South Island Kiwis keen on potential NRL team in Christchurch

Wednesday, 23 October 2024

Some of the Kiwis’ South Island-born players have enthusiastically supported the concept of a Christchurch-based NRL team and would consider playing for it in the future.

Jamayne Isaako and Jordan Riki from Canterbury and West Coaster Griffin Neame are in the Kiwis squad preparing for Sunday’s test against Australia in Christchurch.

The trio were well aware that three groups have lodged bids for a South Island team with the NRL which is planning to expand the competition to 20 clubs.

All three are happy at their current clubs, but did not rule out the possibility of a potential return home.

Isaako, 28, who has had 136 NRL games for the Broncos, Titans and the Dolphins, would be “100%” interested in playing for a Christchurch NRL club if the timing was right.

“I’d like to think, at the age I’m at now and the contract I’m on at the Dolphins, [if] in the near future if there is a team here I’d love to come back home,’’ he said.

Isaako said having a second NRL team would be great for the game in Aotearoa.

Jamayne Isaako scores for the Kiwis in the 2023 Pacific Championship grand final win over Australia.

“It will only add to the rivalry of the Warriors being one team in New Zealand and it will expand the game even more in the South Island. Younger players will be grow up, wanting to play rugby league.”

Isaako said he was aware, from talking to Canterbury Rugby League officials and from family members, “that the game is growing here in the South Island. When I was playing here there were only a handful of teams.”

The 2018 Dally M Rookie of the Year and 2023 Dally M Winger of the Year felt a second Kiwi club might often the opportunity for young New Zealand players to continue their development at home.

He had to leave for Sydney as a teenager to join the Sharks, but said he was “family-orientated’’ and “missed my family’’ so he gave up the sport to return to Christchurch.

“But I got another opportunity to go to the Broncos. Not too many people get a second chance.”

“A lot of the young talent in New Zealand get picked up by Australian clubs and taken over there. Another team for New Zealand would only add to being able to grow and breed our players here at home.”

Neame - fresh from winning the West Coast Sportsperson of the Year award - also liked the concept of a South Island NRL club.

Kiwis prop Griffin Neame with the trophy after winning the Pacific Championships grand final.

While the 23-year-old middle forward is happy at the Cowboys in Townsville, he “wouldn’t say no’’ to one day playing for a South Island NRL side. “It’s something that interests me.”

Neame, who made his Kiwis debut last year, felt New Zealand could support a second club.

“With all the Warriors games selling out, Christchurch is the best place for it. Having two New Zealand teams would be great for the game

He felt it would be “awesome’’ for the whole South Island and would generate interests in regions like Greymouth where rugby league passion remains high. “The Greyhounds are driving over every week [to play in the Canterbury premiership]. If there was a NRL side, there’d be huge interest on the Coast.”

Neame said it was “special’’ being able to play a test in Christchurch after driving over the hill for three seasons to play for the Halswell Hornets.

Jordan Riki (R) at Kiwis training in Christchurch.

“We did that every week. We played on Monday nights. I finished school at lunchtime, drove over, played and drove back again. Dad [former West Coast and South Island forward Chris Neame] had to be at work next day. It was tough going, but I had to keep playing footy if I wanted to get where I wanted to go. It’s paid off now.”

Neame felt it was “pretty cool’’ that his mum, dad and wider family would get to see him play for the Kiwis at home. “I was home in Greymouth last week, and it seems the whole town is coming to watch.”

Riki, 24, was aware of the South Island NRL team bids. “My mum reminds me of it all the time.”

Would the second rower be interested one day? “Who knows, down the track. But I’m loving my time at the Broncos. It’s good for me to be there. They gave me my first shot, and I’m repaying the favour.”

Jordan Riki in action against for the Broncos against the Warriors in 2023.

But he did not dismiss the possibility of returning one day.

Riki’s koro took him to the Riccarton Knights after he was “a bigger kid in the rugby [union] grade’’ and he later linked with the Hornby Panthers and played in both the league and union teams at St Thomas of Canterbury College.

He was in line for a Kiwis call-up last year, but “had to go straight into the surgery room to have an operation on my shoulder’’ after playing for the Broncos in the NRL grand final.

“I was extremely gutted to miss out on the Kiwis. But I’m extremely grateful to be here now, be part of an awesome bunch and put the Kiwi fern on.’’

Riki said it felt like “a full circle experience’’ coming back to Christchurch. “You couldn’t really write a better script. To be able to do it [in front of] my friends and family is just awesome.”

Recalled standoff Kodi Nikorima is another Kiwi with Christchurch connections, having played there as a junior and debutant hooker Phoenix Crossland has family links to Coal Creek, near Greymouth.