Future Kiwis learn from the best

Friday, April 21, 2017

New Zealand Rugby League 2017 16s & 18s National High Performance Camp - Media Opportunity
Future Kiwis learn from the best

Former Kiwis Francis Meli and David Faiumu are set to pass on their rugby league know-how to the next wave of future stars at next week’s NZRL National High Performance Camp in Cambridge.

Kicking off Tuesday 25 April, the four-day NZRL 16s and 18s National High Performance Camp will bring together 80 of the top Kiwi teenagers who will learn what it takes to pursue a career in professional rugby league.

Between Meli and Faiumu, 14 Tests and 6 Tests respectively, their experience playing in the NRL and at International level will provide beneficial insights to the teenagers looking to reach the pinnacle of rugby league.

NZRL National Talent Manager David McMeekan says the camp in Cambridge will not only focus on position specific skill development but also equips them with the tools to navigate their off-field careers too.

“It’s about giving them the necessary skills to grow into World Cup Kiwi winners in 2021.

“We not only want them to leave the camp having fine-tuned their ball skills, we want them to be aware of the other factors that have the ability to affect their professional careers as international footy players,” McMeeken says.

The camp will incorporate education around signing contracts, relocating from home, personal brand, resilience and career pathways so players are aware of what to expect if they are fortunate enough to attain an NRL contract.

“A 16 year-old today, could feature in that 2021 World Cup, we want to have the best team out on that field in 2021,” McMeekan says.

Kiwis that have come through previous years of the National High Performance Camp include Tuimoala Lolohea and James Fisher-Harris and Warriors players Ken Maumalo, Erin Clark and Isiah Papalii.

Hornby Panthers youngster Jordan Riki who picked up Most Valuable Player at last year’s camp and the NZRL 16s Player of the Year award for 2016, will attend the National camp for the third time at the age of 17 and looks to follow in their footsteps.

New Zealand Rugby League now have a calendar of fixtures for 16s and 18s in 2017 which will take things up a level from merit teams in previous years. These fixtures will include players selected from the 16s and 18s trial matches taking place on Friday 28 April at the conclusion of National High Performance Camp.

Players selected to attend National High Performance Camp:

16s players:
Dillion Vale (Akarana, Albany Senior High, Waitemata, NZ Warriors), Quinnlan Tupou (Akarana, Botany Downs College, Manurewa, NZ Warriors), Christian Tuipulotu (Akarana, St Pauls, Ellerslie, NZ Warriors), Tuinamo Teipulotu (Akarana, Waitemata, NZ Warriors), Daylen Meredith (Akarana, Avondale College, Mt. Albert), Jyris Glamuzina (Akarana, Sacred Heart College, Ellerslie, NZ Warriors), Nathaneal Sasagi (Akarana, Mt Roskill Grammar, Ellerslie), Samuel Kamu (Akarana, Mt Albert Grammar, Ellerslie, Newcastle Knights), Soakai Taufa (Akarana, Mangere College, Otahuhu), Temple Kalepo (Akarana, Kings College, Ellerslie, NZ Warriors), Brian Lealifano (Counties, Sacred Heart, Otara), David Aofi (Counties, Otahuhu College, Otahuhu), Etuala Lui (Counties, Kings College, Otahuhu, Melbourne Storm), Marco Talagi (Counties, Tangaroa College, Otara), Talitua Salima Satuia (Counties, De La Salle College, Otahuhu, NZ Warriors), Xavier Teo-Stevens (Counties, Aorere College, Mangere East, NZ Warriors), Aamon Dean (Counties, Saint Kentigerns College, Otahuhu, Melbourne Storm), Keanu Mann (Counties, Papatoetoe High School, Mangere East), Paea Fotu (Counties, Mangere East, NZ Warriors), Sam Taunga (Counties, Aorere College, Otahuhu, NZ Warriors), Semisi Tapa (Counties, St Peters, Otahuhu), Semisi Sekei (Counties, De La Salle College, Otahuhu, NZ Warriors), Jamie Lee Robertson (Mid Central, City College, Wanganui Boxon), Tiaho Hamahona-Taiaroa (Mid Central, Wanganui High School, Wanganui Boxon), Brooklyn Herewin (Mid Central, Manukura, Wanganui Boxon), Manny Snooks (Northern, Whangarei Boys High, Portland, Canberra Raiders), Caius Faatili (Southern, St Thomas of Canterbury, Hornby Panthers, North Queensland Cowboys), Griffen Neame (Southern, Greymouth High School, Suburbs, North Queensland Cowboys), Leroy Ferguson (Southern, Otago Boys High, Brisbane Broncos), Manaia Edwards (Southern, Papanui High School, Papanui Tigers), Trent Leach (Upper Central, Rotorua Boys High, Pikiao Warriors), Jay Te Kani (Upper Central, Rotorua Boys High, Ngongotaha), Rayna Whakaari (Upper Central, Rotorua Boys High, Pikiao Warriors, Sydney Roosters), Taylor Leef (Upper Central, Hamilton Boys High, Hamilton City Tigers), Albert Talakai (Upper Central, Westlake Boys High, Ellerslie, NZ Warriors), Evandor Tererong (Wellington, Rongotai College, Porirua), Fred Leaupepe Tema (Wellington, Naenae College, Randwick), Ilai Tuai (Wellington, St Bernard’s College, Randwick), Maui Wallace (Wellington, Tawa College, Porirua), Wyatt So’otanga (Wellington, St Bernard’s College, Randwick).

Team Johnson:
Head Coach - Andrew Auimatagi (Southern)
Assistant Coach – Cody Walker (Akarana)
Manager – Tanya Harris (Counties)
Trainer – Lee Paru (Southern)

Team Kahu:
Head Coach – Pete Butler (Mid Central)
Assistant Coach – Eugene Davis (Upper Central)
Manager – Mel Mather (Southern)
Trainer – Jason Clarke (Auckland / Akarana)

18s players
Starford Toa (Akarana, St Pauls College, Richmond, Newcastle Knights), Kayal Iro (Akarana, Mount Albert Grammar, Mount Albert Lions, NZ Warriors), Matthew Timoko (Akarana, Auckland Grammar, Mt Wellington, South Sydney Rabbitohs), Javvier Pitovao (Akarana, Mount Albert Grammar School, Point Chevalier Pirates, NZ Warriors), Dredin McGee (Akarana, Building Apprentice, Otahuhu, NZ Warriors), Michael Lemafa (Akarana, Onehunga High School, Otahuhu, NZ Warriors), Lewis Afeaki (Akarana, Mt Albert, Sydney Roosters), Talavou Gavet (Akarana, Kelston Boys High School, Richmond Rovers, NZ Warriors), Joseph Onyeke (Akarana, Kelston Boys High School, Mt Albert, Canterbury Bulldogs), Vito Tevaga (Akarana, Marcellin College, Richmond Rovers, Sydney Roosters), Regan McClennan (Akarana, Orewa College, Mt Albert), Marcel Connal (Otahuhu, NZ Warriors), Aiden Aue (Akarana, Kelston Boys High School, Mt Albert), Elijah Sufia (Akarana, Kelston Boys High School, New Lynn, NZ Warriors), Dylan Tavita (Counties, St Pauls College, Richmond, NZ Warriors), Taylor Fui (Counties, Otahuhu), Samiuela Lauhingoa (Counties, Southern Cross, Mangere East), Israel Ogden (Counties, Mangere East, NZ Warriors), Uenuku Malesala (Counties, Mt Albert Grammar, Otahuhu, NZ Warriors), Asu Kepaoa (Counties, Sacred Heart College, Richmond, Sydney Roosters), Sione Ngahe (Counties, St Pauls College, Mt Albert Lions), Keanu Paki (Counties, Howick, NZ Warriors), Potusa Fuilala (Counties, Sacred Heart College, Otahuhu, Sydney Roosters), Awatere Kiwara (Mid Central, Manakura, Kia Ora Warriors, Sydney Roosters) Israel Moke (Mid Central, Kia Ora Warriors), Te Kani Nathan (Northern, Kaitaia College, Hikurangi Stags), Hoani Rogers-Brown (Northern / Akarana, Dargaville high School, Hikurangi Stags), Daniel Sakisi (Southern, Shirley Boys High, Celebration Lions), Jordan Riki (Southern, St Thomas of Canterbury, Hornby Panthers, Brisbane Broncos), Seth Tauamiti (Southern, St Thomas of Canterbury, Papanui Tigers), Chanel Feala (Southern, Shirley Boys High, Linwood Keas), Brad Campbell (Southern, Greymouth High School, Suburbs West Coast), Josh Rawiri (Southern, Shirley Boys High, Kaiapoi, Parramatta Eels), Jope Tagicakabau (Southern, Riccarton Knights), Liam Jones (Upper Central, Trident High School, Mataatua), Sheldon Rogers (Upper Central, Tai Wananga, Turangawaewae, Sydney Roosters), Jaedon Lyttle (Upper Central, Tokoroa High School , Taupo Phoenix), Te Rautau Rameka (Upper Central, Tauponui a Tia College, Taupo Phoenix), Tyler Jahnke (Wellington, Tawa College, Randwick Kingfishers), William Rua (Wellington, Rongotai College, Randwick).
Team Bromwich
Head Coach – Moehewa Armstrong
Assistant Coach – Alan Ettles (Akarana)
Manager – Ben Vaipaata
Trainer – Marrin Haggie (Upper Central)

Team Blair
Head Coach – Phil Gordon (Akarana)
Assistant Coach - Tusa Lafaele (Counties)
Manager – Phil Roache(Wellington)
Trainer – Nick Le Comte (Southern)

Media Opportunity:

Where: St Peter’s School fields
When: 10am – 2pm Wednesday, 26 April
What: Field training session and interview opportunities with selected players and staff

NZ 16s & 18s Trial Matches:

16s Trial Match: 10am - 11:40am
18s Trial Match: 12pm - 1:40pm

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