Broncos back Jamayne Isaako has paid tribute to his dad, who has lost his battle with cancer

Brisbane Broncos back Jamayne Isaako has paid an emotional tribute to his father, Tai, who has lost his long battle with cancer, revealing his father ‘put up one hell of a fight’.

Brisbane Broncos back Jamayne Isaako says his ‘heart is broken’ after losing his father Taai to cancer on Monday afternoon.

Isaako wants to be at his father’s funeral in New Zealand and the Broncos are working to try and make that happen.

An emotional Isaako paid tribute to his late father on social media on Monday afternoon.

“My heart is broken,” Isaako said.

“You are my rock and my hero! No words can express how much this hurts and how I’d give anything to hear your voice once more but Gods army gained another brave and lion-hearted soldier today and I know you’ll always be looking down over us.

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Jamayne Isaako with his dad Taai.

Special bond: Isaako with his father.

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“You put up one hell of a fight and fought right to the very end despite what anyone said or thought and now you don’t have to suffer anymore pain.

“Couldn’t have asked for a more loving and caring father I’m so honoured to have called you my dad.

“I love you more than you’ll ever know. Till we meet again.”

In June last year, Isaako revealed to The Daily Telegraph his father was the reason why he decided to play for Samoa in the Pacific Test match against Papua New Guinea.

Isaako said his father had been diagnosed with brain cancer only two months before and the at that stage the prognosis was that Taai only a matter of weeks to live.

Jamayne with his dad: “I love you more than you’ll ever know. Till we meet again”.

So despite being named in the New Zealand squad to face Tonga in June last year Isaako decided to pay honour his father’s home nation of Samoa.

It was an opportunity for Isaako to perform the Siva Tau in the colours of Samoa for the first time with his father watching on.

“My family is going through a tough time at the moment with my dad being diagnosed with cancer,” Isaako revealed at the time.

“He is a really proud Samoan, born and bred, over the islands. I thought it was a great idea to give back to him and the rest of my family and represent Samoa really big.”

Isaako then ran out for New Zealand in his home town of Christchurch in November last year with his terminally ill father proudly watching on from the stands.

Originally published as Broncos back Jamayne Isaako has paid tribute to his dad, who has lost his battle with cancer