NRL 2021: Boom Broncos back-rower Jordan Riki says he doesn’t feel pressure to replace David Fifita

He got a close-up view of the boots he must fill this season in round 2, but Jordan Riki is not bothered by the hype surrounding David Fifita, nor any pressure to emulate him.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 19: AJ Brimson of the Titans is tackled by Jordan Riki of the Broncos during the round two NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium on March 19, 2021, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Jordan Riki has heard the whispers.

Next Big Thing. The new David Fifita. his rippling physique carrying equal amounts of muscle and expectation as the Broncos look to Riki to fill the back-row void left by Fifita’s shock departure to the Titans this season.

As physical specimens go, it is hard to miss the parallels between the former Broncos teammates. Fifita stands 186cm and tips the scales at 107kg.

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Jordan Riki is determined to be his own man at the Broncos.

Riki is one kilogram lighter, but four centimetres taller, a rangy frame he deployed in devastating fashion last season, when he speared through the Penrith line, dummied past the fullback and raced 40 metres to score in just his fourth NRL game.

It was the type of rampaging burst Fifita unleashed in his two-try demolition of Brisbane last Friday night.

Riki, stationed on the opposite side of the field, got a close-up view of the boots he must fill this season, but the New Zealand-born forward is determined not to be bothered by the hype surrounding Fifita, nor any pressure to emulate him.

“To be honest, I know there is a lot of talk around me and David,” the 21-year-old Riki said ahead of Saturday night‘s clash against the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.

“I am good friends with David, I was in the EPD (Elite Player Development) system with him at the Broncos and we would always have a laugh and go out for a feed together.

“David is a great player and it sounds strange ... even though we are the same age, I look up to him because he has already done a lot more than me in the game.

“I don’t look at it like that (being the next Fifita). I just want to be myself. I want to be Jordan Riki and play the way I know I can without trying to be like someone else.”

Riki was delighted to re-sign with the Broncos.

There is a critical distinction between Fifita and Riki — the latter stayed loyal to the Broncos.

In the past month, Riki attracted major interest from a Sydney-based club and the Warriors, who were keen to lure the Maori All Stars forward home to his country of birth.

While Fifita couldn’t resist a three-year, $3.5 million offer from the Titans, Riki had no intention of hitting the Red Hill exits, inking a three-year upgrade on Tuesday in a retention coup for the Broncos.

“I wanted to stay here,” he said.

“I felt like I’ve built a strong connection with ’Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters). Me and Kevvie always chat.

“Sometimes he texts me and checks on how I’m going.

“That means a lot to me. I’m quite an emotional player, I hate letting people down, so Kevvie’s support means a lot.

Jordan Riki says he doesn’t feel the pressure to fill the void of David Fifita.

“Growing up in New Zealand, the Warriors were floating around, but I knew Australia had the best upbringing for kids and at the time Australia were rugby league World Cup champions. I knew Australia was the best place for me to play NRL, so I came out here.

“No offence to the Warriors, they are a great club, and maybe I could finish my career there.

“But at the moment, I’m really enjoying my time at the Broncos. I want to be a part of their rebuild and win a premiership with this team.”

Riki, who plays just his eighth first-grade game against the Bulldogs, is still coming to terms with the pace and physicality of the NRL.

In the season opener against the Eels, he missed seven tackles in Brisbane’s 24-16 loss, evidence for Riki there is no room for split-second complacency in the big league. But this was the playground he always envisaged. He wants to walk in the footsteps of his Kiwi heroes.

“I loved watching Sonny Bill Williams, Benji Marshall and Ruben Wiki,” Riki said.

“I would watch their highlights 24-7.

Jordan Riki says he has a great relationship with Kevin Walters.

“All I did was watch YouTube footage on repeat on my mum’s work computer. Whenever she opened up the laptop to do some work, she would see videos of rugby league players.

“I would watch them on YouTube and think, ‘Man I wish I could do that’. I would then go to the backyard and practise a Sonny Bill shoulder charge, a Benji step and flick pass and running over people like Ruben Wiki did.

“The NRL is very physical. It‘s very fast, but at the same time it’s unreal. Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I’m out on the field, but playing NRL is all I’ve wanted to do.”