NSW Waratahs prop Faliki Pohiva believes her power comes from her teammates as the dominant front-row looks to inspire the side ahead of Saturday's Women's Super Rugby Champions Final.
Pohiva guided the Waratahs into the crossover match against the Blues after claiming Player of the Final in the Super Rugby Women's decider against the Fijian Drua.
Watch every second of the Women's Super Rugby Champions Final live and on demand via Stan Sport.
The 25-year-old was a wrecking ball, setting the tempo with a thumping hit in the first minute before scoring early in the second half to secure the win.
“I play the game not thinking about any awards. I just had fun out there and getting that dub with my teammates; it just made it so much more special," Pohiva said on the honour
“I don't know if you saw, I actually got tackled by Adi [Talakai] when I got the award and she's a rehabber so I don't know what she was doing, but just seeing how everyone just came around me, it just made me want to cry.
“Even when I came off the bench and 'Chance' [skipper Emily Chancellor] already came up to me and had a little D&M [deep and meaningful] with me and I started crying just because I was so happy about our performance.
“We performed really well so just seeing how everyone was just happy and towards the end, even though Fiji got that last goal, we still got around each other.”
Pohiva's rise has been remarkable since her return to Rugby last year.
Originally making her Waratahs debut in 2021, the prop stepped away from the game following the birth of her daughter, Liliana.
She was picked for Australia A out of clubland in 2024 and helped the Waratahs to their second of a three-peat in 2025, eventually being picked for her Wallaroos debut.
“I just really love this team. I love how we get around each other," Pohiva said on the Waratahs.
“We just love each other so much. I don't know how to explain it, but I just love a group that can get around each other, regardless of our highs and lows. We're still backing each other all the way and just seeing how we won in that grand final, it just showed how resilient we are so I just love that about this team.”
Waratahs coach Mike Ruthven praised her development following an up-and-down Test season, looming as their key weapon before the crossover match with the Super Rugby Aupiki champions.
“Faliki has worked incredibly hard this season, particularly in the last six to eight weeks and I think that's been reflected in the way she's performed over a number of games now," he remarked.
“She's worked incredibly hard and she's unique in what she brings. She obviously brings that physicality, aggression, that combative style both sides of the ball. She's worked incredibly hard on her craft, and particularly her scrummaging.
“...To have someone like Faliki in our group is absolutely unreal. The girls get a huge amount of confidence out of having her in the team, and no doubt she'll play a big part on Saturday and why we perform well.”
