North Queensland Cowboys rope in Vanuata prodigy Kunro Kalo

VANUATU rugby league prodigy Kunro Kalo has gone from living in a tin shack to training with the North Queensland Cowboys.

Kunro Kalo

VANUATU rugby league prodigy Kunro Kalo has gone from living in a tin shack to training with the North Queensland Cowboys.

Kalo, an athletic 18-year-old, was recruited by the Cowboys after starring for Vanuatu in a league international against Greece, held in Port Vila two months ago.

Outside back Kalo is on a train-and-trial contract with the Cowboys and if he continues to impress he will play in their Toyota Cup team next year.

Athletically, he matches up against any man in the Cowboys under-20 squad, but he is a long-term prospect after growing up playing rugby sevens.

Vanuatu's match against Greece was their debut league Test and the team is sponsored by a kava distributor, The Kava Emporium.

Melbourne Storm centre Justin O'Neill was also part of the team as his mother hails from the small Pacific nation.

Kalo quit school aged 15 to help provide for his family.

If he makes the NRL he will be the first player born and bred in Vanuatu to do so.

"My house was just made of tin but it was OK. We had pigs and chickens everywhere too," Kalo said.

"People back home are pretty amazed I am here.

"The Cowboys have been great to me. I am learning a lot.

"My fitness is good, but there is so much else to learn. It is now my dream to play in NRL."

Three months ago, Kalo had never heard of Johnathan Thurston, but now he gets anxious just watching the superstar train in Townsville.

"I never dreamed any of this could ever happen to me," Kalo said.

"I see Johnathan in the paper and on television all the time and I realise he must be a big star and then there he is at training.

This is amazing."

Kalo had spent time in Australia previously this year thanks to league development official Dane Campbell, a former Newcastle Knights NRL player and founder of the Vanuatu Rugby League.

Campbell backed Kalo to become an NRL player.

"He's freakish," Campbell said.

"He really has great talent and not only is he an athlete but he's also quite skilled with the ball and played halfback for Vanuatu."

Cowboys under-20s coach Todd Wilson said Kalo was an excellent prospect.

"He's very raw but he's a real athlete. He's a really good kid too who always asks questions and really wants to learn."