Origin: Maroons debutant Jeremiah Nanai backed to thrive in debut
Jeremiah Nanai will thrive in the Origin arena and will score a try in his Maroons debut, according to a junior coach. The Cairns product will debut in the Origin opener on Wednesday.
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JEREMIAH Nanai will thrive in the Origin arena and will score a try in his Maroons debut, according to one of his junior coaches.
Nanai had only played rugby league for two years when Philemon Johnston coached the tall, speedy rookie in Cairns Kangaroos under-15s.
But, even back then at Vico Oval, Johnston saw the attributes which cold lead to a future in the NRL.
Johnston wasn’t the only one who saw the talent, and he certainly will not take credit for Nanai’s rise to the NRL, but there were elements of the young man’s game which good judges knew would have him primed for a big future.
But, according to Johnston, there was one person who didn’t know: Nanai.
“I don’t think he knew what he had, but everyone who saw him play knew he was destined for bigger things,” Johnston said.
“We just said keep working hard.
“Everyone could see he was good enough to play NRL. He had a lot of raw talent.”
Nanai didn’t play club rugby league until he was 13, when the Trinity Bay State High School student rocked up to a Kangaroos’ training session at Vico Oval.
His size, speed and skill allowed him to play a variety of positions, and while he evolved into a second-rower at the elite level, he spent a bit of time at prop and in the centres.
But, despite his ability which led to two premierships from three straight grand finals at Kangaroos, was humble even at the junior level.
“It was just how he was,” Johnston said.
“He could beat this way through the defence and be on the way to score but he’d hand it off to other players so they could score.
“He was that sort of kid. He was a quiet, shy, but he was always humble and he’s stayed humble.”
NANAI’S READY FOR ORIGIN - IS NSW READY FOR NANAI?
IT was 12 months ago when Jeremiah Nanai played his final game for the Northern Pride, the last appearance for a “promising” talent destined for the big stage.
Now, he is preparing for his first State of Origin game for Queensland, after being named on the bench by Maroons coach Billy Slater.
And former three-time Maroons flyer Ty Williams believes Nanai is more than ready to step into the Origin cauldron.
“I think the biggest question is will New South Wales be ready for him?” Williams said.
He is one of the three Far North products named for the Maroons, with Cowboys flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Broncos firebrand Thomas Flegler in the 22-man squad.
It’s been a whirlwind rise for Nanai, who has played just 16 NRL games for the North Queensland Cowboys.
Always regarded as a special talent, Nanai was one of the best at schoolboys level, the former Kangaroos junior claiming the inaugural Michael Morgan Medal when he led Kirwan State High School to the national title in 2020.
The stop between schoolboys star to the NRL was via the Queensland Cup, and being a Cairns junior meant he was allocated to a very welcoming Northern Pride.
His stint with the Barlow Park club lasted just seven games, four of which he was named on the bench.
Based on what he saw then, Pride coach Williams was sure Nanai would one day play Origin - but not this soon.
“I didn’t expect it to be this quick,” Williams said.
“Did he have the potential? Definitely. I got him as an 18-year-old and saw what he did against men for the Pride.
“They’ve done a great job with him,
“The preseason he had, and the way he’s been playing, he’s got opposition teams scouting him - which is a massive wrap for a 19-year-old.
“The big thing you see with kids his age who have been in the system is that they’re good for a few weeks then drop in form, or come back to Cup for a few games, then go back. He’s just gotten better.”
This year, Nanai has cemented his place in Todd Payten’s Cowboys side, starting in the backrow and, more recently, churning out 80-minute performances.
He has 10 tries to his name, which places him at fifth in the NRL, but it’s his overall workrate which impressed Slater and selectors.
“He’s a good young man. His performances have earnt him this jersey,” Slater said.
“Not just chasing kicks and scoring tries, he has been doing a lot of work for his team, he made 51 tackles on the weekend in a really tough environment down there at Penrith.
“He really showed some toughness.”
Nanai will be an impact player for Slater, at least in Game I, but the former Cairns Kangaroo can cement the first phase of his representative legacy in the Origin cauldron next Wednesday night.
matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au
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Originally published as Origin: Maroons debutant Jeremiah Nanai backed to thrive in debut
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