Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Straight Outta Cook Islands With Kayal Iro
Cronulla Sharks are quietly on the rise as a Kiwi-NRL club with the same development mahi evident in Ronaldo Mulitalo, Braden Hamlin-Uele and Briton Nikora flowing into the rise of Kayal Iro. Arorangi Bears junior Iro made his debut on the wing for Sharks in their 16-0 win over Bulldogs, churning out 21 runs for 184m @ 8.76m/run and 12 tackle busts.
Iro had the most tackle busts for Sharks and his five errors were also the most for Shark, pointing to low-hanging development fruit for Iro to build with. Despite being a staple for Sharks in NSW Cup, Iro isn't graced with the luxury of a profile so I can't share how many games Iro has played and basic stats for context. Iro has been playing in a Newtown Jets side that is first in NSW Cup (16-2-4) and this mahi saw Iro earn an NRL contract a few weeks ago, locking him in as a Shark for two more years.
Ever since Iro left Cook Islands to move to Auckland, he was a consistent presence in NZRL representative teams. Iro is one of a very small group of Pacific Island international players who grew up playing grassroots footy in their respective nations, starting with Arorangi Bears in Rarotonga. Considering how important the ocean is to polynesians now, let alone the ocean's importance in polynesian history, the mahi of Kayal's father Kevin in protecting oceans around Cook Islands with 'Marae Moana' is equally as impressive.
Kevin is also involved with the Cook Islands Sports Academy, providing further significance for local Cook Islanders who can follow the journey of Kayal from Arorangi to NRL. Kayal joined Mt Albert Lions and went to Mt Albert Grammar School in Auckland where he ascended with plenty of NZRL rep nods.
Iro made the 2016 Aotearoa U16s team alongside Matthew Timoko, Starford To'a, Jordan Riki and Asu Kepaoa. In 2017, Iro made the National Secondary Schools Tournament team alongside To'a, Riki, Hayze Perham, Tom Ale, Tukimihia Simpkins, Christian Tuipulotu, William Fakatoumafi (Panthers U21s), Sione Moala (Raiders U21s) and Caius Fa'atili (Wynnum U21s). Iro made the U18 Residents team in 2018 and started at centre for the 2019 U19 Junior Kiwis.
Most of those NZRL representative honours came while Iro was with NZ Warriors, where he played three seasons with Warriors U20s/Jersey Flegg. Iro played much of his Warriors and NZRL footy with Tyler Slade, including the Junior Kiwis before they moved to Sharks ahead of the 2021 season. Slade and Iro started with Sharks Jersey Flegg last year, then they both jumped up to NSW Cup in what appears to be a efficient Sharks development system.
Lads like Mawene Hiroti, Jensen Taumoepeau and Caleb Uele have been playing in NSW Cup with Iro and Slade this season. Salesi Ataata played Sharks SG Ball earlier this year and has been on the fringe of Sharks Jersey Flegg in recent weeks where Wai-Coa-Bay's Toataua Porima has been playing most weeks. Sharks have made impressive Kiwi-NRL recruitment moves and as we have seen with Iro, Sharks then shine with developing those players.
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