The Kiwi Ferns have won three Rugby League World Cups, with Honey Hireme-Smiler part of two of those campaigns.
On Thursday, Hireme-Smiler joined 40 pioneers inducted into the International Rugby League Hall of Legends.
She described the honour as deeply emotional after receiving the news beside her father on the sideline at the team's captain's run last week.
They had followed the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns throughout the World Cup.
Hireme-Smiler recalled the effort behind the team's history: "We went through some hard times, we fundraised, we sold hāngīs, we sold raffle tickets," she said.
She credited the women who built the game and persisted despite opposition to women playing.
"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."