JONAH PRIMED FOR HUGE SHOWDOWN
WEDNESDAY’S Aaron Payne Cup semi-final will be the biggest game of Cowboyscontracted Ignatius Park College backrower Jonah Raidaveta’s football career.
The Year 11 forward signed a remarkable five-year contract with the Cowboys in 2021 after flying up from Dubbo to take part in a training camp at Cowboys HQ.
Raidaveta, then just 16 years old, tested his mettle against Cowboys Top 30 players, the extended squad and the best of the Cowboys Young Guns program.
By week’s end club recruitment manager Dane Campbell handed Raidaveta a contract to keep him in Cowboys colours through 2026. In the senior squad only Jason Taumalolo is signed longer, through 2027.
Of Fijian heritage, and a cousin of 61-Test Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani, Raidaveta played his first game of rugby league three years ago but has blossomed into a strike weapon for Ignatius Park off the shoulder of halfback Matthew Hunter in his debut season.
He will be in the first line of defence against arch-rivals Kirwan State High School, with the winner to challenge for the Aaron Payne Cup title next week.
“Dane (Campbell) has seen something special in the kid,” Cowboys Young Guns coach Ben Jeffries said.
“Good feet, an offload – there’s plenty of young men similar there – but how he carries himself off the field (is special). He’s respectful, been brought up well, and those are the sort of people and players we want at our club.”
Raidaveta said the club’s faith in him was humbling.
“Obviously they have a lot of trust and belief in me,” he said. “I’ve just got to go out there and play as hard as I can.
“The school is different to what I’m used to but the culture is really good to be a part of.”