Ikenasio's resilience pays off as Warriors debut looms

Newsroom

06-07-2025

It was like Tysha Ikenasio's life was being played on tape right in front of her.
'We were singing the national anthem and I was looking out for mum,' Ikenasio said. 'I could just see her crying because all of a sudden it hit her.'
It was the first time Ikenasio's proud mum Robyn, and step dad Steve got to watch her represent the Black Ferns Sevens in person at the 2023 HSBC Sydney Sevens.
'That was mum's moment thinking of how all those early morning trainings I took Tysh to, all the gear I had to buy her for the trips, all that hard work that my mum and wider village had put in, had paid off. I'll remember that moment forever.'
Twenty years before this moment, her family's lives were changed forever.
'I was five when my dad passed away and I look at five-year-olds now and think that's really young. I don't really remember much,' Ikenasio says.
The 27-year-old often remembers her dad Senio through stories people tell her.
'I have my own angel and it's quite special…I always say my dad has the best seat in the house, he always gets to see me play.
'My dad has taught me the most without actually being here. He taught me to take every opportunity because you're not guaranteed life.'
His inspiration helped her persevere when her Black Ferns Sevens dream was stagnant and it influenced her decision to make the switch to rugby league.
And his memory and unconditional love and support from family is what continues to drive Ikeansio as she prepares for her NRLW debut.
Born and raised in east Auckland, Ikenasio's family lives and breathes rugby league. Her dad played rugby league for the Otahuhu Leopards while her Poppa, Gary, played for the Richmond Rovers, and also coached Te Atatu.
Nana Margret, who she has a special bond with as she helped raise her and older brother Cody, recalls that her late husband secured season passes to the New Zealand Warriors' maiden NRL campaign in 1995.
Thirty years later, Ikenasio is carrying on the tradition and writing her own chapter. She has been named to start at centre for the Warriors first match since their inaugural season in 2018, on Sunday afternoon in Sydney vs the reigning champion Roosters.
Ikenasio isn't fazed by such big occasions. She always tries to rise above them.
One day that changed everything
Just before Christmas last year, she signed a three-year-deal with the Warriors, leaving the Sevens scene for the first time since a high school teacher at Sancta Maria College encouraged her to take up the sport at a one-day tournament.
'I didn't want to play Sevens, I wanted to play touch, tag and netball because that's what I'd grown up playing.
'But he said 'we'll get a team together and it's just one day', and I thought one day off school, why not? I don't think any of us had ever tackled in our life.'
It was her performance at the one day tournament that caught the eye of Auckland Rugby.
'That one moment now has given me my whole career.'
It was there where her dream to be a Black Ferns Sevens player was born. Coming out of high school Ikeansio was sure of just one thing – she wanted to be an athlete.
Young Tysha 10 years ago with Portia Woodman after Auckland won the bowl final at the Sevens nationals at Rotorua.
'I was more gutsy back then because I didn't want to go to uni or have a full time job. So I left and took the opportunity to play in Japan where I learned to love the country, the people and the culture.'
She ended up playing Sevens in Japan for five years, two years for the Tokyo Phoenix before moving to the Nagato Blue Angels with whom she won a title in 2019.
Ikenasio didn't feel far from home with former All Blacks Sevens player Edwin Cocker coaching her team and a few Kiwis playing for Nagato.
'He took me under his wing and taught me what hard work looks like and how to push yourself. Without the guidance of people like Hazel Tubic, Rebekah Tufuga and also Yuki Ono, I don't think I would've reached where I got to in Japan,' Ikenasio said.
She worked with young kids in schools to immerse herself in everyday life, and had a Japanese 'mum' and family who she still keeps in contact with today.
'Japan holds a really special place in my heart, it gave me the chance to work on myself and learn to stand on my own two feet.
'If it wasn't for Japan, I wouldn't have had the personal growth and the growth in sevens to even put myself forward for the Black Ferns Sevens.'
While in Japan, Ikenasio still dreamed of pulling on the black jersey and while most would get opportunities out of school, she was still striving towards making it her reality.
She returned to New Zealand and made the Black Ferns Sevens development side. She played at nationals and felt like she had given it her all, but returned to Japan without a full time Black Ferns Sevens contract.
She started to question, maybe the Black Ferns Sevens isn't for me. Maybe my timing isn't right.
'At one point after not getting picked, I thought the dream wasn't right for me. Maybe it's not that black jersey, maybe it's something else.'
It was out of her control and upon returning to New Zealand in 2020 she decided to shift her focus to things she could, finding ways to fill her cup away from the footy field.
She became a personal trainer and applied to become a police officer. At one point she was also working as a postie and tried an office job which only lasted a month.
Ikenasio also gave rugby league a go for the first time, playing for the Richmond Roses, which she relished.
Then at the end of 2021, she received an opportunity to join the Black Ferns Sevens on a training contract in Mt Maunganui for 10 weeks.
'I hadn't played Sevens for most of that year because I was playing league. But I had been in the Black Ferns environment before and I knew how hard and how serious it was. Being a bit older and having all those past experiences, I went into it thinking 'it's my last shot, I'm going to give it my all and if it works out, it does and if it doesn't, there's other things'.'
Ikenasio left no stone unturned, impressing coaches with her exceptional power and pace, and earning a full-time contract. She felt like the stars had finally aligned.
'I had a lot of pathways set up. It's crazy when your dream changes and then it pops up again. I was in a really good mindset at the time.'
She moved in with Niall Williams who she began her Sevens journey with, and with Williams' husband and two daughters. And after finding her feet in the Mount, she lived with Theresa Fitzpatrick and Cheyelle Robins-Reti who are still some of her best mates.
Ikenasio went on to make her HSBC Sevens debut in Dubai 2022 and was part of the team that won gold at the Paris Olympics.
Being on the world Sevens stage, pushed her to greater levels physically and mentally.
'The girls you're around are crazy, big names who are now your friends. It's a hard environment and it's not always rainbows and sunshine when you're down there.'
After achieving her Sevens dream, she thought to herself: what's next?
'My goal was to debut for the Black Ferns Sevens and to go to the Olympics and I put my best foot forward in all of those aspects, and I'm proud of that journey,' Ikenasio said.
A chance to join the Warriors' legacy
Then a phone call from Warriors head coach Ron Griffiths about the chance to switch to rugby league.
'Instantly I felt how genuine he was, his values and how much family and culture is important to him,' Ikenasio said.
She admired Griffiths' people-first mentality, making sure that everyone knows they belong and bringing out the best in every person.
Making the switch would give her a chance to move back into her childhood home that her parents built, closer to family and friends. And it would also provide a new challenge that Ikenasio feels she is ready to take on.
From the moment she arrived at Warriors headquarters in Penrose, she felt at home and a part of something bigger than just a team.
'The Warriors is a cool place, you walk in and you just feel it straight away. It's being part of this legacy.
'Ron is really big on thinking about what people will talk about in 30 years about this team and we've done a lot of work with the community and especially young girls. It's so cool to know and see that there's going to be a future for them.'
Ikenasio's little cousin now dreams of being a Warrior and plays centre because of her.
'There's a lot to learn and it's outside of my comfort zone for sure. From the terminology to the amount of people that are on the field. There are bigger shoulders and bigger bodies,' Ikenasio said.
In November 2024, Ikenasio underwent surgery for her left kneecap which had popped out of place. It was a wear and tear injury that she still played through for a year without problems until it flared up in preseason.
'I'm itching to get out there and play. We've got a great group of girls and as long as we work hard for each other and can show up as a team with a strong team culture, that's the main thing.'
'Am I nervous about it, 100%. Coming off an injury as well and starting a new sport being a bit older, it comes with its nerves but if I'm so nervous and excited it does show that I really care.'
Having to take the injury break made Tysha realise that she needed a backup plan and a career path outside sport, even though returning to study was daunting.
She reached out to a former teacher Anita Heffernan, and now when she's not training, she's studying towards a Bachelor of Sport in Exercise at AUT.
Fronting for family
As Ikenasio runs out on Sunday at Allianz Stadium it will be full of emotion and excitement, thinking back to where she has come from and who she is playing for.
'Mum has done everything to make sure my brother and I succeed in life, and just genuinely be happy,' Ikenasio said.
'My family and friends see me as Tysha the person before everything else, and they love me for me. They've been the backbone to my story and to everything.'
Nana Margret will be cheering on her granddaughter from home this weekend, but has already promised she'll be at the Warriors home game on July 13. It will be the first time in a while that she'll be able to support from the stands.
Everything Ikenasio has been through has led to this moment, where she feels she is exactly where she is meant to be.