Newstalk ZB
If you ever needed proof that sport is the ultimate form of reality TV or can produce moments straight out of a Hollywood script, look no further than the stunning NRL debut of Kiwi Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle. Better known as “Apa” after his uncle, Twidle came off the extended bench for the Parramatta Eels midway through the second half of their Easter Monday clash with the Wests Tigers and scored two tries from his first three touches. In the space of three minutes, the 21-year-old dragged the Eels back into the contest with his brace. They would ultimately fall 22-20 in golden point, but the result felt secondary to the occasion. Watching it all from the stands was his mum, Pura Hope, who had booked a last-minute flight from New Zealand, against her son’s advice to be there to witness the moment. Twidle, from Ngāruawāhia, had called home earlier in the week after being named in the extended squad, telling his mum not to travel as he was unlikely to play. Hope had long envisioned this moment. She had been saving for the day she got the call, and after initially deciding to stay home, she changed her mind, reasoning that even if he didn’t play, it would still be special to see him and spend time with family. So, while attending her daughter’s netball tournament in Whangārei on Sunday afternoon, she booked a flight to Sydney for the following morning and landed just hours before kickoff. As fate would have it, Twidle benefited from one of the NRL’s latest rule changes, which allows teams to name six players on the bench but only use four. Although the Eels had already used their allocation, a spate of injuries – compounded by a dislocated ankle to fellow Kiwi Bailey Simonsson – opened the door for him to enter the game. And he made the most of it. In a matter of minutes, he went from an unknown name to one fans will be watching closely in the future. “I would have been sitting at home kicking myself and crying if I didn’t go,” Hope told the Herald. “I was looking down and we saw him warming up, and we started getting excited and messaging the family back home. When he got that first try, we were jumping up and down, screaming and hugging each other. “Everything has been surreal. He’s been over here since he was 16, working towards this day, and hopefully many more like it.” Twidle had already accepted his debut might not come. But after being cleared to take the field as 18th man, he admitted he was a bundle of nerves. Once he got his hands on the ball, though, everything felt natural. His first touch produced a spectacular finish in the corner, the kind that would earn admiration from even the NRL’s elite wingers. Apa Twidle scores his first try in the NRL. Photo / NRL.com He wasn’t even sure he had scored, with the try only confirmed after a video review. Speaking to the Herald, Twidle said the experience has left him hungry for more. “The last 24 hours have been hectic. I woke up on game day just preparing as if I was playing,” he said. “Once they used the four players, I thought maybe next week, maybe it’s not my day. “But then one of the staff told me to get up and warm up. I said, ‘you can’t use me’, and he told me I could play. My heart was racing – but once I touched the ball, I settled into it. “I landed on my shoulder and head, so I was a bit dazed ... the boys were asking, ‘did you get it?’ and I honestly didn’t know. Then we watched the replay and I was like, ‘oh – I got it’. “I only played 20 minutes, but that’s just the beginning. I want a long career in this game. This was a dream come true – but I want to do it for a long time.” Eels coach Jason Ryles praised his performance post-match, saying his efforts were outstanding and that he is one to watch for the future, but conceded there are some improvements needed to make him a consistent NRL player. Remarkably, Twidle was playing out on the wing, a position he’s never played before, having primarily featured at fullback and in the halves. Elation turns into...
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