I did get brought up as a Tongan, Tongan language wasn’t massive in my household,” says Vanessa. “My mum spoke a lot of English.”

It wasn’t until later in her playing career that Vanessa made the decision to represent Tonga, a moment she now describes as the highlight of her rugby league journey, but one that came with its own set of challenges.

“For a long time, I wasn’t comfortable playing for Tonga for many reasons,” says Vanessa. “Part of that was the financial side. We didn’t get paid to play for Tonga.”

That reality has shifted in recent years, with the RLPA playing a key role in improving high performance standards in international rugby league and securing equal match payments for all players  in the Pacific Championships. This change that has opened the door for more athletes to represent their heritage.

For Vanessa, however, the decision became about something more than playing.

“It was more than representing myself,” says Vanessa. “It was time to represent my parents, my family and where they came from.”

“I learned a lot playing for Tonga, there were a lot of sayings and songs that I had no idea about.”

“I’m confident now when I speak Tongan, I don’t feel ashamed to speak my language because of fear of being judged for not pronouncing things right.”

The Power Of Multiculturalism In Rugby League

Rugby league is a strong mix of many different cultures, and Vanessa sees this firsthand through her coaching in the Australian pathways system.

“You just have to look at my team, the amount of different cultures we have,” says Vanessa.

The growth of the women’s game, particularly internationally, has opened doors for players to represent nations that reflect their families or cultures.

“They’re blessed to be in a position where there is a national Tongan team, and now it’s all equal for that reason,” says Vanessa. “To entice girls to go back and play for their country, that’s important to me.”

Vanessa now leads the next generation as a coach and her philosophy is simple: to develop players not only as athlets, but as people too.

“People see what you do on the field. For me, it’s what you do off the field as well, I’m a big believer that better people make better footballers,” says Vanessa.

For the young players coming through, seeing someone who has walked the path that they are striving for matters.

“We come from a small country,” says Vanessa. “For girls to see someone who has done it, that’s important.”

ABOUT VANESSA FOLIAKI

Vanessa Foliaki is a New Zealand-born Australian and Tongan international who built a standout career across the NRLW and representative stage.

A World Cup winner with the Jillaroos in 2017, she also represented New South Wales in State of Origin before later choosing to represent and captain Tonga in 2023.

At club level, Foliaki was part of the inaugural Sydney Roosters NRLW squad in 2018 and later represented the Parramatta Eels and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Known for her toughness and leadership, she finished her career in 2025 as one of the pioneers of the NRLW, leaving a lasting legacy on the women’s game.