FLASHBACK FRIDAY: EX-CHEVALIER TEVAGA MAKES NRL DEBUT

August 2, 2024 / Will Evans

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: EX-CHEVALIER TEVAGA MAKES NRL DEBUT

August 2, 2024 / Will Evans

Flashback Friday looks back at the NRL debut of Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga, following news the lionhearted Warriors stalwart will be parting ways with the club at the end of the season.

The Warriors confirmed they could not find room for the off-contract veteran on their 2025 roster.

Tevaga is the currently the Warriors’ longest-serving continuous first-grader, having added his name to the list of Christchurch-born rugby league players to earn their Australian premiership spurs with a memorable showing at hooker for the Warriors in their brave Round 3 loss to Melbourne Storm in 2016.

While he is a Papakura Sea Eagles product, Tevaga spent the first few years of his life in Canterbury – and laced on his first pair of footy boots at four years old for the Chevaliers.

Tevaga played with the Nikorima brothers, Brisbane Broncos utility and incumbent New Zealand Test halfback Kodi and Sydney Roosters five-eighth and Junior Kangaroos rep Jayden, in the Chevaliers’ junior ranks while their fathers were based at Burnham Military Camp in the late-1990s.

He recalls watching his father play for the Chevaliers’ senior team before the family moved to the North Island.

Drafted into the Warriors’ Under-20s squad early in 2014 after impressing in an open trial, Tevaga starred at lock in the club’s NYC grand final triumph that year – coincidentally, with Kodi and Jayden Nikorima in the vanquished Broncos side. He wore the No.13 jersey in a star-studded Junior Kiwis team in 2015.

Small for a backrower, he was developed into a promising hooker at NSW Cup level in 2015. The 20-year-old’s elevation to NRL status – following an injury to star dummy-half Issac Luke – so early in the 2016 season came as a massive surprise, however.

“After NSW Cup training (on Saturday), we were going through our final run-through and the manager came over and told me I needed to go and train with first grade,” Tevaga said.

“‘Cappy’ (coach Andrew McFadden) pulled me over and told me I was starting. I was shocked.”

Tevaga produced an eye-catching display in top company. He played 59 minutes of the torrid encounter, due to an injury suffered by interchange hooker Nathaniel Roache, who himself debuted in Round 1.

The tyro reeled off 30 tackles – without recording a miss – and impressed with his confidence with the ball in hand, making five probing dummy-half bursts. Despite an extremely limited build-up, Tevaga combined seamlessly with the Warriors’ ball-runners and playmakers.

He also demonstrated his toughness by returning to the fray after being sandwiched between teammates Jacob Lillyman and Jeff Robson, and leaving the field to undergo a concussion test. Earlier, he stayed on the field after receiving treatment following a punishing late tackle by Kenny Bromwich.

The softly spoken youngster played down his immense contribution to the Warriors’ much-improved performance in the 21-14 loss to the ladder-leading Storm – but he was certainly satisfied when asked for an appraisal of his maiden NRL outing.

“Yeah, stoked. I’m just thankful for the opportunity to debut in front my family and friends, and a home crowd,” he said.

Tevaga, who took the field in the No.24 jumper to become Warrior #209, did not appear overawed in the slightest at debuting opposite arguably the greatest hooker in premiership history, Melbourne, Queensland and Australian skipper Cameron Smith.

It was, however, another highlight that capped off a momentous day for the rookie.

“(Smith’s) been one of my idols for a few years, being the best hooker – I think – in the league,” Tevaga beamed.

“To debut against someone like him was a dream come true.”

Tevaga made 11 rookie-season appearances but was out of favour with incoming coach Stephen Kearney in 2017, later admitting his own poor attitude was behind a modest tally of four top-grade outings in his sophomore campaign.

But the firebrand enjoyed a breakout 2018 season as the Warriors snapped a seven-year finals drought – winning the Dally M Interchange Player of the Year award – and has predominantly featured as a middle forward, only occasionally filling in at dummy-half.

Tevaga, a Samoa international and Māori All Stars rep, will line up in his 134th NRL game for the Warriors on Friday night in a vital clash with Parramatta. Only 14 players have turned out in the top flight for the club more times.

While Tevaga and the Warriors end their association on good terms, in remains to be seen whether the club will rue letting one of the fiercest competitors to pull on the Warriors’ jersey get away. Still only 28, Tevaga’s best football could still be ahead of him, with NRL rivals and Super League clubs sure to be lining up for his services for next season and beyond.

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