The classy first five suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2022 when she tore her ACL and MCL during an Otago Spirit game.
Joseph admits it was a "really tough" time which led to her missing last year’s Super Rugby Aupiki campaign, after playing for the Chiefs Manawa in 2022, and the Dunedin club season.
She was still finding her feet when she returned for the Spirit’s Farah Palmer Cup season last year — "maybe a bit too early after my rehab" — but after playing for the Black Ferns XV at the end of last year, Joseph was finally feeling good.
Her knee hardly crossed her mind these days and gave her free reign to focus and enjoy her first season with Matatū.
Alongside fellow Spirit back Cheyenne Cunningham, Joseph made her debut for the team during last week’s loss to the Blues in Invercargill.
"It’s been really cool to be a part of Matatū," Joseph said. "Really enjoying being in the team. All of the girls have been super welcoming, so it was really cool to debut."
The 21-year-old knew what to expect having played a couple of games for Manawa, but Matatū’s style was different — but the team culture was similar.
She was soaking up the environment around her and learning from former Otago back and Matatū assistant coach Peter Breen.
"He’s definitely brought a lot of detail, which has been really cool, especially just with the skills ... just a fresh kind of approach to things.
"He’s been really good."
As had linking up with former Spirit back Rosie Kelly, who made her Black Ferns debut last year.
"It’s been cool to play with her again and she’s definitely [taught] me a lot on and off the field," Joseph said.
Matatū are based in Canterbury and Joseph was starting to feel at home after moving north in December.
Joseph, who is studying medicine at the University of Otago, was heading to Christchurch for a placement this year anyway, but it had been nice to have a bunch of the Spirit players around her as well.
Joseph has a bright future ahead of her having been scouted by the Black Ferns and Black Ferns sevens camps.
While she enjoyed both versions of the game, there was not much on offer sevens-wise apart from the elite level and she had been focusing on 15s more recently.
"Sevens is a really cool game and something that I definitely want to play again in the future.
"I just think for now, having played 15's more over the last few years, I’m just really focusing on kind of growing that game."
Either way her goal remained the same — to represent the Black Ferns.
But for now she has a job to do with Matatū, who will be wanting to bounce back from their opening loss against the Hurricanes Poua in Wellington today.
While preseason does not account for much, the Poua beat Matatū by one point and Joseph, who will provide halfback cover off the bench, knew it would be another tough encounter.
"They’ve got a few really hard hitters and they’re a very physical team.
"As long as ... everyone can front up physically, I think it’ll be a good game."
Centre Amy du Plessis and flanker Lucy Jenkins have been ruled out with injury this week.
Cheyelle Robins-Reti returns at fullback, shifting Rosie Kelly to first five, Liv McGoverne to second five and Grace Brooker to centre.
Stacey Niao and Charlie Woodman are in line to make their debuts off the bench.
Super Rugby Aupiki
Wellington, today, 4.35pm
Matatū: Cheyelle Robins-Reti, Winnie Palamo, Grace Brooker, Liv McGoverne, Martha Mataele, Rosie Kelly, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Kendra Reynolds, Alana Bremner, Laura Bayfield, Emma Dermody, Amy Rule, Goergia Ponsonby, Pip Love. Reserves: Atlanta Lolohea, Marcelle Parkes, Moomooga Palu, Stacey Niao, Holly Wratt-Groeneweg, Maia Joseph, Cheyenne Cunningham, Charlie Woodman.
Hurricanes Poua: Isabella Waterman, Leilani Hakiwai, Shakira Baker, Monica Tagoai, Harmony Kautai, Hannah King, Iritana Hohaia, Layla Sae, Rhiarna Ferris, Elinor-Plum King, Jackie Patea-Fereti, Rachael Rakatau, Leilani Perese, Cristo Taufua, Denise Aiolipotea. Reserves: Tori Lesefo, Tamia Edwards, Sam Taylor, Cilia-Marie Po'e Tofaeono, Rangimarie Sturmey, Paige Lush, Kahurangi Sturmey, Kalyn Takitimu-Cook.
