Cook Islands star set for Broncos pre-season tilt
Joel Gould |
Cook Islands hat-trick hero Asom Ioka is set to have a train and trial pre-season with Brisbane and his coach Karmichael Hunt insists he has the ability to make it count.
Ioka, 23, scored his three tries against New Zealand in Christchurch on Sunday in the World Cup to give the Aitu a 16-12 lead before they were overpowered 82-16 by the Kiwis.
He tore a calf while scoring his third try and will miss the clash with Australia in Townsville on Saturday night.
Hunt, who also coaches Broncos affiliate club Souths-Logan in the Queensland Cup, said a big future awaited Ioka.
“Esom had a very good year at Brisbane Tigers and at this stage he is going to be joining us at Souths-Logan for next season,” Hunt told AAP.
“We are going to send him in for a train and trial opportunity with the Broncos in the New Year and if nothing else (NRL contract wise) happens before then and he gets a good pre-season in with the Broncos, who knows what could happen.
“He is certainly capable of playing NRL. Esom is instinctual, very athletic, has great hands and good height for an outside back. I think his best position is on the wing.”
Dual-international Hunt, who won the 2006 NRL title at the Broncos, said the modest Ioka did not realise “how good he can be” in the game.
“When he understands how hard you can train and how hard you need to train he will get so much more out of what he is currently doing,” he said.
“The future is only bright for him.”
Ioka had a breakout season at the Tigers where he scored 22 tries in 21 games in the Queensland Cup on the wing. He has also played fullback and centre previously at Western Clydesdales and Northern Pride.
Ioka said he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Cronulla and Cook Islands centre KL Iro and play in the NRL after going close previously.
“I had a pre-season at the Cowboys at the end of 2024 but did a syndesmosis injury at the end of it,” Ioka told AAP.
“I would love to play NRL if the opportunity came.
“I look up to our captain KL Iro. He is a big inspiration for me for what he does for the Kukis.”
Despite getting injured, Ioka said his display against the Kiwis was a career highlight in his ninth Test for the Aitu.
“I was really proud to score three tries and I am always proud to put on the Cook Islands jersey,” he said.
“Those tries, it was just about being in the right place at the right time. It was an awesome experience and unreal to do it in front of my family who were all there watching.
“Unfortunately I tore my calf and will be out for a few weeks now.”
The Auckland-born Ioka, whose father is Samoan, said his passion for the Cook Islands stemmed from his grandfather Manu Nikoia and late grandmother Judy.
“They played a massive part in my upbringing and whenever I play for Cook Islands I am always thinking of them,” he said.
AAP