It didn’t take long for Jess Laga’aia’s mum to know the Samoa Tifa Moana player wasn’t destined to travel down the same artistic path as the rest of her family.
The eldest daughter of actor and singer Jay Laga’aia and Sandie Jane Laga’aia is one of eight children but unlike her siblings, it was sport which sparked her passion from a young age.
“I cried at every single piano lesson that I did and mum was like, ‘okay, maybe this is not for you,’ Laga’aia recalls.
“But it was never with judgment, it was always ‘what’s next for you?’ or ‘what do you enjoy?’
“Mum and dad were always like ‘do what makes you happy’ and for me that was something completely different to everybody else.
“I’m the only one that plays sport now. I was the only one that sort of took sports seriously going through the ranks.”
Laga’aia’s passion and desire to pursue a sporting career eventually led to a major change when she moved away from her native Sydney to Brisbane after missing out on an academy team in NSW.
Leaving home and her close-knit family for the first time was daunting but has paid off for the 24-year-old who is a member of the Queensland Firebirds Futures Academy (QFFA) and represented the Firebirds Futures in last year’s Super Netball Reserves competition.
The midcourter was also named as the 2023 Katie Walker Medallist as the MVP for the HART Sapphire Series, stamping herself as one of the premier rising talents of Queensland netball.
Up next though is a return to the sky-blue dress of Samoa for the Pacific Aus Netball Series being held at Nissan Arena in Brisbane from February 17 to 22.
Representing her father’s homeland – she debuted for Samoa in 2021 – gives Laga’aia enormous pride, especially as a connection to her family and culture.
“Being away from my family I don’t get to be in touch with my culture as much and so much of culture is family, so coming up and here and getting to play for Samoa, it feels like you’re bringing back your roots and you’re coming back home,” Laga’aia said.
This year’s Pacific Aus Series includes the additions of the Scottish Thistles – coached by Kath Tetley, someone Laga’aia knows well from her time in Sydney – as well as the return of the Australian First Nations Black Swans following their debut in last year’s competition in Brisbane.
Samoa have never won a Pacific Aus Netball Series but Laga’aia says the rise of four-time defending champions Tonga Tala – led by Queensland Firebird Hulita Veve – is setting a template for other Pacific nations to aspire to.
“They're very clinical and their squad is quite consistent,” she said.
“That's something that we're getting to now in Samoa, where our team is a little bit more consistent as we move through but they (Tonga) put their head down, they work hard. It's a 60-minute performance from them and I think where we're just getting there now.
“They're definitely leading the way, and we're looking to follow in that path.”
Laga’aia is just one of several athletes competing at the Pacific Aus Netball Series with a Queensland link including Samoa teammates Rianah Childs and Naomi Solomona, Tonga's Veve and Sovika Pousini, fellow QFFA athletes Lily Cubby, Brooke Lacey, Maryke Babia, Tia Molo and Jayden Molo (all Black Swans), PNG’s Michaela Kadlecek, Chloe Litherland and Sarah Harris and Fiji duo Solei Toganivalu and Unaisi Rauluni.
“It was always something that shocked me coming up here because the (Islander) population isn't as big in Sydney, but coming up here, even in the Academy space being around girls that look like you just inspires you to work harder and be better,” Laga’aia said.
“So, it's such a good opportunity for us to showcase what we can do as well.”
