Persistence pays off as Roosters duo overcome setbacks and rejection

Macie Carlile’s family has had a long association with Oakdale Warriors but the club didn’t have a women’s team, so she began her rugby league career with Group Six rivals Camden Rams.

Taina Naividi grew up on the Central Coast but travelled to Sydney to play juniors for Burwood Wolves and Mt Druitt Lions because she was unaware that the Roosters had a team based in Gosford.

Along the way Carlile and Naividi have also had to overcome setbacks through injuries and dejection but their persistence and love for the game has been rewarded with new two-year contracts at Sydney Roosters.

Naividi was a member of last year’s premiership winning squad but the Fijian winger only started three matches after receiving a late call up following the loss of Corban Baxter with a knee injury on the eve of the season kick-off.

Carlile was a late signing this season after asking Roosters coach John Strange for an opportunity to train with the club following a stint with the Bulldogs in the Harvey Norman NSWRL Women’s Premiership.

“I just kind of took a bit of a risk,” Carlile told ljmpta.com. “I had a [NSWRL] contract with the Bulldogs but I wanted something more so I just came to all of the training sessions and backed myself.”

Both had previously played in the NRLW, with Carlile debuting for the Dragons in 2023 and Naividi making five appearances for the Eels in 2022 before rupturing her ACL.

“I was definitely thinking I wasn’t going to get a run in the NRLW last year and I have got to be honest, I wasn’t really prepared fitness wise,” Naividi said.

“But coming in this year I have gone through a pre-season and through that I have got really fit. I think that I was mentally ready and physically ready this year.”

The pair will each line up for their seventh appearance of the season so far in Saturday night’s match against Parramatta at CommBank Stadium after establishing themselves as regular members of the Roosters team.

While the Roosters boast some of the NRLW biggest stars in captain Isabelle Kelly, fellow centre Jess Sergis, IRL Golden Boot winner Tarryn Aiken and Dally M Medallist Olivia Kernick, Strange said unsung heroes like Carlile and Naividi were equally important to the team’s success.

“I’m just really proud of them. They have worked so hard and not just earned a spot in our squad, but they have been outstanding – both of them,” Strange said.

“Macie wanted an opportunity to train and I set her some goals that she needed to achieve for her to be looked at in our squad, and she smashed those goals.

“Taina was coming back from an ACL injury, and we only picked her up late last season. Her impact from the backfield has been enormous. She’s dangerous with the ball, dependable under pressure, and brings a real spark to our edges.”

The 24-year-old, who has scored six tries in six games this season, played Aussie rules against Strange’s daughter, Jasmin, and another Roosters team-mate, Jocelyn Kelleher, but was unaware that they played league on the Central Coast.

Instead, Naividi would travel by bus and train to Sydney to play each week.

“I was born and raised on the Central Coast and I went to school there, but I never knew that there was a team on the Central Coast, so I was trekking it to Sydney every week,” Naividi said.

“My junior clubs were Burwood Wolves and Mt Druitt Lions and then I progressed to Mounties in the Harvey Norman comp. That is when I found out there was a Central Coast Roosters team but I never knew that they existed.

“It was so random, I had only met Jocy and Jas through other sports. I would leave school early and I would just catch a bus and train to Sydney. I would get home at 10pm or 11pm sometimes, but it has all paid off because I am here now.”

Carlile has also proved her dedication to the game after giving up a promising swimming career to play for Camden Rams.

“My whole family has been involved in footy my whole life with Oakdale but I didn’t start playing footy until I was 18 or 19," Carlile said.

"My brother plays, my pop was president and my mum was involved. But Oakdale didn’t have a women’s team, so I played for Camden.

"I had never played because I was a swimmer growing up but when I finished school I didn’t enjoy racing anymore so there was a 9s comp, and I said I would play.

“I feel now that I am where I am meant to be. As a club the Roosters are so well run, and everyone is so supportive. It is such a competitive environment, but everyone also backs you and that gives you so much more confidence.

“Strangey has taught me to believe in myself more, and I definitely needed that, so to get that support from him is just massive.”