SBW1
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Jesse Arthars can play Origin and would be a handy addition.
International New Zealand Kiwis
- Thread starter WahsaurusRex
- Start date
A shame to see Kini’s current form.
Everyone the ball goes up to him it’s a 50/59 call as to whether he’ll catch the ball .
Hopefully he can get his confidence back.
Everyone the ball goes up to him it’s a 50/59 call as to whether he’ll catch the ball .
Hopefully he can get his confidence back.
Tohu’s_Knees
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Cooper Clarke could be the future of the Kiwis forward pack. Hopefully he jumps on.
selector
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Twidle wave: Inside the emotional NRL debut of future Kiwis star
Source: https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/s...d-how-his-mum-s-impromptu-trip-brought-tears/If you ever needed proof that sport is the ultimate form of reality TV or can produce moments straight out of a Hollywood script, look no further than the stunning NRL debut of Kiwi Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle.
Better known as “Apa” after his uncle, Twidle came off the extended bench for the Parramatta Eels midway through the second half of their Easter Monday clash with the Wests Tigers and scored two tries from his first three touches.
In the space of three minutes, the 21-year-old dragged the Eels back into the contest with his brace. They would ultimately fall 22-20 in golden point, but the result felt secondary to the occasion.
Watching it all from the stands was his mum, Pura Hope, who had booked a last-minute flight from New Zealand, against her son’s advice to be there to witness the moment.
Twidle, from Ngāruawāhia, had called home earlier in the week after being named in the extended squad, telling his mum not to travel as he was unlikely to play.
Hope had long envisioned this moment. She had been saving for the day she got the call, and after initially deciding to stay home, she changed her mind, reasoning that even if he didn’t play, it would still be special to see him and spend time with family.
So, while attending her daughter’s netball tournament in Whangārei on Sunday afternoon, she booked a flight to Sydney for the following morning and landed just hours before kickoff.
As fate would have it, Twidle benefited from one of the NRL’s latest rule changes, which allows teams to name six players on the bench but only use four.
Although the Eels had already used their allocation, a spate of injuries – compounded by a dislocated ankle to fellow Kiwi Bailey Simonsson – opened the door for him to enter the game.
And he made the most of it. In a matter of minutes, he went from an unknown name to one fans will be watching closely in the future.
“I would have been sitting at home kicking myself and crying if I didn’t go,” Hope told the Herald.
“I was looking down and we saw him warming up, and we started getting excited and messaging the family back home. When he got that first try, we were jumping up and down, screaming and hugging each other.
“Everything has been surreal. He’s been over here since he was 16, working towards this day, and hopefully many more like it.”
Twidle had already accepted his debut might not come. But after being cleared to take the field as 18th man, he admitted he was a bundle of nerves.
Once he got his hands on the ball, though, everything felt natural. His first touch produced a spectacular finish in the corner, the kind that would earn admiration from even the NRL’s elite wingers.
He wasn’t even sure he had scored, with the try only confirmed after a video review.
Speaking to the Herald, Twidle said the experience has left him hungry for more.
“The last 24 hours have been hectic. I woke up on game day just preparing as if I was playing,” he said. “Once they used the four players, I thought maybe next week, maybe it’s not my day.
“But then one of the staff told me to get up and warm up. I said, ‘you can’t use me’, and he told me I could play. My heart was racing – but once I touched the ball, I settled into it.
“I landed on my shoulder and head, so I was a bit dazed ... the boys were asking, ‘did you get it?’ and I honestly didn’t know. Then we watched the replay and I was like, ‘oh – I got it’.
“I only played 20 minutes, but that’s just the beginning. I want a long career in this game. This was a dream come true – but I want to do it for a long time.”
Eels coach Jason Ryles praised his performance post-match, saying his efforts were outstanding and that he is one to watch for the future, but conceded there are some improvements needed to make him a consistent NRL player.
Remarkably, Twidle was playing out on the wing, a position he’s never played before, having primarily featured at fullback and in the halves.
Elation turns into emotion
After the match, family and friends performed a haka in Twidle’s honour – a moment Hope said she was incredibly proud to be part of.There was also an emotional embrace between mother and son, capturing years of sacrifice made in pursuit of this dream.
“It’s not easy for kids from a small town to move away from family,” Hope said.
“He’s been really lucky – when he was in Brisbane, there were some amazing people who looked after him. Not every kid finds that.
“It’s special for everyone who’s been part of his journey. Back home, they’re all so proud.”
Twidle grew up playing for Turangawaewae Rugby League Sports & Cultural Club – which shares the Eels’ blue and gold colours – starting in the under-5s before moving to Brisbane as a teenager, where he attended Marsden State High School, a well-known hotbed for rugby league talent.
After two years there, he joined the Eels system, progressing through the ranks from S.G Ball Cup (under-19s) to Jersey Flegg (under-21s) and reserve grade, earning a fulltime train-and-trial contract for the remainder of the season.
Twidle said his mum has been central to his journey.
“I know everything my mum’s done for me, she’s a big reason why I’ve made it,” Twidle said.
“I moved to Brisbane when I was 16 and that was tough. I’d always be calling my mum and brothers when I was homesick and wanted to come home, but I knew I had to stick it out.
“It was all worth it. That’s why we were so emotional after the game, because of those sacrifices.”
‘Always stood out’
The Ngāruawāhia community was vocal on social media following the match, praising Twidle’s journey to the NRL.Turangawaewae Rugby League Club chairman Paki Rawiri said Twidle’s work ethic always set him apart.
“Apa always stood out in every team he played in, but what we still talk about is his work ethic and determination,” Rawiri said. “If he wasn’t playing, he’d be at the club training by himself.
“It was clear he was focused on his dream and prepared to make the sacrifices needed to get there.”
Rawiri said he and his wife were on their feet at home as the moment unfolded.
Twidle is the second player from the club to debut in the NRL in the past 12 months, following Aublix Tawha, who debuted for the Dolphins last year before joining the Brisbane Broncos.
Rawiri said their journeys are inspiring the next generation.
“It is tough seeing our talent leave the region, but as a club, we will always encourage our rangatahi to go chase their dreams.
“Their journeys will inspire our junior players because they can see that boys from their own fields, from their own whānau and community can reach the highest level of the game we all love.”
The Eels held a special jersey presentation for Twidle on Wednesday morning, which Hope stayed in Sydney to attend.
He may have to wait for his next opportunity, however, after sustaining a shoulder injury while scoring his opening try.
selector
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Six months to go: Kiwis gearing up for 'Roos showdown
Source: https://nzrl.co.nz/news/six-months-to-go-kiwis-gearing-up-for-roos-showdownKiwis coach Stacey Jones and his selectors have begun regular discussions about New Zealand’s World Cup squad as they prepare for the opening game of RLWC2026 in just six months against the Kangaroos at Allianz Stadium.
The 2025 Pacific Cup champions will meet the Ashes winners on October 15 in a mouthwatering clash to kick off the most competitive World Cup since the tournament was established in 1954 – the second oldest sporting World Cup after the soccer version.
“For New Zealand and Australia, with the rivalry we have had since the game started, it is going to be really exciting to play the opening game in such an iconic stadium and hopefully both teams can make a great start to the World Cup,” Jones said.
“It will be a great tournament, particularly with where the international game is at now. There are five or six teams that can really put their hand up and be competitive, if not win.”
New Zealand failed to reach the final of the past two World Cups in 2017 and 2022 in England.
However, the Kiwis have won two of the past three Pacific Cup finals, including a record 30-0 defeat of Australia in 2023 and last year's triumph against Toa Samoa.
The playing depth of the Kiwis has never been deeper and recent changes to State of Origin eligibility rules are set to strengthen their squad even further, with superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga having switched allegiances to New Zealand.
With the likes of Ponga, Dylan Brown, Jahrome Hughes, Casey McLean, Keano Kini and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in their backline and a forward pack led by James Fisher-Harris and Jospeh Tapine, New Zealand will have a formidable line-up at RLWC2026.
Jones won’t rule out renewed approaches to Raiders stars Ethan Strange and Kaeo Weekes, who are eligible for both Australia and New Zealand, but neither will he rush them for a decision.
“I feel that we have got a really strong core of players that we have had in the past three years, and you always pick up a few other players along the way, particularly with the new rules around Origin eligibility.
“It opens up that opportunity for players who have New Zealand heritage but have grown up in NSW or Queensland to be able to do that too.”
Ponga has since received a clearance from the International Rugby League Board to switch his allegiances to New Zealand after representing Australia at the 2019 World Cup 9s.
“The thing with Kalyn is he has always wanted to represent New Zealand, and Origin was the only things standing in his way. He is a player who grew up in Queensland but has strong roots in New Zealand,” Jones said.
“He is a world class player, probably one of the top five or six players in the game, but one thing I know about picking a representative team is that so many variables can happen so you won’t know until about a week out from the tournament.
“We will find out about the other guys, but there is no rush at this stage. The reason they didn’t want to play for New Zealand is because they wanted to go down the Origin path and Ethan Strange toured with the Kangaroos last year.”
After opening RLWC2026 against Australia on October 15, the Kiwis return home to meet Cook Islands at the new One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on October 25 before travelling to the Gold Coast to face Fiji on October 31 at Cbus Super Stadium.
The rivalry between the Kiwis and Bati is strong after Fiji, who qualified for the semi-finals of the 2008, 2013 and 2017 World Cups, eliminated New Zealand in a play-off match in 2017 and fell agonisingly short in 2022 after a late Joey Manu try.
“Fiji were dominating the game in Hull at the last World Cup and at the previous World Cup they beat New Zealand in a low scoring quarter-final in Wellington,” Jones said.
"They are real superstars of our game so it makes for another great contest for international rugby league.”
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Interesting to note that Stacey hasn't ruled out approaching Ethan Strange about playing for the Kiwis along with Kaeo Weeks.
Doubtful that Strange would flip in my opinion. But would help improve the Kiwis depth in the halves if he did.
Zaggo
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What's his connection to NZ?
Listed as having Māori heritage here: https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/m...m/news-story/e3db1dc7db7088e201dfef3d006e6a90
Cces
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Who is newly eligible though, apart from Ponga who had the go to the International Board to change his allegiance?
Maybe not newly eligible, but the likes of Kaeo Weekes and Ethan Strange become more likely due to the new rules.
Worriers
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Jack Williams the eel? He’d be a great addition if eligible for the kiwis
Cces
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Eligible despite playing for Australian Prime Minister's team last year. Think his mum is NZ born
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