Former Vodafone Junior Warriors captain, David Bhana didn't quite get the game time he felt he earnt after being signed to a first-grade contract at the Vodafone Warriors.
That's why at the end of this season, he and the club reached mutual agreeance to go their separate ways.
A big call for the player earmarked as the 'next Simon Mannering' averaging the most tackles per game in his final year in the junior ranks, to walk away from the club who gave him a shot at professional rugby league.
With nowhere to go, Bhana was now officially unemployed, and desperate.
Bhana says, “it was a hard decision, but I had to think about my family. That’s just how professional footy is.”
Now, he’s on the journey of a lifetime to the mecca of rugby league, Sydney, Australia, to take up a full time NRL contract with the Newcastle Knights.
“They’ve been doing a lot of recruiting in the off season, they didn’t have a good 2015, so I’m excited about the rebuild” says Bhana.
The Ngāpuhi defensive machine is no stranger to hard work, and rebuilding phases. He was an integral part in the Vodafone Junior Warriors side rise to supremacy in the Holden Cup, leading his side to a grand final appearance, losing out however, to a Penrith Panthers side, spurred on by Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
“It’s finally good to know things are starting to happen” he says.
And happen they will. Newcastle head coach, Nathan Brown wasted no time in signing Bhana after realising that the Warriors were not going to make full use of his youthful services.
It’s going to be a different kind of leaving experience for Bhana however, he will be joined by childhood friend and former Vodafone Junior Warrior, Sam Cook (Ngāti Porou).
To make things even more interesting, they will be joining another one of their childhood friends, and current Newcastle Knights NSW Cup prop, James Taylor. All three come through the grades at Northcote Tigers Rugby League Club on Auckland’s North Shore.
“We’re all staying together over there – so that’ll be cool,” adds Bhana.
David leaves for Australia this Sunday.
Te Kāea sports reporter, Raniera Harrison will have more on this tonight at 5:30pm.
