Larrikin to leader: Family troubles keep Feterika grounded

St George Illawarra forward Maitua Feterika was the larrikin of the women's fraternity last year but her brother's recent trouble with the law has made her scale back her larger-than-life persona.

The former Broncos forward was renowned or pulling pranks and being the centre of attention but a move from Brisbane to Sydney earlier in the year has brought a more settled approach.

Feterika, a Kiwi Ferns representative who hails from Auckland, was denied the chance to represent Queensland in June due to her allegiances with New Zealand and a change in the residency rule.

It came around the time her younger brother Junior went into custody. He faces sentencing later this month. She did not wish to talk about her brother's crime but is hopeful he will see the error of his ways.

"He's made some bad choices in life but he will learn from it and I'm trying to put our name up there for a good reason," Feterika told NRL.com.

"I'm low-key playing for him and not doing it for social media. It's all for my family. They have supported me from day one. I get emotional talking about it.

"I've had a rough year but I told myself I wanted to focus on little goals. I'm my own biggest critic. I just decided to cut back on social media and stop talking it up but do it instead, let my actions talk more than words."

Feterika has been one of the form players of the NRLW to coincide with her move to the front row.

She's averaging 157.4 metres per game at the Dragons after previously being used on the edge and Kiwi Ferns electors are sure to be on notice ahead of the Test against Australia on October 25.

"I hope they can see what I'm doing in the middle because I love it, I found my home," Feterika said.

"When I first played league I was fullback, centre, winger, second row and now prop. I'm getting the ball more and it's amazing playing with girls like Britt Breayley, Kezie Apps and Holli Wheeler.

"We always play against each other but to play alongside each other we have a different vibe of dancing and laughing but once we start training it turns serious."

Feterika said only a premiership at the Dragons would leave her feeling like fulfilled with 2019.

She has her former Broncos teammates in her way of achieving that goal.

"We still have respect for each other," Feterika said.

"After the first game we were still talking but when it comes to the grand final it's not going to be like that. Not before or during but after.

"We were still trying to sort ourselves out when we last played them and get our combinations right so we should be a lot better prepared against them on Sunday."