The Canberra Raiders have shoulder-tapped 18-year-old Taumutu Afemui-Nohotima to trial for their Holden Cup U20s side later this year.
NRL scouts spotted his exceptional talent last week at the annual Secondary School National Rugby League tournament.
Taumutu Afemui-Nohotima says, “I'm a bit excited and humbled, but I know I have a lot to do over there.”
His father, Asaeli Afemui-Nohotima says, “The family is very happy, and we also know this is only the beginning.”
Taumutu attends Manukura, a high performance sports school in Palmerston North, and trains 9 times a week. Standing at 191cm and weighing 104kg, with his dominant size and superior fitness he was wreaking havoc with every carry at the secondary school competition.
He grew up playing rugby union and only made the switch to rugby league last year. The change has proved beneficial thus far having caught the eye of the Raiders.
If he goes well with league, his old man only has one request.
“Bring back his first jersey to the school that made it all happen.”
This is his last year of high school and he's not putting all his eggs in one bag, he also knows what he wants to do academically after school.
He says, “I want to go to university to study pacify engineering and civil engineering.”
The date of his trial is yet to be confirmed.
