Geelong United is excited to welcome our newest addition to the NBL1 Womenโs roster, Esta Rarere.
The Brisbane native, who made the move south in 2020, joins us fresh from 2 seasons with the Altona Gators.
Esta began her basketball journey as a junior representative player throughout her teenage years, and would cap that off with a spot in the under 20 Queensland State Team at the 2018 at National Championships. It was there where she would first cross basketball paths with family friend Kobe Tehau King-Hawea, as the two would go head to head in the grand final – Kobe’s Victorian side going on to get the win.
Championship success would follow though for Esta, playing alongside some of the greats of Queensland basketball with the Southern Districts Spartans of the QBL, before taking a break from the game to start a family.
After a relocation to Victoria, and a desire to get back in the game following the arrival of her daughter Sunshine, Rarere would find herself a new home – “I’d been trying to get back into basketball, and through the King-Hawea family, I was able to do just that”. Esta would go on to play 2 seasons with Altona, falling just short in the semi finals in both seasons. But it was the experience and camaraderie she experienced in those seasons that would reignite her passion for the game, something she said she had begun to lose in Queensland.
This passion would see her getting the attention of Geelong United as she joins an NBL1 program with a new Head Coach in Jamie Petty, and her good friend, Kobe Tehau King-Hawea – “Im looking forward to playing with Kobe and excited for the season ahead. It’s been a while since I’ve played at this level but I’ve worked very hard to be ready and I have no doubt my team and our new coach, Jamie Petty, will give me the direction and guidance I need.”
For more on the signing on Esta Rarere, please check back soon for an update with the Geelong Times.
