Scarlett Wednesday: Harper-Taylor Taurima
- , by Nicole English
- 17 min reading time
Some girls know exactly where they want to go. Harper-Taylor Taurima is one of them.
At 14, Harper has already spent most of her life on a rugby league field. She started playing at six, inspired by her older brother, and quickly realised that footy was more than something she enjoyed, it was something she wanted to pursue seriously. Today, her ambitions reach all the way to the NRLW, and she approaches that dream with the kind of commitment that means showing up, doing the work and taking every opportunity that comes her way.
But Harper’s story isn’t simply about talent or ambition.
Earlier this year, she fractured two vertebrae in her spine, bringing training, competition and much of everyday life to an abrupt stop. After a week in hospital, eight weeks in a back brace and months of rehabilitation, Harper faced one of the hardest challenges of her young sporting career: finding the patience and courage to recover properly without allowing the injury to change what she believed was possible for her. By the end of June, she was back on the field.
That experience has shaped the way Harper now thinks about strength and courage.
In this Girl of the Month interview, Harper talks to Scarlett Wednesday about ambition, injury, faith, resilience, backing yourself and what it really takes to keep chasing a dream when the path towards it suddenly becomes much harder.
SW: Can you introduce yourself and tell us your age?
Harper: My name is Harper-Taylor Taurima and I am 14 years old
SW: How would you describe yourself in three words?
Harper: Funny, footy, outgoing
SW: What field, industry, sport, art form, or passion are you currently pursuing?
Harper: Rugby League
SW: When did you first realise this was something you wanted to take seriously?
Harper: I started playing when I was 6 years old, I wanted to play earlier but my Mum wasnt sure. I've wanted to play footy as long as I can remember. I looked up to my older brother playing, and would always wants to play with him and his mates. When I finally got to sign up and play I loved it. After I finished my first season of league I realised this was something I loved, and I was really good at it. That's when I realised I wanted to do this for as long as I can.
SW: Was there a specific moment that made you think, “I want to be really good at this”?
Harper: Probably when I was 11. I've always played with the boys and often wanted to be one of the boys. I trained tackled and was “one of the boys”. When I was 11, I had two more girls in my team that season and it was the best. I'd played with them or against them for school rugby and made me excited to see more girls playing. I remember thinking maybe by the time I'm older I can play with an all girls teams. We made the semi finals that year, and I was going to be in Gold Coast the weekend of our semi. My coach and team wanted me to play and I didn't want to miss the game either so my mum flew me down to Sydney for the day, just to play in the semi final. We ended up winning the game and making finals and the feeling I got from that experience made me realized I want to be so good at this, one day I want to play NRWL.
SW: What does being bold mean to you?
Harper: Bold means dedicating myself to seeing things through and taking all opportunties given to me. Never shy away from opportunity. Make every training, turn up to every game, trial for every team, go to every recovery appointment, Be dedicated to the game.
SW: When have you had to back yourself, even when other people didn’t understand your vision?
Harper: I've backed myself with my goals and pursuit for NRLW. The training schedules and routines, the demands on my body, injuries, juggling responsibilities and tiredness have made some people questions what I do. But I keep backing myself and my goals. Hard work pays off and I'm backing myself that I can make my dreams become my reality.
SW: What is the bravest decision you’ve made so far?
Harper: The bravest decision I've had to make is not rushing my recovery after breaking my back and not to let my injury deter me from my dreams. At the start of the year, I fractured my T4 and T3 in my spine. This resulted in a week in hospital followed by 8 weeks in a full back brace unless I was sleeping. Followed by 6 more weeks of recovery and physiotherapy.
This was one of the most difficult times for me, personally. I felt disconnected from everything I had poured so much effort and time into. Not training or playing, not being able to go out, not enjoy a shower or wash my own hair. Everything had come to complete halt and I had no control over it. The bravest decision I ever made was to not let this injury get in my head or quit my dreams. I knew it was going to be a long road but I chose to do all the things I could do to get me back on a footy field playing. At the end of June I played my first game of footy, after what felt like forever, lots of physio, exercises, training sessions to build strength I was ready to play again. Getting back into tackling and contact was scary but now feels really good to be playing.
SW: How do you approach fear or nervousness?
Harper: I usually just pray to God to help me calm my nerves and protect me from injury. Talking to my Mum or Dad helps me not feel as fearful, and I always listen to my sounds. Music calms me and takes the nerves away. I am always listening to music.
SW: What is something you were once afraid to do that now feels natural to you?
Harper: Talking about my feelings, I used to keep a lot of my feelings to myself. But after my injury, I realised how important it is to share and talk and vent and ask for help. Talking and being vulnerable actually requires more strength than pretending everything is ok.
SW: What does being “at the top of your field” mean to you personally?
Harper: Being the best means everything to me. Thats the goal and been the goal. To be at the top of the female rugby league game means to be the best.
SW: Who or what inspires you to keep improving?
Harper: My family inspires me. And my mum and dad always keep pushing me to be the best I can be.
SW: What habits, routines, or disciplines help you stay focused?
Harper: Having a routine and schedule for my week. Setting goals for the future. Accountability is important. Music is a big part of my routine and more recently recovery has been something Ive been adding to my routine. Good sleep hygiene and rest where I can.
SW: What is one skill you are actively working on right now?
Harper: Probably my fitness. My injury set me back a lot with my fitness, so trying to get back to good game fitness is my current goal. Off the field building my capacity as a person and player = learning how to find positives in the negatives of life and learning how important my attitude is to myself and others. Positive self talk and backing myself I need to be better at.
SW: How do you handle setbacks, rejection, or moments when things don’t go to plan?
Harper: I cry, I pray take time to process and then get back up and go again. Definitely has an affect but Ive had to learn that some things you have no control over except how you choose to react to your situation. I've had moments where Im deflated and sad but then I get back up and keep going. Praying helps me a lot and talking to my mum.
SW: What do you think separates people who dream from people who actually achieve?
Harper: Not afraid of hard work and dedication to the goal. All the work that people don't see. Actions separate those two kinds of people.
SW: How do you stay true to yourself while trying to grow and succeed?
Harper: Keep being myself. Keep grounded and be humble. Take feedback on and ask questions.
SW: Have you ever felt pressure to fit into a mould? How did you handle it?
Harper: Yeah I do feel pressure sometimes, and see great talent around me but I try ground myself and stay true to myself and remember the work and effort Im putting in. Try keep focused on my journey and my path and trust God and his plans.
SW: How would you describe your personal style, energy, or creative identity?
Harper: Crazy, energetic, fun, quirky, loud, joker. But also I like my own company and space. On the footy field I am hearty and channel my frustration and anger but I also think I'm creative and have good vision on the footy field. I can see things about to happen and in my head, make a plan and execute. I go with the flow of the game and create as I see it happen.
SW: What do you want people to feel when they see your work, performance, or presence?
Harper: Inspired. I want to inspire other girls and the younger generation. I want people to have confidence and back themselves. Especially if they have gone through a major injury or setback. If I can leave people inspired then I'm happy.
SW: What has helped you build confidence over time?
Harper: Building relationships through footy, creating a network of peers, team mates, coaches trainers has helped me especially with my communication and confidence in my skill set. Seeing the results of hard work also help build my confidence.
SW: What is a lesson you had to learn the hard way?
Harper: Being humble. I needed to learn not to think I have (already) learnt everything I need to know, or that I need to continue to learn and grow. Humility is so important and has helped shape my attitude. It wasn't always nice learning the lesson but I'm so grateful I did.
SW: What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue their passions but feels intimidated about stepping outside of their comfort zone?
Harper: Probably just give it a go, be yourself and don't worry about what other people think. Just do you and give your best thats all you can do.
SW: How do you deal with self-doubt?
Harper: Remind myself of how far I've come and the things I've overcame. Breaking my back was a big turning point for me. I went through some dark times wondering if I'll be able to get back to playing footy, and even if I did get back was I going to be good enough or have pain from my back or re-injure myself. I am thankful that my mum was so positive and kept me focused and reassured that everything was going to be ok. I always talk to my mum or my friends.
SW: What are you most proud of so far?
Harper: My come back from my injury and how far I've come this year after such a hard year with my health.
SW: What are you working towards next?
Harper: Lisa Fiaola is the next goal
SW: Where would you love to see yourself in five years?
Harper: Debuting in my first NRLW game and securing a contract in NRLW. Id love to be able to play for NZ Black Ferns, or Maori All Stars, and represent my culture and heritage. I also hope to be working towards being a sports physiotherapist in the background somewhere.
SW: What kind of legacy or impact do you hope to create?
Harper: I hope to inspire the next generation of girls coming through to play footy and follow their goals. I want to leave a legacy for my younger sisters who all want to make the NRLW. I want girls to be able to relate to me and see that they can achieve their goals too.
SW: What is one dream you are no longer embarrassed to say out loud?
Harper: Making Lisa Fiaola - the closer it is becoming, the more ownership I have over wanting that goal.
SW: What does fearless femininity mean to you?
Harper: Being a Boss, owning your moments, backing yourself, striving for the best, not stopping til your tick the boxes, embrace yourself.
SW: What is your boldest belief?
Harper: “Let go and Let GOD”. God has got me and has a perfect plan for my life so I just keep trusting him for guidance, wisdom and his timing for everything.
SW: Finish this sentence: “The future belongs to girls who…”
Harper: Live fearlessly, trust in Jesus and pray.
SW: When people speak about you, what’s the one thing you’d like them to say?
Harper: She’s a great league player and an even greater human being.
Thanks, Harper-Taylor, we wish you every success.