Gold Coast Titans swoop on New Zealand Schoolboys hooker Vaka Sikahele, injured in freak accident

Titans fans will need to wait at least two months to catch a glimpse of the team’s latest recruit after a freak training accident ruled him out of the pre-season. READ THE FULL REPORT

Titans signing Vaka Sikahele in action. Picture: Supplied

GOLD Coast Titans fans will need to wait at least two months to catch a glimpse of Kiwi hooker signing Vaka Sikahele in action after a freak training accident ruled him out for the remainder of pre-season.

Gold Coast Titans junior Vaka Sikahele. Picture: Supplied

The 18-year-old represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools team as a fullback-turned-hooker but the collapse of the Warriors’ SG Ball side during COVID delivered him into Gold Coast’s arms in 2021.

Sikahele was discussing his tackle technique with coaches at Junior Titans training last week when another group of players slipped outside the drill’s boundaries, crashing in to the prospect’s leg and tearing his MCL.

No surgery was required but a six-to-eight week stint on the sidelines will rule him out until his return for the Burleigh Bears Under-20s.

Sikahele is a muscular prospect at 180 centimetres tall and weighing in the mid-80s.

Player agent Dixon McIver said the best way to describe his style of play was to watch film of former Manly Sea Eagle and Tongan international Manase Fainu.

“He’s very physical in defence where he hits like any front-rower, but as a former fullback who converted to hooker he’s a very quick, strong runner,” McIver said.

“He was a scholar at St Paul’s College in Auckland and just a wonderful kid – I still cannot get him to call me anything other than Sir.

“When the Warriors SG Ball side was being disbanded we moved him to the Titans because of the support network with other Kiwis on the Gold Coast and the stability of Queensland Rugby League, compared to New South Wales.”

Titans signing Vaka Sikahele in action. Picture: Supplied

McIver said Sikahele would spend the year developing his game at the Burleigh Bears under the watchful eye of the Titans, in the hope of scoring a position in the team’s six-man development squad for 2022.

Burleigh development manager Roy Leoni said Sikahele would definitely be one to watch.

“I’ve watched some footage from back in New Zealand with the NZ Under-18s,” he said.

“Vaka is a very skilful player, very quick and fit, but probably very raw in terms of how he plays.

Titans signing Vaka Sikahele in action. Picture: Supplied

“That’s no different to every other young Kiwi kid to come to Australia because it takes a while to adjust to the style we play.

“He’s fortunate that he can play both No.9 and 13, and with the development the Titans are putting in to him it will only make him better when he comes to us.”