From Instagram to Invitational: US star eyeing NRLW future
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After discovering the NRLW via social media, USA Olympic rugby sevens medallist Kayla Canett has moved to Australia in a bid to fulfil her ambition of playing in the competition.
Canett, who played in the Ilona Maher-led USA team which beat Australia for the bronze medal in Paris, will join other NRLW hopefuls at the Harvey Norman Rising Talent Invitational in Newcastle ahead of this weekend’s Magic Round.
The 27-year-old decided after her second Olympics that she wanted to give the NRLW a shot and contacted Cronulla Sharks winger Cassie Staples, who she knew from rugby sevens, for advice about the transition.
After a Zoom meeting with Sharks coach Tony Herman and female pathways manager Casey Bromilow, Canett moved to Sydney and has been training with the club’s Harvey Norman NSWRL squad, while playing for Cronulla-Caringbah in the tier below.
“We’re going to start with baby steps first, but once I get the hang of it that [the NRLW] is the long-term goal,” Canett told NRL.com.
“This is like my starter year, where I kind of figure it out and then hopefully I’m in a good spot after that.
I’ve been following league now for I’d say three years. I just saw the NRLW on Instagram one day, so I started watching it and getting into it.
“I’ve been following league now for I’d say three years. I just saw the NRLW on Instagram one day, so I started watching it and getting into it.
“I finished Uni in May so I figured it was time for a gap year from sevens, but I still wanted to do something, so why not come over here and try league.
“I know [Sharks players] Dom du Toit and Cassie, and Cassie's actually the first person that I messaged regarding like, ‘how, should I get involved’. That's kind of how I ended up at the Sharks.”
While still under contract to USA Rugby at the time, Canett travelled to Las Vegas to take part in this year's NRL Combine but she was only able to perform non-contact testing at UFC HQ.
Canett also watched the Jillaroos play against England as part of the quadruple header at Allegiant Stadium, which included two NRL matches and a Super League game.
“That was really cool, the Aussie put on a clinic. That was my first game live, so it was really cool to see them all play in person rather than on TV,” she said.
With Michaela Brake, Patricia Maliepo, Tysha Ikenasio and Shakira Baker joining Black Ferns team-mates Tyla King and Tenika Willison in the NRLW this season, Canett said other USA sevens players could also make the switch.
“Obviously a lot of the New Zealand girls have come over and done it," she said.
There was a bunch of interest within my team as well from girls that were potentially going to be leaving the sevens program but still wanting to play.
“It’s very intriguing. It's something new but also within our grasp of doing that is really exciting, and it feels good to like to get your brain going again by learning something different.”
The NRL’s interest in the USA market extends beyond the annual season opener each year and Canett believes there is also potential to grow the game domestically, while developing players for the NRL and NRLW.
“There's plenty of club rugby in America, but it is nowhere near the level of the grassroots over here, so I think if there was more awareness around it there could be a lot of interest,” she said.
“I didn’t even know that there were league teams in America until someone told me about it when I was at the Combine, so I think it is about bringing the awareness to it so people know it’s an option to come over here and try out.”
Born and raised in San Diego, Canett is keen to again represent the US at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but beyond that she sees a future in league.
Since moving to Australia, Canett has seen a lot more NRLW and the player she watches most closely is Eels halfback Rachael Pearson.
“Rachael Pearson is a player who is really cool to watch for my role specifically, just seeing how she organises the team and things like when she decides to take on the line,” Canett said.
NRLW Creators: Rachel Pearson
“In sevens I played fly-half and in 15s I've played scrum half and fly half, and a little bit at fullback.
“I have been playing halfback here and I am used to setting things up and planning for phases but obviously with league and the six tackles it is a bit different.
“I thought I was going to get the hang of it a lot quicker than I have but it is really cool learning a different game and obviously the contact bit is fun.
“One of the first tackles I made was when we were kicking off and the girl opposite just locked eyes with me and ran straight at me. I was like, ‘okay, that's obviously very different to union. I guess we’re trying to evade more, but it is a lot of fun.”
