Jamayne Isaako to farewell terminally ill father in style
Given only days to live, this proud but terminally ill father was never supposed to watch his son play Test football on home soil.
Broncos
Don't miss out on the headlines from Broncos. Followed categories will be added to My News.
In June, Taai Isaako was given just days to live and never supposed to watch his son play in the black and white of New Zealand on home soil again.
Taai had been diagnosed the previous month with an incurable form of brain cancer after collapsing at work.
After receiving the tragic news about his father, Brisbane winger Jamayne Isaako decided to play for Samoa, instead of New Zealand, during the Pacific Test in June.
At the time, Isaako, 23, told The Daily Telegraph it was a way for him to pay tribute to his sick father and his family’s cultural heritage.
Live stream the inaugural Downer Rugby League World Cup 9’s Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >
But immediately after that Test match the Broncos back received a devastating phone call from his sister in New Zealand. His father had taken a turn for the worse and doctors weren’t expecting to survive past the week.
But Taai’s tenacious spirit and will to live means he’ll get to watch his son perform the haka and then play in his home town of Christchurch in three weeks for the first, and possibly the last time.
“I’ve been trying to get him to a game at the end of the season but he hasn’t been able to travel. So I am glad we are playing in Christchurch, which where we are from, so he can come watch me,” Isaako said.
“He’s never seen me play for New Zealand live, which is why him being able to come for the first time to see one of my international games will be a pretty special moment for us and for my family.”
Isaako told The Daily Telegraph his father’s aggressive treatment has helped prolong his life.
“He was getting two chemotherapy sessions a week, which is a lot for him. But he is doing heaps better … he had a full review that showed some of the cancer is starting to reduce,” Isaako said.
“Mid year they told us he wasn’t going to make to Christmas. Then he had the scare. It was tough and challenging at the time.”
Isaako was selected to play for the Kiwis in two Test matches last year after a breakout 2018 season at Red Hill — where he finished the year as the game’s top point scorer and was awarded the Dally M Rookie of the Year award.
But Taai’s courageous fight against his cancer compelled Isaako to turn out for Samoa in June.
It’s the same reason Isaako has switched allegiances back to the Kiwis for the end of season Test matches.
While all of Isaako’s former Samoan and Pacific Islander teammates fully support his decision they haven’t let him live it down.
His Broncos teammate and Tonga’s Tevita Pangai Jr jokingly yelled out ‘traitor’ from behind a tree while The Daily Telegraph was speaking to Isaako at the Royal Botanic Garden.
“I’ve been coping it all week on social media and all the other players just giving it to me about not playing for Samoa but sometimes you have to make tough decisions and obviously I’m thinking about my family at the moment,” Isaako said.