A rising Southland rugby star who loves the underdog status
Gore 18-year-old Jayden Broome has played a lead role in one of New Zealand rugby’s more memorable upsets in 2024.
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Jayden Broome thrives on being an underdog. He says he’s carried that tag with him for most of his life and it’s what gets the best out of him.
It is the reason the talented 18-year-old openside flanker swatted off thoughts of ditching Gore High School - now Māruawai College - and heading to a so-called higher-profile rugby school this year.
The love of being an underdog is also what spurred him on on Thursday while playing a lead role in one of New Zealand rugby’s more memorable upsets this year.
Broome started at openside flanker for the New Zealand Under-18 Māori team which on Thursday toppled the prestigious New Zealand Secondary Schools team 22-15 in Hamilton.
It caught many by surprise. Although Broome said they felt something special brewing within the New Zealand Māori U18 setup.
Broome had captained New Zealand Māori to a 53-22 victory over the New Zealand Heartland U20s team on the Sunday before Thursday’s stunning triumph against New Zealand Schools.
“It’s pretty crazy beating a team like that, that were supposed to be better in every way. We were the real underdog but to come out on top was a good feeling,” Broome told The Tribune.
“There was a bit of confidence for us. Listening to the coaches, they were confident.
“They fully believed we had players in our team that should have been in their team, and they believed we could win.
“We had a good amount of footage of them to review. But from a players point of view, we were confident about our connection. I think in a Māori camp there are always going to be connections that are a bit better.
“We spent the majority of the time worrying about our connection.”
While the win over the New Zealand Schools team has been thrust into the spotlight, the fact the Gore teenager also got to captain New Zealand Māori U18 against Heartland U20s also ranked right up.
He led a team which featured three players from this year’s national champions - Hamilton Boys’ High School.
“It was cool being from a small town and leading a national team. But it was also kind of nerve-wracking as well, because in such a short amount of time it was always going to be hard to earn the respect of players from high profile schools.
“But the boys were way better than I thought they were going to be, they were all welcoming,” Broome said.
The whole experience highlighted for Broome that his decision to stick with Māruawai College in Gore was the right one.
“That was my goal. I had an opportunity to go to a different school, but I stuck at Gore High and Māruawai for that reason, to show it can be done.
“I enjoy being an underdog, I don’t think I’ve ever lived without that tag to be honest.”
Against New Zealand Schools, New Zealand Māori got out to a 19-8 first half lead which included Broome scoring a try.
Broome got through plenty of work both with ball in hand and in defence before a nasty bout of cramp forced him from the field late in the second half.
He was disappointed in himself that he couldn’t finish the game, but after a bit of reflection he started to feel better about his performance.
And so he should. Broome’s attitude and eagerness to compete was something special to watch on Thursday. It appears to be his key strength.
Broome this year played for a combined Māruawai College-Menzies College team in Southland’s U18 competition. Thursday dished up a big challenge, in terms of the physicality and speed of the showdown against the best school players in the country.
“For the other boys in the team - like the Hamilton boys’ - they are probably use to that, they are used to that physicality and speed throughout the season. So, they were probably a bit more comfortable than I was, I was a bit more nervous about how I was going to handle the physicality.
“I always manage to surprise myself that I can. Compared to my school season the boys are much bigger and faster, and it left little room for error. But I really enjoyed that fast paced physical game.”
Broome will get a well-earned break now from rugby, although he doesn’t really want it to stop.
“I don’t get sick of it. I’d go and play next week if there was a game on. But I’ll take a week or two off before I get back into training because that’s what I love doing.”
Broome is in his final year at Māruawai College and next year will head to Dunedin to study.
Like other young Southlanders in recent years, he still plans to remain connected to Southland rugby.
“I’m loyal person so I would 100% want to play for Southland. If there was an opportunity there, I’d take it.”
He looms as a key figure for Southland U19 next year and could form an impressive looseforward combo with Gregor Rutledge.
Meanwhile, Southland Boys’ High School’s Thomas Jennings was part of the New Zealand Schools team which New Zealand Māori beat on Thursday.
Jennings came on a tighthead prop at close to the 50th minute mark.