NEWS Jordan Riki fulfils decade-old promise after NZ debut

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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
 
too many handling errors.

You said shit hole runner ?
That`s our Jordan .
His handling isn`t helped by passing to him under pressure . Give him some time and space to run . Not take it into the line then fire it at his gut . Like I said , he can run like the wind . He ran down Latrel from behind, so he`s got wheels . Try to use them more .
 
Look first of all,

Congrats to the bloke, and hopefully this gives him some confidence moving forward.

Perhaps not the right thread to really dig into his game.

Really happy to see him debut for NZ and hoping he really brings back some 2023 form into 2025.

In regards to comparing him to other gun backrowers... considering our stacked team, I think he's a good addition. However we really do need our backrowers to fire up a bit.
 
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.
Pretty sure someone said two spuds in the back row. I think Piakura and Riki 2023 are so far from spuds
 
Jordan Riki was perfect last season 2023,
His solid defence, hard heatups n kick chases so if he continues to play that way then Kewi #12 Jersey should be for him for sure👍💯
 
I'm not a Riki hater by any means he is genuinely a good bloke and I love his podcasts that I have watched, but the fact he gets a kiwi call up over Willison is criminal and yes I understand they play different positions, I Feel bad that Xavier didn't get the call up, he earned it this year.

But then again the Kiwis sacked Madge because he is caoching origin only to put in Stacey Jones the Mal Meninga of NZ.
 
I'm not a Riki hater by any means he is genuinely a good bloke and I love his podcasts that I have watched, but the fact he gets a kiwi call up over Willison is criminal and yes I understand they play different positions, I Feel bad that Xavier didn't get the call up, he earned it this year.

But then again the Kiwis sacked Madge because he is caoching origin only to put in Stacey Jones the Mal Meninga of NZ.

JFH , Tapine ,Thomson and White are a pretty formidable middle group add Erin Clarke and I can understand Willison missing out .
More fuel for his fire to prove them wrong this season though .
 

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