Southlander emerges as promising league prospect
Ezekiel Hammond-Siolo scored a try in the Scorpions' 26-10 final win over Waikato and was named the MVP of the Grand Final for his impressive performance.
There are some pretty cool things happening in Southland rugby league circles at the junior level at the moment.
It’s a growth sport that’s remarkable deeds can somewhat fly under the radar a touch.
Headlining that has been an impressive display by Southland’s Ezekiel Hammond-Siolo at the New Zealand Under-16s tournament.
The James Hargest College pupil was part of the South Island Scorpions team which won the tournament in Rotorua.
In fact, he wasn’t just part of it, Hammond-Siolo was a star who captured the interest of many at the tournament.
Hammond-Siolo scored a try in the Scorpions’ 26-10 final win over Waikato and was named the MVP of the Grand Final for his impressive performance.
And the reward didn’t end just there.
Hammond-Siolo, who plays for the Cowboys Rugby League Club in Southland, has been named in the NZRL Aotearoa Whaanui 16s Boys squad which will play in October.
Not surprisingly the Southland rugby league community is proud of what Hammond-Siolo has achieved but the positive news doesn’t stop there.
There’s been some real growth in the female game in Southland in recent years and that was simply highlighted with Amaria Harrison, Bailey Tuigamala-Kerr, Claudia Broomfield, and Indya Hillman all part of the South Island team at the recent national tournament.
Broomfield was named the South Island team’s most promising player.
Three Southlanders - Tarryn McLatchie, Sualo Lafoga, and Earkka Paulin - were also part of the South Island Scorpions U16 team.
Lafoga was named the team’s most promising player.
And another Southland rugby league growth area worth highlighting is that of its Sunday junior competition.
A few years back there was pretty much no junior rugby league at all Southland.
Now each Sunday 29 teams take to the Elles Rd rugby league fields from the Under-6 age-group through to the Under-16 age-group.