After playing every game for Canberra Raiders this season at right centre, Otahuhu junior Matthew Timoko was bumped out of Kiwi-NRL finals by Eels. Timoko's presence in the Raiders backline throughout the season shouldn't be overlooked as James Schiller, Semi Valemei, Jarrod Croker and Sebastian Kris all got a crack at left centre while Timoko blossomed in his starting role.

Coach Ricky Stuart stuck with Timoko for the season and patience is required when giving a young player time to settle into their role. To complicate Timoko's development, his first half of the season reflected a struggling Raiders outfit and when this Kiwi-NRL Spotlight zoned in on Timoko, Raiders had lost six of their first eight games. Timoko was graced with patience and he found consistency in his running threat, perhaps gaining confidence that the same powerful running that made him a weapon in Auckland could also be destructive at the NRL level.

Timoko was a low key elite junior in Aotearoa as he made Aotearoa Under 16s, the Under 17 Merit team and Aotearoa Under 18s. While playing for Auckland Grammar School 1st 15 in the midfield, Timoko also made the Blues U18 camp and the following year he was starting centre for Raiders SG Ball as they made the second round of finals in 2018. Then Timoko jumped up to Jersey Flegg where Raiders lost the grand final and Timoko was the only Raiders player who played in those finals games (SG Ball and Flegg) who was playing NRL finals footy this year.

This puts Timoko in the same elite junior realm as Jordan Riki (Broncos), Christian Tuipulotu (Sea Eagles) and Starford To'a (Tigers). Now Timoko has established himself as a starting NRL centre, perhaps the best Raiders centre and Timoko's maturity should to see him earn Aotearoa Kiwis World Cup squad selection.

Aotearoa coach Michael Maguire used Peta Hiku and Marata Niukore at centre against Tonga earlier this year, with Roosters centre Joseph Manu shining at fullback. Maguire also squeezed Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad into the Kiwis centre spot late in 2019 and while plenty has changed since then, this shows how Maguire views Nicoll-Klokstad and that Maguire is willing to explore suitable options.

Timoko should be in the WC squad which will present him with a starting role against weaker teams, perhaps building into a starting role later in the tournament. A starting role for Timoko would allow Niukore to play off the bench to cover many positions, otherwise there's nothing wrong with slowly integrating a hearty youngster like Timoko into Aotearoa Kiwis mana.

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