Blockbusting centre Matthew Timoko was a standout debut selection in the Kiwis’ 2023 Pacific Championships squad after two superb NRL seasons as a permanent member of Canberra Raiders’ backline.
The Otahuhu Leopards and Ellerslie Eagles junior was lured to the Australian capital and made his NSW Cup debut for Mounties in 2019, before earning his NRL spurs the following season as a 20-year-old with two appearances for the Raiders. He became a regular at centre for the Green Machine during the second half of 2021.
Timoko exploded in 2022, playing all 26 of the Raiders’ matches and producing a blinder in their stunning elimination final upset of Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park. He was named in the Kiwis’ wider training squad for the World Cup was an unlucky omission from the team that ventured to England.
The young powerhouse was one of Canberra’s best in an up-and-down 2023 campaign, playing every game and scoring an equal-team-high 11 tries, tallying 14 line-breaks and 118 tackle-breaks, and averaging 158 running metres per game. On three occasions he ran for over 250 metres – a remarkable feat for a centre – to shape as a key strike weapon for the Kiwis’ end-of-season Tests.
Timoko made an immediate impression in the Pacific Championships, notching two line-breaks and two try assists on Kiwis debut in a 50-0 thrashing of Samoa. He ran for over 140 metres in both matches against Australia and scored a try in the stunning 30-0 victory in the final.
Extending his streak of consecutive NRL games to 82 by playing every game again for the Raiders in 2024, Timoko more than justified his retention the New Zealand squad with four tries, six try assists 83 tackle-breaks and an average of 159 running metres at club level.
