As seen on nrl.com
Taking his cues from his co-captain James Fisher Harris, Warriors teen sensation Leka Halasima might not say too much, but has been making a statement with his on-field performances.
While he made his debut in Round 18 last season, the Otahuhu Leopards junior announced his arrival with a stunning length-of-the-field try against Wests Tigers in a Campbelltown cliffhanger in Round 4 this year.
With a little over 10 minutes to play and his team down by six, Halasima latched onto a Taine Tuaupiki pass and stormed down the sideline before stepping his way through defenders to score his first career try.
Luke Metcalf added the extras and a penalty goal shortly after and the Warriors went on to win 26-24 to make it three victories on the trot.
Part of the rising crop of youngsters who have helped lift the Warriors to third on the ladder, the 19-year-old credits coach Andrew Webster with giving himself and fellow rookies like Demitric Vaimauga, Ali Leiataua and Jacob Laban the belief to step up.
“He is backing us. Heaps of young boys coming up, especially good having Webby having our trust and us backing up the older boys that are injured,” Halasima said.
“We have just got to earn the trust and go after them.
“How I feel about my footy at the moment; I feel like I’m the right track, but I have got things to develop and practice and hopefully I nail that soon.
“I am enjoying it, 100 per cent. Enjoying starting as well.”
Making the Warriors’ recent run of wins even more impressive is the fact they have done it without Fisher-Harris, who has been sidelined since Round 6 with a pectoral injury.
Whether it’s on the park or the training track or in his powerful leadership, Fisher-Harris’ influence has been immense.
“He’s brought a lot,” Halasima said. “Everyone knows he’s a quiet guy, but he leads with his actions. We just try and match his energy.
“He doesn’t talk or anything he just leads with his action, so we try match his effort.”
Now nine games into his NRL career, Halasima has savoured victory in seven of those.
“That’s a goal. Get a premiership for the Warriors as well, first time, and see what happens after that but still I’m growing.”
This week, the Warriors will be aiming to make it five wins in a row when they travel to Brisbane to take on the Dragons.
The squad have been boosted by the inclusion on the wing of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who just returned from a broken wrist, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been named in the reserves as he comes back from a hamstring complaint.
For Halasima, it’s another step along the journey to carving out an NRL career he hopes might one day see him emulating the deeds of men like Fisher-Harris.
Before his big break in 2024 Halasima was a Mangere East Hawks and Otahuhu Leopards junior impressing in local Auckland Rugby League competitions and earning representative hnours.
Halasima featured in the 2022 West Auckland team who won the inaugural Dean Bell Cup, the representative age-group competition that was launched by Auckland Rugby League and the New Zealand Warriors with the support of New Zealand Rugby League.
Later in 2022 Halasima was selected for the New Zealand Clubs 18s Boys team for the annual Clubs v Schools national representative fixtures, following a stellar campaign at the National Youth Tournament for the Auckland Vulcans.
