NRL: Teen groomed as next Vatuvei

Promising Warriors junior Elijah Niko. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Warriors rugby league bosses have told Elijah Niko they want him to be the next Manu Vatuvei.

"They wanted me to put on more muscle ... I was happy with that, as it's a lot easier than dieting," Niko told SportToday.

This means the Hawke's Bay age-group product - who scored four tries when playing as a prop for the Warriors under-20s against the Hawke's Bay Unicorns under-20s in Napier last year - will be creating havoc on the fringes instead of up the middle when the two teams clash again at Park Island next week.

"Hopefully, I can score four tries again," said Niko, who weighs 110kg, two less than Warriors and Kiwis star Vatuvei.

Niko, 19, could be one of three former Eastern Institute of Technology Students Association (EITSA) players in the Warriors under-20s side at the February 20 match.

His 17-year-old brother, Kenny, and last year's Napier Boys' High School 1st XV rugby midfielder, Aidan Te Hiko, are both trialling with the Warriors with the aim of making the Toyota Cup squad.

"I'll definitely be playing in Napier again but, at this stage, we're not sure whether Kenny and Aidan will be trialling this weekend against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua or in the Napier game," said Niko. The former St John's College student pointed out there are 30 players trialling for the Warriors under-20s.

Once the trial games are completed, 20 players are contracted and, once the season begins, the 17 players for match day are selected from the 20.

Kenny Niko, who weighs 106kg, wants to secure a second row berth.

He hooked up with the Warriors in 2008 when, along with his parents, he answered a call to keep a homesick Elijah company in Auckland.

Te Hiko is trialling at centre. He played on the wing for the Hawke's Bay Unicorns under-20s when they were thrashed 74-4 by their Warriors counterparts last year.

Former Warriors reserve grade team coach John Ackland is coaching the Warriors under-20s and former Warriors prop Jerry Seu Seu is the manager.

Hawke's Bay Unicorns under-20s coach Henry Heke will name his side for the Warriors game after his third and final trial game against Taranaki under-20s this weekend.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY