Taurahere Winning on & Off Field

Thursday, July 7, 2016
Taurahere Winning on & Off Field

New Zealand Rugby League may just have swayed a few Australian-based players back to the Kiwis programme at this week’s Taurahere 18s gathering on the Gold Coast.

Targeting NZ-eligible players across the Tasman, the four-day camp at Runaway Bay Super Sports Complex was attended by 20 each from New South Wales (Team Tu) and Queensland (Team Toa).

These were young men who had either moved to Australia in pursuit of NRL careers or had grown up there with Kiwi parentage, but being tempted by the Australian representative pathway.

The programme is designed to keep these players engaged with the NZRL high performance network until they can push for Junior Kiwis consideration.

Early indications are that the camp succeeded in recapturing the hearts and minds of some leaning towards their state teams.

“I thought the camp went exceptionally well,” observed NZRL high performance general manager Brent Gemmell.

“It sent the right message to the players about providing them with a New Zealand representative pathway, despite residing in Australia, and has definitely provided us with a greater insight into the talent eligible to pursue a NZ pathway in Australia.

“I know the Toa staff put that question to their boys – who were thinking of playing for Australia? – and four or five put up their hands, which means there were probably more not prepared to admit it. Then they asked who were now committed to a Kiwi pathway and all players put their hands up.

“Now we need these boys to go back out into their rugby league communities and pass that message to those that didn’t seize this opportunity or were unfortunately not made available for selection.”

The players had a chance to hear from an excellent group of current and ex-Kiwis while in camp. Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney was a regular visitor, and current internationals Adam Blair and Jordan Kahu, both with the Brisbane Broncos, spoke to the group about their experiences coming through the NZ and Australian systems.

On the eve of the Taurahere trial game, won 66-10 by Team Tu, players received their jerseys from former Kiwis Clinton Toopi and Zeb Taia, both from the local Gold Coast Titans club.

The group was also introduced to the “Te Iwi Kiwi” philosophy that has underpinned the NZ Kiwis culture in recent seasons.

A merit team will be named next week, although no fixture has been scheduled for that selection this year.

“We need to work through what happens next,” said Gemmell. “After all we’ve achieved this week, we must continue to build momentum from here.”

2016 NZRL Taurahere 18s Trial
Runaway RL, Gold Coast
Wednesday, July 6
Team Tu 66 (Tevita Funa 4, Haze Dunster 3, Lucky Taavale, Lee Turner, Manese Fainu, Steven Marsters, Paul Turner & Conrad Edwards tries; Sato-Ketia Opo 6 & Funa 1 goal) Team Toa 10 (Jaxson Paulo 2 tries; Bostyn Hakaraia goal); HT: 32-4
TEAM TU: 1-Steven Marsters, 2-Haze Dunster, 3-Jackson Ferris, 4-Lee Turner, 5-Tevita Funa, 6-Manese Fainu, 7-Sato-Ketia Opo, 8-Soane Hufanga, 9-Phoenix Hunt, 10-John Tuivaiti, 11-Peni Valu, 12-Oregon Kaufusi, 13-Joshua Uta, 14-Paul Turner, 15-Conrad Edwards, 16-Donavan Briggs, 17-Lucky Taavale, 18-Joey Lose
Most Valuable Player - John Tuivaiti
TEAM TOA: 1-Jesse Arthars, 2-Baylee Gerrard, 3-Jaxson Paulo, 5-Eli Noovao, 5-Liam Hori-Clark, 6-Radean Robinson, 7-Bostyn Hakaraia, 8-Carlos Swasbrook-Murray, 9-Zane Wallace, 10- Jayden Stephens, 11-Solomon Vasuvulagi, 12-Lumafale Lualua, 13-Emani Vaovasa, 14-Ben Valeni, 15-Laz Sua, 16-Antonio Nelu, 17-Huston Holloway, 18-Arron Shelford, 19-Joel Hughes
Most Valuable Player - Ben Valeni

ends

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