Carrying on the fine tradition of forwards to come out of the Canterbury region, athletic back-rower Jordan Riki rose to the cusp of Kiwis Test selection after building an impressive reputation in the Brisbane Broncos’ pack.
Born in Raglan, Riki came through Hornby Panthers’ ranks in Christchurch before venturing to Brisbane and impressing in the Hastings Deering Colts under-20s and Queensland Cup competitions for Norths Devils, as well as captaining Junior Kiwis against Australian Schoolboys in 2019.
Riki’s potential was recognised when he was chosen for Māori in early-2020 before he had made his NRL debut, which eventually came midway through the season for the 20-year-old. He played five games for the Broncos in 2020 before establishing a regular second-row berth the following season.
The strapping tyro continued to progress in 2022, scoring four tries in 22 games for Brisbane and earning a spot in New Zealand’s wider squad for the midyear Test against Tonga. Riki missed a place in the match-day 17 and the Kiwis’ World Cup squad in the face of fierce competition, but he loomed as a frontline Test contender for subsequent seasons.
Representing Māori All Stars for the third time in 2023, Riki was outstanding in the Broncos’ drive to a second-place finish and the grand final – an agonising 26-24 defeat to Penrith – with seven tries and a mountain of defensive work.
Shoulder surgery ruled him out of likely Pacific Championships selection at the end of that season, but after playing 22 games for the third NRL season in a row he was named in the Kiwis’ 2024 squad.
Riki debuted in front of a large contingent of friends and family in Christchurch against Australia, producing a busy 26 minutes off the bench in the second half of a 22-10 loss.
