HOT PROSPECTS: Kalani Waa and Tamati Leach both travel from Kaikohe during the week to attend the Lowie Foundation Kick for the Seagull sports academy programme in Kaitaia.
HOT PROSPECTS: Kalani Waa and Tamati Leach both travel from Kaikohe during the week to attend the Lowie Foundation Kick for the Seagull sports academy programme in Kaitaia.
A former Northland College student is the latest Far North-based rugby league player to attract the interest of Penrith Panthers franchise.
Kalani Waa has been invited to visit the Sydney-based club later in the year with the Panthers providing accommodation and training while they assess the Kaikohe 15-year-old as aplaymaker of potential for the future.
Waa and another ex Northland College student, Tamati Leach, are both at the Lowie Foundation Kick for the Seagulls sports academy in Kaitaia established by Graham Lowe this year and run in conjunction with North Tec. The pair travel to the academy every day, completing regular school work and also doing fitness, weights and specialist high-performance training alongside 13 other students, two of whom are female.
The Panthers already have a number of players on the roster who grew up in the Far North or spent some time there during their developmental phase, including Elijah Taylor and Sam McKendry in the top NRL team; Hokianga's James Fisher Harris, currently playing for the reserves grade 3 team and who has just signed a three-year extension on his contract; and Corey Harawira Naera from Waimamaku, currently playing under-20s and who has reportedly just signed a two-year extension which will see him playing in the NSW Cup next season.
