‘It’s my Maroons jersey’: Griffin Neame’s New Zealand Kiwis dream is about to get even better

Neame proudly completed a childhood dream when he ran out for the Kiwis in front of a heaving Eden Park, but this week’s challenge against the Kangaroos will be an entirely different beast.

Griffin Neame of New Zealand Kiwis runs past the Samoan defence. Picture: NRL Imagery

Cowboys prop Griffin Neame proudly completed a childhood dream when he ran out for the New Zealand Kiwis in front of a heaving Eden Park, but this week’s challenge against the Kangaroos will be an entirely different beast.

“It’s going to be a crazy one, definitely,” Neame said.

“Growing up it was always the Kiwis-Australia games that we look forward to and growing up in New Zealand you sort of hated the Aussies.

“These were the special games you watched, like the Anzac Tests, so I’m really looking forward to this one. I’d say it’ll be emotional as well, I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Living in Townsville the last few years you sort of see how much the Maroons jersey means to Queenslanders – that Kiwis jersey is my Maroons jersey so it meant a lot,” Neame said. Picture: NRL Imagery

Neame said it was a special moment he would never forget after growing up in a rugby league loving family in Greymouth on the South Island’s West Coast.

“I’ve dreamt of putting that jersey on since I was a little kid, that was a dream of mine before my dream of playing NRL,” he said.

“Me and my family would watch every Kiwis game growing up, we’d be sitting in the living room with all our Kiwis shirts on.

“Living in Townsville the last few years you sort of see how much the Maroons jersey means to Queenslanders – that Kiwis jersey is my Maroons jersey so it meant a lot, and my family was very happy as well so that was awesome.”

Griffin Neame of New Zealand Kiwis runs past the Samoan defence. Picture: NRL Imagery

With much of his extended family making the voyage north to Auckland to watch his dream come true, Neame didn’t let anyone down once he entered the fray.

The 22-year-old dynamo is the youngest current Kiwis player, nine months younger than the nearest player in Dylan Brown, but you wouldn’t believe it watching him steamroll Toa Samoa.

Neame played almost half an hour off the interchange and took eight carries for 101m – 51 post-contact – as well as making two tackle breaks and 12 tackles.

“Even better to go up against Reubs (Cotter) and Val (Holmes at AAMI Park), it’s going to be pretty fun,” he said.

There’ll be no love lost between the Cowboys teammates but even with a rematch on the immediate horizon Neame said the North Queensland trio would debrief together after the match.

Griffin Neame scores a try against the Brisbane Broncos. (Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)

He also revealed the Kiwis had been watching and taking inspiration from the All Blacks, who are on the cusp of a record fourth Rugby World Cup title if they can tackle the Springboks.

“We watched their game last week before our captain’s run,” Neame said. “We watched that whole game and we’ll definitely be watching this game and cheering them on – hopefully both of us can get the win.”

Neame broke into the NRL in round 22, 2021, before two full season with North Queensland.

Griffin Neame took eight carries for 101m – 51 post-contact – as well as making two tackle breaks and 12 tackles playing for the Kiwis against Samoa. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Still seven games shy of his 50th NRL appearance, the Cowboys middle said being surrounded by some of the game’s best forwards had helped his transition onto the international stage.

“Most of these boys in the forward pack I’ve been watching over the past few years,” Neame said.

“Ones like (James) Fisher-Harris and (Joe) Tapine I’ve been watching since before I was playing NRL, so to be in the room with them and go on the field with them, it’s pretty crazy.

“You can definitely see why Penrith are the best team, Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota are always doing extras, they’re the last ones on the field at training and they’re always trying to improve their game and you can see how professional they really are and it’s something I’m going to take into my game for sure.”

New Zealand take on the Kangaroos on Saturday night at 7.10pm AEST with Neame set to inject himself off the interchange in jersey No.16.

Originally published as ‘It’s my Maroons jersey’: Griffin Neame’s New Zealand Kiwis dream is about to get even better