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Message: [QUOTE="Danoz Direct, post: 2674038, member: 8457"] [COLOR=#000000][h=1]Junior Kangaroos Jayden Nikorima and Joe Ofahengaue are Kiwi born but proud to wear Australia’s colours[/h][/COLOR] [COLOR=#484F54][B] [LIST] [*]PETER BADEL [*]THE COURIER-MAIL [*]MAY 02, 2015 12:00AM[URL="http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/junior-kangaroos-jayden-nikorima-and-joe-ofahengaue-are-kiwi-born-but-proud-to-wear-australias-colours/story-e6freon6-1227330394858#"]Thurston no plans to retire from represe...[/URL] [/LIST] [/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]JAYDEN Nikorima and Joe Ofahengaue may have Kiwi blood but they insist they are true blue Aussies as they prepare to lead the Junior Kangaroos on Saturday night.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans]Brisbane’s representative influence has filtered to junior level, with four Broncos – Nikorima, Ofahengaue, Jayden Berrell and Ashley Taylor – named to face the Junior Kiwis at Cbus Super Stadium. A fifth Bronco, Jai Arrow, is Australia’s 18th man.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][IMG]http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2015/05/01/1227330/394804-be0416f4-efc5-11e4-845d-5939ce041631.jpg[/IMG] [COLOR=#666666]Jo Ofahengaue at Junior Kangaroos training.[/COLOR] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]The rise of utility sensation Nikorima and front-row ironman Ofahengaue is the most compelling story of the junior international.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]They were born and raised in New Zealand and under the code’s eligibility rules, Nikorima and Ofahengaue are permitted to represent the Junior Kiwis but when the teenagers run out tonight in green and gold, it will be their formative steps in a trans-Tasman journey they hope ends with a senior Australian jumper.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]“It was an easy choice for me, I’m Australian,” said Ofahengaue, 19, who made his NRL debut against Cronulla in Round 2.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]“Even if the Kiwis were interested, I wouldn’t pay much attention.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]“New Zealand will always be where I was born but it feels like I belong over here.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]“I moved to Australia when I was nine. My family moved here because my brother (Tueki) was scouted by the Newcastle Knights.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]“It didn’t quite work out and he ended up moving to play for Easts Tigers in Brisbane, so we decided to stay and that’s when I got into league.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]“This is a huge thrill for me. Hopefully I can take the next step and play for Australia at senior level.’’[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B][IMG]http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2015/05/01/1227330/394832-af3e0a26-efc5-11e4-845d-5939ce041631.jpg[/IMG][/B][/B] [COLOR=#666666][B][B]The next generation of Kangaroos are ready to stpe up.[/B][/B][/COLOR] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]Deciding Nikorima’s allegiance was more complex. During the week, his older brother, Kodi, was drafted into the New Zealand senior squad as 18th man for last night’s Anzac Test.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]As kids, Kodi and Jayden would bash each other in the backyard of their Palmerston North home. While Nikorima family members have urged Jayden to play for the Kiwis, the 18-year-old was never in doubt.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]“Kodi loves New Zealand but I’ve always had a desire to represent Queensland and Australia and play Origin,” Jayden said.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]“Coming here at a young age (10), I feel Australian.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]“Some of my family are in my ear to play for the Kiwis, but Kodi just said, ‘Go with where your heart is and I’ll support you 100 per cent’.[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Guardian Sans][B][B]“Getting the Australian kit the other day gave me goosebumps. You don’t realise how much the emblem means to you until you put it on. It’s a great feeling.’’[/B][/B][/FONT][/COLOR] [B][/B] [/QUOTE]

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