To begin, please click this link to read about how my love for rugby league began.
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan
In 2014, I decided to leave my family and friends in New Zealand to pursue my dream degree in Melbourne, Australia. Unsure if I would be granted the offer, I was confident in my application and moved anyway. Accepted into a Bachelor in Communication majoring in journalism, I started at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) university at the beginning of 2015 with nothing but a desire to graduate abroad.
Slaughtering myself through homesickness for the first year, I began to see the beauty of Melbourne and saw it as not only a chance to graduate but a journey of self-discovery and independence. All on my own, I managed university, get a job and live in my own apartment by the age of 21.
I have played basketball internationally representing New Zealand and Samoa for FIBA Pacific Games while taking up the lock position for Otahuhu Rugby League women’s team in Auckland, New Zealand. Having a pure love for sport in particularly rugby league and basketball, I have had to put my playing careers on hold determined to become a sports journalist and hope to build a career in broadcast journalism.
In the past three years, I have volunteered a lot of my time to grow the love of rugby league in Victoria in a city that is dominated by Australian football. I volunteered at local club organisations such as the North West Wolves to then work for NRL Victoria Rugby League reporting to the Melbourne Storm offices.
After interning for three weeks at Channel 7 News Sport, Melbourne, I was motivated to gain the opportunity to intern at the New Zealand Vodafone Warriors. Interning at NRL level as an undergraduate was a dream in itself let alone for the whole season. Enquiring within, I was offered this position and instantly moved back to New Zealand leaving my whole life in Melbourne, Australia.
Engaged as an intern, I have also been ‘Ray White Coin Toss MC’ and ‘Stadium Game Day MC’ at Mount Smart Stadium which involved televised player interviews and crowd engagement activities. As part of the Vodafone Warriors Communications Department, we received the “Influencer – Best in Sports/Fitness” Award at the 2017 New Zealand Social Media Awards (NZSMA). This has been rewarding as we have continued to keep our fans engaged despite the on field results this year. During the internship, I also had the privilege of interning at FOX Sports News in June.
Currently, I produce digital content for the Auckland Rugby League supporting grassroots rugby league.
I am someone of huge passion, very open to learning, willing to make sacrifices while keeping everything balanced. I also pride myself in organisation, my strength and determination to break grounds in the industry.
Here is a professional portfolio of my work this far.
Yours sincerely,
Savannah Tafau-Levy
SAVANNAH TAFAU-LEVY 