Anna Korovata's sisters laughed when they found out she started playing rugby union. Her dad, a former Fiji rugby league and rugby union international, was worried his daughter would break bones.
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The last thing they expected when the Korovata joined the Uni-Norths Owls three years ago was that she would become one of Australia's first female club captains.
"I'm the last person you'd expect to play rugby. My sisters said I was too fussy ... if you met me, you wouldn't expect I'm a rugby player," Korovata said with a big grin.
"I don't think I'm the stereotypical tough person. I just go with the flow. So my sisters thought I was going to cry, they never thought I'd last.
"But I definitely fell in love with the sport. Even going to training, I love that. And now it's just about seeing how far I can go."
Korovata was surprised when she was announced as the Owls' co-captain alongside first-grade prop Max Bode at a pre-season event earlier this year.
It's believed Korovata is the first female player in Australia to be given the club captaincy job of both men's and women's teams.
But her rise really shouldn't have been a surprise. Korovata's love of rugby is now so deep she even tried to recruit a Canberra Times photographer to train with the team on Thursday night after posing for a photo.
Her infectious grin and laid-back attitude hides the determination of the Owls' front-rower, who was also part of the ACT Brumbies side to play in the inaugural Super W season this year.
The daughter of former Fiji flyer Niumaia Korovata wants to keep challenging herself to improve and grow the game.
"Dad's OK now. At first he told me not to play ... so I said I wouldn't. Then I realised he lives four hours away so thought I could give it a go," Anna Korovata said.
"So after about six games I called him and said it was going well ... he just said I better learn how to tackle, so he's been giving me tips."
The Canberra women's competition has been strengthened this year by the introduction of the Super W, with players filtering back to their clubs after the Brumbies campaign finished two weeks ago.
The Owls will play against the Tuggeranong ViQueens at Viking Park on Saturday, with the Owls chasing their first win of the year.
Korovata will go head to head with Brumbies teammate Peta Cox in the Owls' season opener.
"The Brumbies program was really professional and we got a lot out of that, we've brought that back to club level. It's boosted everything about the competition," Cox said.
In the men's competition, Wests are targeting their first win against the year when they play the undefeated Queanbeyan Whites at Jamison Oval.
Wests have been forced to rebuild their roster since making the grand final last year, with just five players remaining from last season.
"Harry Lloyd getting a contract with the Western Force was good for him, but not so good for us. Plus we've had a few injuries," said Wests coach Craig Robberds.
"It's been a pretty big turnover since the grand final. A lot of guys have come back [from previous seasons], so that's helped."
JOHN I DENT CUP
Saturday: Uni-Norths Owls v Tuggeranong Vikings at ANU North Oval, 3.05pm; Royals v Gungahlin Eagles at Phillip Enclosed, 3.15pm; Wests v Queanbeyan Whites at Jamison Enclosed Oval, 3.15pm. Easts - bye.
Women's: Tuggeranong ViQueens v Uni-Norths Owls at Viking Park, 12.05pm; Royals v Gungahlin Eagles at Phillip Enclosed, 1.40pm.
