RUGBY LEAGUE - Niko follows brother into Warriors squad

SHANE HURNDELL
Answering a call to keep his homesick brother company in Auckland has paid off big time for former Hawke's Bay rugby league player Kenny Niko.
"Elijah asked me and Mum and Dad to come to Auckland in May because he was homesick and like Elijah, I've now got a Warriors contract," a thrilled Niko told SportToday at the weekend.
His brother Elijah started a three-year Warriors contract back in March.
"I went along with Elijah to a few of his trainings and got asked to have a trial. I ended up with a four-year contract," said Niko.
The former Hawke's Bay under-15s second rower who started playing league only last year has been part of the Warriors development programme since May.
"I'm a bit young to join Elijah in the Warriors under-20s now but in November, I will start training with the squad with the aim of getting game time next year," said 15-year-old Niko.
The year 11 student attends Sacred Heart College in Auckland and plays rugby for the school's 1st XV. A former St John's College student, Niko is also contracted to the Ellerslie Eagles under-20s league team.
"Everything is going well up here. I still miss Hawke's Bay but there are more opportunities here ... particularly if you are prepared to train hard," said Niko.
His brother Elijah, a year 13 student at Sacred Heart, made his debut for the Warriors under-20s a fortnight ago.
The side remained in the top four of their Toyota Cup competition with a 36-12 win against their Melbourne Storm counterparts in Auckland at the weekend.
Elijah, who SportToday predicted three years ago could be another Ali Lauitiiti, didn't make the playing 17 for the game against the Storm.
Niko pointed out a third member of their family, 10-year-old Patrick, may not be too far away from joining his older brothers as a contracted Warrior.
"He comes along with the rest of us to home NRL matches and he just loves the game," said Niko.
Their mother Leoi said the move north was a big sacrifice for the family to make but she hopes the small incentive-based contracts her sons are on now will soon become bigger ones.
The Niko boys are brothers of former Eastern netball age group representative Suzanne Niko, who now attends Victoria University.