Nelson Bay's most capped women's rugby player Maya Stewart is proving to be a try-scoring machine in her second season playing with the NSW Waratahs in the 2020 Super W premiership.
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The high flying winger, who will celebrate her 20th birthday on March 14 when the Waratahs will play a home game against WA, has run in for six tries in the NSW team's opening three rounds to be leading try-scorer.
Playing against Melbourne at AAMI Park in the opening round match on February 14, Stewart was unstoppable, touching down for a hat-trick of five pointers in the visitors' 33-3 rout of the Rebels.
She backed up that performance with a double in the Waratahs' third round thrashing of the Brumbies 41-8. NSW had a bye in round two.
Then playing against Queensland Reds at Ballymore last Saturday, the powerhouse left winger dived over midway through the second half to help NSW beat their arch-rivals 13-10 in a bruising affair.
"I am really enjoying my rugby at the moment and it's great to be scoring a few tries," the former Fingal Surf club beach champion said.
"I am now in my second year [with the NSW squad] and I feel I have grown so much over the past 12 months, particularly in confidence. I enjoy watching everyone doing well ... every player has a job to do in order for the team to succeed and that is happening right now."
Boasting speed, skill and strength, Stewart - who comes from a long family line of rugby players from the Bay - says she is most pleased with the development of her defensive game over recent months.
"My defence has become a major strength, I feel I can more than hold my own when defending."
With only one round to be played before the semi-finals commence on March 21, Stewart said that the team was not looking too far ahead.
"We are just taking each game as it comes. Of course it would be great to contest the finals series but we are not focusing on that at the moment."
Stewart is currently splitting her time between her Nelson Bay home and workplace with her rugby training and playing days in Sydney.
"I am in Sydney for training usually three or four times a week and back home for the remaining days for work [at Eviva cafe]," she said.
"The travel can be a bit hectic at times but I am not phased by it. There is a good chance that I will be moving permanently to Sydney with the start of the Sydney women's competition in April."
The talented athlete has also enjoyed a rapid rise in the shorter form of the game, donning the green and gold of Australia in the World School U/18 Sevens tournament played in New Zealand last year.
Following that, Stewart's focus will turn to the Sevens tournament, followed by the Olympics in Tokyo and then rugby's holy grail - the World Cup to be played in New Zealand in 2021 on the hallowed Eden Park turf.
