Teen prodigy Amarante Sititi set for Aupiki debut

Amarante Sititi of the Auckland Storm scoring against Counties Manukau in the 2025 Farah Palmer Cup.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Prior to Aupiki 2025, few knew the name Braxton Sorensen-McGee.

Fast forward just one year and the Blues fullback is one of the most talked about women in the game on the back of a spectacular breakout season.

A new Aupiki campaign kicks off today with 33 new arrivals hoping to make a similar impression.

Among the most highly anticipated of these debutantes is Blues flanker Amarante Sititi.

Just one year out of high school, the 19-year-old has already made her Farah Palmer Cup debut, and is now set for her first season of Aupiki, named to start at blindside against the Poua in Auckland today.

“I’m a bit nervous, but I think knowing I’ve done all I can to prepare helps me gain a bit more confidence. Also just being with a team that helps me feel welcomed helps a bit more too.”

Born in Osaka, Sititi was given a unique name to pay homage to Japanese culture.

“My name is a Japanese flower and it means “a flower that never fades”. It’s special, although I’m used to everyone mispronouncing it, she joked.

For the record: Ah-ma-ran-tay.

Also carrying a famous last name, rugby is entrenched in the Sititi whanau and they are no strangers to a rapid rise.

Father Semo was a Samoan international, named skipper at just 25 and went on to notch 59 caps for his country while Wallace enjoyed one of the greatest All Black breakout seasons in history in 2024.

“I think growing up in a rugby family definitely inspired me to pursue a career. I also genuinely love the sport, my ultimate dream is to become a Black Fern. But for now I’ll just focus on the Blues season and see how I go.”

The teen prodigy had a sense of dedication to the craft instilled at a young age, with Wallace dragging her out for early morning runs.

“He was always hard-working. He did a lot of work behind the scenes and I guess his success showed the effort he put in when we were kids. He set the standard for us.”

The youngster said it had been a thrilling if not slightly daunting experience rubbing shoulders with women she grew up watching such as Ruahei Demant and Maia Roos.

“I’ve learned a lot from my team-mates and the experience they have has helped me grow as a player, but also as a person as well. Just having the opportunity to train alongside them is something I’ll never take for granted.”

Kicking off their title defence against a side that has gone win-less the past two seasons, Sititi said the Blues want to send an early statement against the Poua.

“We didn’t have the pre-season we wanted. Tomorrow gives us another opportunity to show what we can do as a team.”

While proud to carry the Sititi name, she is ready to carve out her own legacy.

“Ever since my brother made the All Blacks, I’ve always been seen as his little sister. But I guess tomorrow, and this season, will be an opportunity for me to make my own name and not just be known as his little sister.”

Blues Women vs Hurricanes Poua

2.05pm Saturday June 13

Eden Park, Auckland

Blues:

1. Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono 2. Atlanta Lolohea 3. Aldora Itunu 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (C) 5. Maama Vaipulu 6. Amarante Sititi 7. Taufa Bason 8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u 9. Tara Turner 10. Ruahei Demant 11. Sariyah Paitai 12. Hollyrae Mete-Renata 13. Sylvia Brunt 14. Mererangi Paul 15. Braxton Sorensen-McGee.

Bench: 16. Grace Gago 17. Nijiho Nagata 18. Harono Te Iringa 19. Eloise Blackwell 20. Tafito Lafaele 21. Danny-Elle Fesolai 22. Ffion Penney 23. Hazel Tubic.

Hurricanes Poua:

1.Krystal Murray 2. Valini Vaka 3. Ona Palu 4. Brianna Wallace 5. Stacey Niao 6. Sam Taylor (CC) 7. Neve Anglesey 8. Greer Muir 9. Molly Scuffil-McCabe 10. Renee Holmes 11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga 12. Te Rauoriwa Gapper (CC) 13. Leilani Hakiwai 14. Wikitoria Viljoen 15. Iritana Hohaia.

Bench: 16. Keiana Roffey 17. Ngano Tavake 18. Faythe Finau 19. Lily Murray-Wihongi 20. Anahera Hamahona 21. Fia Laikong 22. Kokako Raki 23. Arene Landon-Lane.

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