The rules have also allowed for Blues trio Addin Fonua-Blake (who played for New Zealand in 2017), Kiwis back Casey McLean and England backrower Victor Radley to play in the series opener on May 27 at Accor Stadium. Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga has also pledged his international allegiance to New Zealand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m born in New Zealand, growing up in Gold Coast, I’ve done all my schooling there,” the Sharks second rower said.<\/p>\n
“Every time at lunch time, it’s always Origin, Queensland v New South Wales type stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I made my debut 2019, everything came quick at me with representing New Zealand and then once you do that, you obviously couldn’t do both at the time, so I thought that dream was far gone.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce they changed the rules \u2026 I could see an opportunity there \u2026 and once Billy gave me that call, I took it with both hands. I am just over the moon.<\/p>\n
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\n Briton Nikora during Queensland training.
\n \u00a9Mitch Townsend \/ QRL
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\u201cI grew up here. Queensland gave my family the opportunity and gave us a better life here in Queensland, and that’s what I carry close to my heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cWherever my family goes, that’s where home is. At the time, that’s where home was, and that’s where it’s been for my whole life really.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m just keen to go out there and do the badge proud and having the last name at the back on my jersey as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI take all my family with me as well, so that’s what I’m looking forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n Ben Te’o and Briton Nikora in Queensland Maroons camp.
\n \u00a9Mitch Townsend \/ QRL
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Adding to his excitement when he came in to camp was getting the opportunity to learn from some of Queensland\u2019s former Origin stars, including assistant coach Ben Te\u2019o, who is new to Slater\u2019s staff this series.<\/p>\n
\u201cI looked up to Benny Te\u2019o as I was coming up in the same position, so him in camp \u2013 and obviously Billy as well \u2013 just seeing them around camp, I’m still buzzing about it,\u201d Nikora said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went to Keebra Park and when we were coming up through Keebra Park, you\u2019d have all those type of players on the wall that have made it, just for motivation at school. He was on the wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time, I didn’t really take too much notice of players back then, but as I started to enjoy my footy and get into it, I saw just the way he played, his physicality, the way he carried himself and I looked up to him coming through.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven’t really told him that \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
For Te\u2019o, who last featured as a player for the Maroons in 2014, returning to camp has been something special.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve had a bit of a journey (since I last played Origin) where I went overseas and played rugby union and came back and retired and (started) coaching,\u201d Te\u2019o told NRL.com.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing here in this role is awesome. With Nate Myles, [Johnathan] Thurston, Billy in here, it’s been kind of getting the gang together.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the main part that has stood out for me is just how important the preparation’s been.<\/p>\n
\u201cBilly’s a fantastic coach and very detailed and one of the reasons why I wanted to come in here was to learn from him and some of these other players that I don’t really know too well.<\/p>\n
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Origin Game Plan: The rookies<\/p>\n
\u201cI think [Nikora and I] have had quite a similar path, obviously having those New Zealand connections early on and then coming over here, we went to the same school at Keebra Park on the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just love seeing someone like him (doing well).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were talking just the other day about him going down to Cronulla on open trial and having to prove himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel a lot of my journey was like that and what I love about him is, obviously he’s quite a quiet, humble guy, but I don’t think you’ll find a better line runner in the competition with leg speed, very smart IQ.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe punches those lines and a lot of the success that Cronulla have had, he’s part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n ![\"Briton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/80011205_nikorab-celeb-251102_cd_7750_2025112163434.jpg\"\/)
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\n Briton Nikora representing the Kiwis during the 2025 Pacific Championships.
\n \u00a9Chloe Davis \/ NRL Images
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A premiership winner as a player in 2014 with the Rabbitohs, Te\u2019o\u2019s advice to Nikora for his first Origin camp was to soak in the moment to really get the most of the experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just look back on my career, I think one of the things that I would advise is to just take a breath sometimes, you know? I think you can get really caught up in the build-up and you’ve got to conserve your energy and really focus on your performance,\u201d Te\u2019o said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other thing I would say too is always look at it from a positive point of view.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I was talking to Briton, I would be saying; these type of games, they’re grand final-like games.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to get there with your club, so these are great experiences for you.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at it as a positive, like look at these high-pressure games that mean so much, and then when you come out of this experience, take that back to clubland.\u201d<\/p>\n