Hunter ready to set world on Spire

PNG Hunters centre Jokadi Bire is out to make the “impossible, possible” as he prepares to follow in the footsteps of Melbourne premiership winner Justin Olam.

Ahead of the second round of the Intrust Super Cup, Bire has opened up on the moment he achieved his “dream-cometrue” debut for the Hunters last weekend and how he is now setting his sights on one day playing in the NRL.

Bire (pictured) grew up playing rugby league in his home region of Simbu but might not be playing in the Intrust Super Cup had it not been for advice from a mentor to go semi-professional in 2018.

The 22-yearold proved an instant talent when in one PNG match he came off the bench in the dying minutes to score two tries and win the game.

An 11-try haul in PNG’s Digicel Cup last year earned him the nickname “the Beast” and now the powerful young centre is preparing to do the same in his debut ISC season.

Bire scored on debut after muscling his way over the tryline for the Hunters during their thrilling 20-18 loss to Wynnum-Manly last week.

Hunters coach Matt Church has likened Bire to Storm premiership winner Olam in an ominous warning for their ISC rivals – and the similarities between the two are uncanny.

Both players graduated from the same school in the same region of PNG, both came through the Lae Snax Tigers club and both are incredibly talented left centres.

The similarities continue away from the field, with both having completed an electrical engineering degree while pursuing a career in rugby league.

“Playing in the NRL is the dream,” Bire said.