SP PNG Hunter's new recruit Jokadi Bire says he will dedicate his debut season in the Queensland Intrust Super Cup to his people in Salt Nomane, Chimbu.
Following in the footsteps of Justin Olam
The 21-year old is following in the footsteps of his fellow Chimbu man and Melbourne Storm centre Justin Olam who also played with the Lae Tigers while a student at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology.
Bire is treading a similar path has also attained a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering last year and is set to graduate in the coming months.
He was recruited by the Stanley Tepend-coached, Lae Tigers in 2019 while in the third year of his engineering programme. Like Olam, Bire played for two seasons in the Digicel Cup before he was recruited by Hunters.
Where is Jokadi Bire from?
“I come from a remote part of Chimbu (Salt Nomane) and where I come from there is no one from that area that has ever played in the Hunters or Kumuls,” he said at a Hunters training session at the Oil Search National Football Stadium on Monday.
“If I happen to debut this season, I will dedicate the season to the people of Salt Nomane."
He said the 2020 NRL title winner and former Lae Tiger, Olam, was his inspiration and he followed Storm games closely.
SP PNG Hunters Coach Sees Talent
Even coach Matthew Church can see similarities in the way Bire has trained, his style of play and intensity given he was the Falcons assistant coach and had a hand in Olam’s development.
Bire said he felt he was following a similar path to Olam.
“Justin Olam is my role model. The timing was perfect for him (Olam), he completed his studies while playing for Tigers and then straight to Hunters and later he got the NRL contract after one season,” Bire said.
“He was disciplined and he sacrificed a lot to make it that far and I want to try my best revolve my game around that.
Story credit: National Newspaper
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