Points machine Isaako reveals All Blacks dream
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Brisbane superboot Jamayne Isaako has revealed his desire to represent the All Blacks - but not until he ticks a Broncos premiership off his bucket list.
A week after Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga outlined his All Blacks dream, the Telstra Premiership’s leading scorer said he also wanted to one day line up for the world's best rugby team.
Isaako, who debuted for the Kiwis against England in Denver this year, grew up in New Zealand playing rugby and was in the Canterbury Crusaders' system before moving to Australia to play rugby league at Endeavour Sports High in Sydney.
"I’ve always wanted to be an All Black growing up. I’ve always been a union kid,” Isaako said.
"Every young Kiwi growing up back home, whether it be playing any type of football, want to grow up and be an All Black or a Kiwi.
"I’ve accomplished one of my goals to become a Kiwi and run out in the black jersey, and I have another goal down the track to be an All Black if the opportunity comes.
"I am happy with how things are going at the moment. I’m signed on here at the Broncos for four years and hopefully I can win a premiership in that time.”
Isaako played for Canterbury in representative rugby and 1st XV at schoolboy level for St Bede’s College.
"I played second five-eighth the majority of my rugby career, No.12, and was always tossed between playing in the centres and at fullback," Isaako told NRL.com
"I had a fairly big boot growing up and a lot of my coaches looked to make the most of that because rugby is based on a kicking and yardage sort of game.
"I looked up to Dan Carter and Richie McCaw. They were my favourite All Blacks, having represented Canterbury and the Crusaders. I was in the Crusaders academy just before I left to come to Australia for rugby league."
Isaako began the season wanting to secure a regular Broncos jersey. He has since become an indispensable member of the side and went past Latrell Mitchell on Saturday night to be the competition's leading scorer with 213 points from 10 tries, 76 goals and a field goal.
It was his goalkicking and field goal in the 9-8 golden point win over Wests Tigers in round three that Isaako pinpoints as the moment he felt he belonged at NRL level.
"It definitely was a turning point,” he said.
"I’d never played too many big games like that and won off the back of the kicking. The way this year has been going with the kicking it has really paid off with the practice I’ve been doing.
"The points scoring thing wasn’t necessarily something I was chasing this year but it was pretty hard not knowing about it coming into training with all the boys tipping me up and letting me know I am up at the top of the list."
Isaako said it would be an honour to line up in Sam Thaiday’s final club game at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday against Manly after playing all 23 games this season by his side.
