The NRLW's most capped player, Zahara Temara, has called for patience as she aims to bring premiership success to the Raiders in coming seasons.
Temara, who will make her 42nd NRLW appearance in Canberra’s final match on Sunday against the Titans, knows firsthand how long it can take to build a premiership winning roster.
The star playmaker was one of fifteen marquee signings by the Sydney Roosters in the inaugural NRLW competition in 2018 and played a massive role in the club’s 2021 premiership win.
She is now striving to achieve the same success with the Raiders after moving to Canberra when the club joined the NRLW last year.
“It was so cool. Some years we just didn’t get it right, didn’t get the combinations right or the flow of the game. But to finally get it right it was really special,” Temara said.
“I just like sort of putting it in perspective that you can’t take it for granted and you have got to play every game like it’s your last and play your best.
“It was awesome to finally get it, but I’ve been trying to chase that feeling again ever since. With the Raiders, we are still a young, developing club and it took four years for the Roosters.”
It has been a frustrating first two seasons for the Raiders, finishing fifth in 2023 and again set to miss the NRLW finals this year.
However, the Raiders have shown a tenacious attitude in every match this season under coach Darrin Borthwick and a number of tight losses suggest they are a team to watch out for in future.
“I would just love us to win one down here to be honest. This club deserves it, and the people deserve it,” Temara said.
“It’s hard because our coach, Daz, puts in so much work with the players, the supporters and all the people in and around the club.
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“It means so much to them and to not put the performances together out there on the field for them is quite hard to take.
I just want one premiership down here because the people of Canberra deserve it.
Borthwick has extended his contract with the club until 2027, while Temara is contracted until 2026 and co-captain Simaima Taufa has signed until 2027.
Temara and Taufa played together at the Roosters before the star forward, who this week won the 2024 Mal Meninga Medal as Canberra’s NRLW player of the year, moved to Parramatta.
“I’m lucky that I’ve got a mate like Simaima to take on this challenge with. It’s great to be back with her,” Temara said. “She is a massive leader for me and also a mentor.
“It was a massive decision to leave the Roosters because I loved club and I still do. I’m still very close to the people there and love the people within the club.
“Darrin Borthwick was the No. 1 reason for me to move to Canberra. He tried to get me for a long time and for him to give me that respect, and give me that time, meant a lot to me.
“It was about a seven-month process to be honest. It was a hard decision, but I do think that the way things have turned out it was the right one.
“He’s definitely made me a better player and he’s given me a lot of responsibility, and I think that has helped my game. He just cares for the person you are. And obviously just coming down here the Raiders club is awesome.”
Temara began playing rugby union while growing up in Rotorua before she and her family relocated in 2007 to the Gold Coast, where she joined the Nerang Roosters.
Switching back and forth between codes, and even playing both at the same time, it took a few years for Temara to realise that league was the game for her.
“It was strange, the longer I played union the more I was starting doing league things and I was like, ‘what is going on here, maybe I should stick to league’,” Temara said.
Selected to make her Test debut for Australia against Papua New Guinea at the age of 19, Temara went on to score a hat-trick of tries against Canada in the 2017 World Cup in a memorable start to her international career.
But representing Australia wasn’t always her dream.
“Because I was brought up in New Zealand, it’s all about the All-Blacks’ jersey over there. So that’s all I really thought about,” Temara said.
“When I came over here, Australia became my priority because living here and getting that opportunity was massive for me and I didn’t look back. I represent my family and all of that through the green and gold.”
