From wondering if she’d be able to play the game again to making her international rugby league debut, Gayle Broughton is soaking in the full experience of finally becoming a Kiwi Fern.
The star five-eighth made her Ferns debut in the Christchurch in week two of the Pacific Championships in front of family and friends, before helping guide her team to victory against the Orchids to secure their place in the Pacific Cup final and another shot at the Jillaroos.
“It's crazy tenfold thinking about it,” Broughton told NRL.com.
“Only not even nine months ago, I could barely walk, I had to walk with a walking stick and now nine months later, I'm representing my country.
“I am thankful and full of gratitude to my medical staff, my management and just the team, the girls that pushed me through to get to this point, hugely grateful for them.
“I am absolutely loving being part of the Kiwi Ferns.
“The culture and the environment that these that these girls have built and what they buy into is something very special.
“The best way I can explain it is I'm just bloody loving it.
“It's an awesome environment to be a part of and these girls man, they make being away from home very, very easy.
“It's been very enjoyable.
“Lots of dancing, lots of laughing but lots of culture.
“It's been awesome.”
The Kiwi Ferns lay down the challenge
While Broughton has previously played for the Māori All Stars and is also no stranger to the world stage having claimed both Gold and Silver medals at the Olympics with the New Zealand Rugby Sevens team, the Brisbane Broncos half said making her international rugby league debut at home was a special feeling.
“Oh man, that was hugely special for me; not only it being my debut and becoming a Kiwi Fern, but the opportunity to play in front of home, my people, my culture, my country and singing that national anthem in front of all our fans and all our family, man,” Broughton said.
“It was very special and it's a huge one, probably goes down as one of my favourite moments in rugby league.
“It was hugely, hugely amazing.”
Broughton and her side are in Sydney this week preparing to face off once more against Australia – including her Broncos skipper and halves partner Ali Brigginshaw – but while she is supremely competitive – the experience of representing her country is about more than just the game.
One of the top performers against the Orchids with a try assist, two line break assists and a forced drop out as the Ferns proved too strong in their 36-0 win, Broughton also made sure she made the most of her visit to PNG, sharing her love of music with the fans of the game as the team visited attentive students.
“I do need to give a shout out to the New Zealand Commissioner for letting me borrow his guitar,” Broughton said.
“I don't think he had a choice! I just kind of hinted to him that we needed a guitar.
“Music is a huge part of this team and I love that, because music is personally a huge part of who I am as a person, so I absolutely love it.
“The girls already know if they need ‘gee’ on the guitar, I'm the person to call.”
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