Unimaginable this time last year, New Zealand-born Briton Nikora was “buzzing” when he got the call to join Queensland camp for his State of Origin debut.
With the eligibility rules changing in February, Nikora – who represented his Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Arawa and Ngāti Awa heritage for the Māori All Stars – was able to be called into Billy Slater’s line up, meeting requirements after moving to the Gold Coast as a nine-year-old.
The rules have also allowed for Blues trio Addin Fonua-Blake (who played for New Zealand in 2017), Kiwis back Casey McLean and England backrower Victor Radley to play in the series opener on May 27 at Accor Stadium. Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga has also pledged his international allegiance to New Zealand.
“I'm born in New Zealand, growing up in Gold Coast, I've done all my schooling there," the Sharks second rower said.
"Every time at lunch time, it's always Origin, Queensland v New South Wales type stuff.
“When I made my debut 2019, everything came quick at me with representing New Zealand and then once you do that, you obviously couldn't do both at the time, so I thought that dream was far gone.
“Once they changed the rules … I could see an opportunity there … and once Billy gave me that call, I took it with both hands. I am just over the moon.
“I grew up here. Queensland gave my family the opportunity and gave us a better life here in Queensland, and that's what I carry close to my heart.
“Wherever my family goes, that's where home is. At the time, that's where home was, and that's where it's been for my whole life really.
“I'm just keen to go out there and do the badge proud and having the last name at the back on my jersey as well.
“I take all my family with me as well, so that's what I'm looking forward to.”
Adding to his excitement when he came in to camp was getting the opportunity to learn from some of Queensland’s former Origin stars, including assistant coach Ben Te’o, who is new to Slater’s staff this series.
“I looked up to Benny Te’o as I was coming up in the same position, so him in camp – and obviously Billy as well – just seeing them around camp, I'm still buzzing about it,” Nikora said.
“I went to Keebra Park and when we were coming up through Keebra Park, you’d have all those type of players on the wall that have made it, just for motivation at school. He was on the wall.
“At the time, I didn't really take too much notice of players back then, but as I started to enjoy my footy and get into it, I saw just the way he played, his physicality, the way he carried himself and I looked up to him coming through.
“I haven't really told him that …”
For Te’o, who last featured as a player for the Maroons in 2014, returning to camp has been something special.
“I've had a bit of a journey (since I last played Origin) where I went overseas and played rugby union and came back and retired and (started) coaching,” Te’o told NRL.com.
“Being here in this role is awesome. With Nate Myles, [Johnathan] Thurston, Billy in here, it's been kind of getting the gang together.
“But the main part that has stood out for me is just how important the preparation's been.
“Billy's a fantastic coach and very detailed and one of the reasons why I wanted to come in here was to learn from him and some of these other players that I don't really know too well.
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“I think [Nikora and I] have had quite a similar path, obviously having those New Zealand connections early on and then coming over here, we went to the same school at Keebra Park on the Gold Coast.
“I just love seeing someone like him (doing well).
“We were talking just the other day about him going down to Cronulla on open trial and having to prove himself.
“I feel a lot of my journey was like that and what I love about him is, obviously he's quite a quiet, humble guy, but I don't think you'll find a better line runner in the competition with leg speed, very smart IQ.
“He punches those lines and a lot of the success that Cronulla have had, he's part of it.”
A premiership winner as a player in 2014 with the Rabbitohs, Te’o’s advice to Nikora for his first Origin camp was to soak in the moment to really get the most of the experience.
“I just look back on my career, I think one of the things that I would advise is to just take a breath sometimes, you know? I think you can get really caught up in the build-up and you've got to conserve your energy and really focus on your performance,” Te’o said.
“The other thing I would say too is always look at it from a positive point of view.
“If I was talking to Briton, I would be saying; these type of games, they're grand final-like games.
“You want to get there with your club, so these are great experiences for you.
“Look at it as a positive, like look at these high-pressure games that mean so much, and then when you come out of this experience, take that back to clubland.”
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