NEWS 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."

Canberra Times

 

[I bleed Maroon]

And how was his debut? Utterly mediocre?

 

[Allo]

And how was his debut? Utterly mediocre?

Pretty much

Jordan’s a good kid and I’m happy for him and his family that he achieved his dream of playing for his country, but unless he develops some better skills or some mongrel, he’ll continue to be mostly average and we need more than that, and unfortunately it is made really obvious when the team isn’t winning

Hopefully the style Madge has planned can be a benefit to him

 

[Big Del]

Pretty much

Jordan’s a good kid and I’m happy for him and his family that he achieved his dream of playing for his country, but unless he develops some better skills or some mongrel, he’ll continue to be mostly average and we need more than that, and unfortunately it is made really obvious when the team isn’t winning

Hopefully the style Madge has planned can be a benefit to him

I thought he brought some energy when he came on .
He did a little flick pass offload that I would like to see him use more often .
I agree he is a bit limited , but I also think he is trying to play to a game plan . He can run like the wind when he gets into stride . He should be using that speed more often .
Fingers crossed Madge can make Payne mean , teach Billy to link with support when he runs and Riki to run like we know he can rather than that tippy toeing BS he has been doing the past few seasons .

 

[paulburow]

Pretty much

Jordan’s a good kid and I’m happy for him and his family that he achieved his dream of playing for his country, but unless he develops some better skills or some mongrel, he’ll continue to be mostly average and we need more than that, and unfortunately it is made really obvious when the team isn’t winning

Hopefully the style Madge has planned can be a benefit to him

Jordan Riki has always been more than just average.

 

[Renegade]

I'd like him to promise to be more than a barely adequate first grader and achieve said promise.

Thanks Jordan.

But seriously though good on him for making his international debut, well done mate. Please kick on from here.

 

[Old Mate]

Pretty much

Jordan’s a good kid and I’m happy for him and his family that he achieved his dream of playing for his country, but unless he develops some better skills or some mongrel, he’ll continue to be mostly average and we need more than that, and unfortunately it is made really obvious when the team isn’t winning

Hopefully the style Madge has planned can be a benefit to him

Sounds a lot like Alex Glenn

 

[Evander]

If riki can defend and lead kick chases like he did in 2023 he’s a good team player to have. But let me guess this forum wants X factor in every position lol

 

[Financeguy]

Jordan Riki has always been more than just average.

There are 34 starting backrowers in the NRL, to be above average i assume you consider Riki to be in the top 40%? So better than say 14 of these backrowers.

I'd love to hear how Riki is better than any of Martin, Papalii, Katoa, Crichton, Nikora, Kikau, Olakau'atu, Frizell, Young, Kaufusi, Gilbert, Su'a, Niukore, Fifita, Koloamatangi and Arrow before you even get to imo also better players in Butcher, Luki, Nanai, Preston, B Trbojevic, Hosking, Leilua, Fermor, Lane and Matterson

Bloke is doing well just to be classed as average if you really compare him to the current pool of NRL backrowers.

 

[Financeguy]

If riki can defend and lead kick chases like he did in 2023 he’s a good team player to have. But let me guess this forum wants X factor in every position lol

Not every position, no one is saying that but having 2 spuds in the backrow and no depth is bad roster management.

 

[Big Del]

Not every position, no one is saying that but having 2 spuds in the backrow and no depth is bad roster management.

 

[Evander]

Not every position, no one is saying that but having 2 spuds in the backrow and no depth is bad roster management.

So Piakura is a spud with no x-factor. One of the best line runners we’ve had in the last 10 years. He’s defence lets him down yes but kid can run a hole.

 

[Financeguy]

So Piakura is a spud with no x-factor. One of the best line runners we’ve had in the last 10 years. He’s defence lets him down yes but kid can run a hole.

Yes, unfortunately there is more to the game than the occasional highlight reel run every 4 games. His 60 missed tackles over 18 games kind of overshadows his 5 line breaks for me.

 

[Renegade]

So Piakura is a spud with no x-factor. One of the best line runners we’ve had in the last 10 years. He’s defence lets him down yes but kid can run a hole.

I'd rather him be a shit hole runner and a great defender.

 

[BroncsFan]

I'd rather him be a shit hole runner and a great defender.

That's basically just Riki then...

 

[Renegade]

That's basically just Riki then...

too many handling errors.

 

[Financeguy]

too many handling errors.

Over 50 missed tackles and high in penalties given away just added to the misery this season.

 

[Big Del]

I'd rather him be a shit hole runner and a great defender.

So a Jordan Riki clone ?