Jordan Riki fulfils decade-old promise after NZ debut

[Pelican Press 0]

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Jordan Riki fulfils decade-old promise after NZ debut

After his New Zealand rugby league Test debut, Jordan Riki fulfilled a promise more than a decade in the making and brought a tear to his grandfather’s eye.

Riki’s granddad Reginald became his father figure as a child raised by single mother Janelle, who is now a board member of the Canterbury Rugby League in Christchurch.

When local boy Riki was named to make his Kiwis debut in Sunday’s clash against Australia, Janelle organised for 80 friends and family to pack the southern stand at Apollo Projects Stadium.

The huge group, decked out in custom-made Riki shirts, began to chant ‘Jordan’ just before the second-rower came on in the second half of the 22-10 loss, and were on hand to pay respect with a haka at full-time.

“I’m still pinching myself at the moment, being able to make my Kiwis debut, especially back home in Christchurch,” Riki said after the Kiwis’ first Pacific Championships game.

“I’m hugely grateful and emotional.”

Riki made his way over to his band of supporters after the siren had sounded on the Kiwis’ first game of the Pacific Championships and handed his jersey to grandfather Reginald.

It has become customary for NRL players to give apparel away to fans at full-time of games, but the gesture carried extra weight for Riki and his grandfather on Sunday.

“I was about 11 or 12 years old and I remember sitting with him one day, we were having lunch together, and we were talking about what I wanted to be and what I wanted to do when I grew up,” the 24-year-old said.

“I said that I wanted to play for the Kiwis and stuff like that.

“I promised him at that age that I’d give him my first Kiwis jersey. It was awesome to give it to him today.”

The Brisbane forward had never seen his grandfather cry before Sunday afternoon.

But an emotional Riki knew his Koroua – Te Reo Māori for grandfather – was struck by the significance of his gesture.

“I’m pretty sure he spun around and shed a few tears because I could see my mum and my uncle give him some hugs and stuff like that,” Riki said.

“He helped mould me into the man I am today. My mum raised me single for most of my life so he was pretty much my father figure growing up.

“So for me to be able to do that here today in front of him, and for me to be able to give him my first Kiwis jersey is a dream come true and a promise that I’ve fulfilled.”

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