Rookie Kumuls playmaker Gairo Voro has overcome language barriers, a limited education and the loss of his father at an early age to become one of the emerging stars of Papua New Guinea rugby league and a future Chiefs prospect.
Voro, a Jarome Luai look-alike who will make his Test debut in Saturday’s Pacific Championships match against Cook Islands, is one of three home-grown members of the Kumuls spine alongside fullback sensation Morea Morea and hooker Edwin Ipape.
Another homegrown playmaker, Finley Glare, will make his Test debut in the No.14 role, while Cooper Bai – the 18-year-old son of PNG great Marcus Bai – will also pull on a Kumuls jersey for the first time.
Bai has become a massive sensation with fans in Papua New Guinea, but Voro’s story is one which could inspire more local kids to dream of playing for the Kumuls.
PNG’s Jahrome Luai lookalike Gairo Voro is set to be a future star for the Kumuls and Chiefs.
©Anthony Kourembanas/NRL Photos
The 22-year-old is from a remote fishing village in Abau District, Central Provence, and was unable to speak either English or Tok Pisin – a national language of PNG – when he joined the Hunters in 2024 after starring in the PNGRFL’s Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup.
Rising above the obvious on-and-off-field communication issues, Goro has attracted interest form NRL clubs after captaining the Junior Kumuls last year and this season winning the Hunters rookie of the year award.
“He has come a long way,” said Hunters coach Paul Aiton, who is an assistant to Kumuls mentor Jason Demetriou. “In the very early days in pre-season it was hard because he only spoke his local language, he didn’t speak Tok Pisin.
“It just took time and there were times he would say, ‘yes, Paul’, but you didn’t know if he understood. But he just kept turning up, his effort was really good, and the boys loved having him around.
“Now he has really opened up and his football has started to flourish. He has exceeded my expectations this year. He is just a footballer.”
Demetriou said: “It is amazing where he has come from, to where I think he can get to over the next couple of years, but that journey in the Kumuls jersey starts now”.
Goro’s cousin, Wari Ilamanuwale, who has been helping him to learn English, detailed the hurdles that the talented five-eighth has overcome to earn his place in the Kumuls line-up.
Gairo Voro couldn’t speak English or Tok Pisin when he joined the Hunters in 2024 but the boom playmaker overcame language barriers to have a breakout season this year.
©Scott Davis/NRL Photos
“It is an inspiring story to be told. He didn’t have a formal education like most children do because he comes from a very poor family and his father passed away when he was about four years old,”Ilamanuwale said.
He dropped out of school in about Grade 5 or 6. He just stayed in the village and played rugby league with the kids every afternoon until he grew up.
“Then he started playing 9s and along the coast where we live, he played in every tournament.
“He became a big star and he was picked up by Central Dabaris, who play in the Digicel Cup.”
With the support of family and other members of the village, Goro has risen through the ranks after joining the Hunters on a development contract and is now considered an obvious target for the Chiefs in 2028, along with Glare and Morea.
“From our small humble village, he is the first guy to pull on a Kumuls jersey,” Ilamanuwale said.
“We saw his playing potential so we invested in him to make sure that we accommodated him and found sponsors to buy him shoes.
“Earlier this year, one of the recruitment managers from Wests Tigers came up to speak to Gairo, and the Cronulla Sharks too.
“We see that he has got a bit future ahead of him and we would love to see him play at NRL level.”