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Live sport on SN this weekend‘The game is where it is today because of them’: Hireme-Smiler’s humble admission after Hall of Legends induction
Sport Nation • November 13th, 2026 12:31 pm
Honey Hireme-Smiler presenting the Kiwi Ferns with their jerseys in Christchurch | Photo: Craig Butland/Photosport
Kiwi Ferns great Honey Hireme-Smiler was included in 40 pioneers inducted into the International Rugby League Hall of Legends on Thursday, describing the honour as a deeply emotional moment shared with her father.
Hireme-Smiler received the news while standing on the sideline at the team’s captain’s run last week, as she and her father have followed the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns throughout the World Cup.
“I was very honoured, very humbled. I actually got quite emotional because I was standing next to my dad,” Hireme-Smiler told Sport Nation.
She said the recognition was particularly meaningful given the history of the Kiwi Ferns, who have won three Rugby League World Cups - with Hireme-Smiler part of two of those.
“It's an individual acknowledgement, but when you think about the history of the Kiwi Ferns and what they've done to the international game, that makes me even more proud.
“There's probably so many other players that are very much deserving of this Hall of Fame acknowledgement that I had the privilege of playing alongside of.
“We went through some hard times, we fundraised, we sold hāngīs, we sold raffle tickets,” she said.
Honey Hireme-Smiler playing for the Kiwi Ferns in 2020 | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
She paid tribute to the women who helped build the game, especially in a time when many did not approve of women playing rugby league.
“We had an amazing group of wāhine, they called themselves the New Zealand Women's Rugby League organisation at the time and they were all females and they were passionate about the game.
"They were passionate about women thriving in league spaces back in times when people did not approve of women playing rugby league and they pushed through all those barriers and the game is where it is today because of them.”
Listen to the full interview below:
