Tasman Mako winger Michelle Curry unleashing her trademark fend in her player of the match performance against Taranaki at Trafalgar Park last season. <em>Photo: Supplied.</em>
F words abound when describing the skill set of Tasman Mako winger Michelle Curry. She is fast, possesses fancy footwork, and a fearsome fend, which has landed her a women’s super rugby contract in Australia this season.
Michelle was born in Samoa and her family moved to Nelson when she was 14. It is a big family, with two sisters and seven brothers including oldest brother Michael who plays for Moana Pasifika and Manu Samoa. After impressing in club rugby for Marist, she became a Tasman Mako original, No. 14, when the women’s side was launched in 2017.
“I never thought I would go far in rugby, so my nursing studies took priority,” reveals the 28-year-old from her Brisbane home.
Following three years at Nelson Hospital, the psychiatric nurse moved to Queensland in March 2023.
“The money and work flexibility were way better. When I say I am unavailable because of rugby commitments, they fill the gaps for me at Prince Charles Hospital,” comments Michelle.
She played club rugby for Wests Bulldogs, was on the Queensland Reds’ radar, and then made a timely return to Nelson.
“I was talking to one of the Mako coaching staff and he said they were short of outside backs. I felt I had unfinished business here. The team had had its ups and downs but still has my heart and I wanted to play for them again,” she enthuses.
A big influence in career had been former Mako Billy Guyton who became an assistant coach for the women’s side after head knocks forced him into retirement.
“Billy was really encouraging and saw something in me. He was full of life, and I was devastated when I heard of his death just two months after I moved to Australia,” says the Samoan international.
Her Brisbane employers gave her time off to come back and play for the Mako last year, but the outside back’s return to the field then looked to have been dashed when she ruptured the AC joint in her shoulder.
“It normally takes eight weeks to recover but I was back in two and a half weeks.”
The Mako were struggling, but in her fourth and final match Michelle produced a player of the game performance against Taranaki to end their run of losses.
She scored two tries and had a hand in all their others as the Mako won 39-36 at Trafalgar Park.
Michelle finished with five tries for the season to make her the leading all-time female try scorer for the team with 10, despite her on-and-off-again appearances since 2017.
She would love to return home again this season as she only needs one more game to reach the milestone of 30.
“I miss my family here. They are my rocks,” insists Michelle.
But first she is hoping to secure a starting spot in the Queensland Reds, which opens its campaign in March but, with several Australian Rugby Sevens stars available, competition will be fierce.
“We play the Waratahs, Brumbies, Western Force and Fijian Dru. If we win the competition, we will then face the top New Zealand side in the final,” confirms Michelle. Another goal is to add to her nine caps with Manusina, which has qualified for this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup. At 28, she agrees she is probably getting better with age.
“The keys are patience and not letting one person’s opinion define you as a player. Just show up and do whatever you can.”