Stephanie forced to retire

BY ALF WILSON

Injury has forced multi talented Torres Strait Islander sportswoman Stephanie Mooka into a premature retirement.

The 31-year-old has excelled at rugby league, Australian Rules, basketball, netball, volleyball, running and even shone in rugby union and football (soccer).

Stephanie said the initial injury she sustained was a ruptured MCL in her right leg back in 2021.

“I missed out on the Goldstars that year,” she said.

“But played in 2022 season with the Goldstars and strained my calf in the last round before finals, missing out on the grand finals.

$500 as we were unsure of getting any sponsors.” Ms Lui said.

Ms Lui and Ms Martin do swimming in most afternoons so thought they could easily complete the swim challenge.

They told other ladies, who use at the pool, what they were doing and three more were added to the ‘Tagai Mermaids’ team.

They were Kendra Coufal, Natasha Baxter and Aurora Panozzo.

The ladies have completed their goal for the swim challenge, which was to swim 140 kilometres – they raised $2600.

Earlier this week Tagai Mermaids swam 110 kilometres with 30 kilometres to go.

There are 13,599 swimmers participating in this year’s event with $3.6 million raised so far and nearly 260,000 kilometres swum.

“I also damaged another ligament in the Cairns and District rugby league grand final but played on it two weeks later in Koori knockouts and damaged it further.

“Not sure what injury it is, most likely meniscus tear, will confirm next week.”

Stephanie has enjoyed many highlights over her sporting career, the best of which she said was making the Elite Top 30 rugby league squad which played in the recent World Cup.

“I ended up pulling myself out of the Elite Top 30 in 2020 to help my family through a tough period,” she said.

“So I took a break to refresh my mind.

“During 2021 I was trying to see if I can have another crack at NRLW then I ruptured my MCL.

“Unfortunately I won’t be playing club for league/AFL anytime soon until I get my knee sorted.”

She said she was looking at coaching “down the track”.

Stephanie will celebrate her 32nd birthday in March and is a proud Torres Strait Islander, with family connections to Mabuiag and throughout the islands, as well as Cairns and Townsville.

Based in Cairns, Stephanie has played in rugby league carnivals such as Waiben’s Zenadth Kes, Badu’s Island of Origin, Townsville’s Bindal Sharks, Redcliffe’s Arthur Beetson Foundation Murri Knockout, the NSW Koori Knockout and at the Mackay and Cairns Allblacks.

She played the blue ribbon NRL National women’s comp, represented Queensland in ladies State of Origin, and played for the NQ Goldstars in the Statewide ladies rugby league comp.

Last season she played for Edmonton

Storm, who won their grand final against Kangaroos, in the Cairns Ladies Rugby league comp.

She has also been a star in the Cairns female AFL competition.

In the 2008 Island of Origin on Badu, Stephanie played for Mabuiag side Bau Aua Stingers.

She was a tearaway speedster with exceptional rugby league talent and won the sprint up the football field to claim the fastest woman in the Torres Strait title. She started off playing in the centres but as the years progressed she switched to the forward pack with equal determination and skill.

In late 2018 Stephanie shone for the Newcastle Yowies which won the ladies grand final at the NSW Koori Knockout.

A week later in early October Stephanie shone for the Flora Sandilands Memorial side, which lost the final of the Arthur Beetson Foundation Murri Knockout in Townsville to Emus Girls.

In 2019 she lined up with the St George Dragons for the 2019 national women’s NRL competition, playing one game.

The Brisbane Broncos ladies side had also tried to sign her up.

Mooka also represented Queensland in a women’s State of Origin loss to NSW in 2019, and was selected in the Australian Jillaroos merit team.