The gentle giant is set to rattle some rival packs, writes SAM FLANAGAN
WITH a cheeky grin and nervous jiggle of his leg, Jeremiah Nanai proclaims he doesn’t like doing interviews.
The softly spoken 16-yearold said he struggles speaking to the media and prefers to stay out of the spotlight.
Though the very light he likes to shy away from may be about to grow exponentially brighter.
A gentle giant off the field, Jeremiah has earned a reputation for being a wrecking ball on it.
So much so he’s been compared with his childhood hero and one of the greatest dual code athletes of all time.
“I look up to Sonny Bill Williams, I watched him all the time,” Jeremiah said.
“He’s second row and people say ‘you’re the next Sonny Bill’ to me. They tell me I play like him.
“He’s got a good step, I like his fend and he is a great offloader. They’re all things I try to do.
“I just love how he plays and how he is off the field. He inspired me to keep playing footy.”
Just like his hero, Jeremiah has built his reputation around philosophies he lives by both on the field and away from footy.
“Respecting everyone and discipline are big ones for me,” he said. “Footy has taught me to keep putting in the hard work.
“I don’t see myself ever losing that, I think I’ll keep pushing forward for as long as I can.”
Jeremiah has been selected in the under-18s Emerging Maroons squad and is a real chance of donning the Queensland jersey this year.
It’s a rapid rise for the former Cairns resident, who has only played rugby league for three years. “I started playing because of my older brother, he inspired me to play. We used to play touch and backyard footy all the time.
“He was pretty good back then, so it was a tough challenge playing against him.
“So my uncle signed me up for my first club when I was 13, because my Dad didn’t like me playing. He thought I’d get injured.”
One of five boys in his family, Jeremiah said it didn’t take him long to find his feet in the sport.
“I was probably the biggest bloke on the field and just ran over everyone (laughs).”
The bulldozing didn’t stop there, with the Kirwan State High student a central figure in the Bears’ charge to the National Schoolboys Cup last year.
He said the best part of playing in big games was his family making the trip down the Bruce Highway to watch him.
“They’ve supported me a lot with my move to Townsville. It was a big sacrifice for them and me.
“It was tough moving away, especially at the start. They’ve played a big part for me so I’ll stay strong and I’ll get to where ere I want to be.”
Despite e all the team and individual vidual success he has as tasted over the past four years, , the W e s t e r n Lions junior ior said there’s e’s one honour ur he finds the he most satisfyfying. “I love making my family proud. They were so happy for r me when I was selected cted for the Maroons’ camp. amp I was really proud and excited to be selected well.
“Now I’m just going to kee keep pushing forward forward. In the fu future I want to play in the top as a grade for the Cowboys, even though my team are the Roosters,” he laughed.
“Hopefully I can wear this (gestures to Maroons jersey) as well. To be in the Queensland top squad and NRL is what I’m aiming for.”